Custom Jewelry is a rare bird in its ability to excite, evolve and endure.
There are very few things in life that we can continue to recreate and pass down from one generation to another. I am the third generation of my family to work in the jewelry industry. Throughout my years servicing our clients, I have seen the emotional aspect of jewelry firsthand. It is as if jewelry transcends the material realm and instead occupies the emotional landscape for most people. Whether your Grandma or Grandpa gave you a necklace for your 16th birthday or your mother passed away and you never take off her old wedding band; jewelry is a time capsule for our memories.
One of the best parts of being in the jewelry industry is having the opportunity to hear people’s jewelry stories and learn about the lives their jewelry has lived. Some people have brand new items that they will wear and through the years they will develop great importance and symbolism. Other jewelry owners will admire their treasures for their heirloom value which stems from significant relationships they’ve had or have with the people that gifted them these items. Often times these special gifts are given to commemorate an important life event. Either way, jewelry is leading the way in terms of inanimate objects that possess emotional significance.
People often times want something unique when it comes to buying jewelry. Very specific pieces are not always easy to find. If you want something that is truly unique, it is often necessary to custom-design your own piece. Customizing jewelry is a relatively simple process that can create outstanding results. There are several steps to go through but once the mission is accomplished, you will love your one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
How to get your one-of-a-kind, custom jewelry masterpiece
Scheduling a consult is the first step to beginning the creation process. Meeting with a knowledgeable design consultant should help to clarify any questions or concerns about your project. This is when you can present your wants, needs, and possibly any previous merchandise you want to incorporate into your new piece or pieces (i.e. loose diamonds, gemstones, old gold, platinum, etc.). Most custom jewelers are happy to give you credit towards your new purchase for your old gold or stones that you are not using.
Now it’s time to start designing. You may already have something specific in mind or you might be looking for advice from the designer. Many people look for design inspiration on the internet (Pinterest, Instagram, etc.). Once you have decided on your design concept, sketches can be drawn so you can get a clearer image of your ideas. The final step of designing is to create a hand-made wax model or a cad design.
The wax model or CAD design is an exact replica of what your finished item will look like. This model is created for your review and will need to be approved for the project to move forward. This is the time to make any modifications. Casting is the process that turns the wax model into metal. Now your item is on the way to becoming jewelry. Once the casting is complete, the jeweler polishes the metal (gold, platinum, silver, etc.). Then any stones that have been chosen will be set into the metal and the piece will be refinished and completed.
The finished jewelry item is then inspected and appraised for its value. This is the exciting part!!! You now have a finished piece of jewelry that is one of a kind. From a simple idea to a custom creation, you now own an instant heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation. You absolutely can get an accurate appraisal value for your new beautiful piece but the truth is, it is priceless!!!!