Bespoke Jewellery ~ F.A.Qs.
Thinking about having a custom piece made? (If you have any questions hopefully these F.A.Q.s help. If your question hasn’t been answered comment below or please drop me an email via the ‘get on touch’ link.
Cost & Timings
How much does it cost?
Unfortunately there isn’t one easy answer to this question as the cost will depend on the materials and complexity of the design. Having a custom piece made can seem like an expensive idea but it doesn’t have to be; I don’t have a minimum charge and can work with you to your own budget and advise you the best way to spend it. If you are looking for simple wedding rings I have some on my online shop that can be used as reference when it comes to price.
Do I have to pay it all at once?
No you don’t. Depending on the type of piece I normally take a small deposit up front to secure the time in my diary, then 50% once the final design has been signed off on and the remainder on completion. If this doesn’t work for you though we can split the cost into more, smaller amounts (for example).
How long does it take to have wedding rings made?
It can vary depending on the complexity of the design. I normally say to give yourself at least 6-8 weeks before the big day to be on the safe side. In the breakdown on my ‘bespoke rings’ page I say to allow 2-4 weeks for designing and 3-5 weeks for your piece to be made. The designing stage tends to be the most variable. I’ll send you design updates & samples once a week (on a Friday). If you are in a rush I can make something quicker if it’s simple wedding band design.
I would like to commission wedding rings but I don’t live in Glasgow - can I order remotely?
Yeah of course! I like to try and talk face-to-face if possible but through the wonders of technology we can do that from anywhere. If you can’t come by the studio we can chat via email or zoom and I can post you ring samples direct to your door.
Resizing / Repairs
Can you resize rings and is there a charge?
If you order a bespoke ring as a gift or a pair of wedding rings I will resize them once free of charge in the first year. After a year I judge each job individually. If it’s a simple plain band I will continue to try and resize for free (apart from postage) as your jewellery should last forever. If I need to add more material to the band or the ring has stones and needs to be resized with a laser welder there will be a small change to cover the costs.
Materials
I’m not sure about diamonds - can they be an ethical option?
Yes they can be! I have a number of suppliers who have comprehensive ethics statements. I don’t use any supplier I don’t trust but certain stones can have different levels of traceability. I’ll always go into detail with this when we talk through a commission. Depending on the piece, your budget and design I can offer Fairtrade diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and diamond substitutes (like Mossanite.) I also have a number of suppliers for coloured stones if you fancy something different.
What material should me ring be made in?
There are a few factors to keep in mind when deciding what material you are interested in. The main things to effect your choice of metal tend to be budget and look. There is quite a big jump in price between say 9ct and 18ct Gold or Platinum and Silver even if at first glance they may look similar. Each type of metal has it’s own tone and properties. I can help you choose what is best for you if you are unsure.
If you are looking at a wedding ring to sit alongside an engagement ring I would have it made in the same material / carat. The reason for this is that some metals are harder than others and wearing them next to each other for extended periods of time can lead to one ring wearing down another. If you are keen to have two different metal colours next to each other I would choose two different colours of gold in the same carat (like 9ct Rose & Yellow Gold).
Can I use my own metal or stones?
This really depends on what you want you are looking to have made. I’ll decide on a case-to-case basis and can advise you on the best ways to transform your old pieces into something new that you love.
Looking for inspiration? Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself before the first meeting. For ease I have assumed here the piece you are wanting made is a ring but these questions can apply to other types of jewellery.
What do you want the ring to look like? Something traditional, antique looking or contemporary? If you need some inspiration you can take look at some of the rings I have made before here (on the bespoke page of my website) or I have also put together a board on pinterest - click here to see more.
What do you want your piece made in? Are you wanting a stone and if so would you like something clear (like a diamond) or coloured?
Do you have a ‘theme’? This won’t apply to everyone but maybe you don’t have a clear idea of what you want your ring to look like but instead you know you want it to represent a place, a favourite flower or passage from a book (for example).
What is your budget? I’ve found people are often put off talking numbers in the early stages. Even if it’s vague ‘somewhere between x & y’ having an idea of budget can be really helpful for me. Similar looking rings can have very different budgets - for example the prices of diamonds can change dramatically even if the size difference is small. If I know how much you are looking to spend I can also tailor your design so you are making the most of your budget.
What is your time scale? This is an important one! For stone set rings I give a rough time scale of 8-12 weeks for completion. This can vary though depending on the design (and the time of year.)
