Sometimes it can be challenging to find the exact piece of jewelry you are looking for. Especially if it’s a special occasion and you have a rough design in your mind, it seems you can do nothing but just day dream about it. But luckily, custom jewelry can save your day!
Jewelry making is a very delicate art. It starts with customers deciding the design they want to be created. The Jewelers then fabricate the jewelry directly or create a wax model and cast it. The created piece is then pre-polished, embezzled with gemstones, and polished once again to give the final touches.
Want to know more about this process? Then, this guide will take you through the entire process and show what happens in the background to create your dreamy and sparkling jewelry. Read on.
What’s the step-by-step process to make custom jewelry?
The art of jewelry making is almost thousands of years old, with ancient civilizations crafting beautiful jewelry for adorning themselves. Today, this craft has advanced rapidly, thanks to the tools and metallurgy available.
Here’s how a skilled artisan makes custom jewelry:
1. Working on the design
First and foremost, you have to finalize the design of the jewelry that has to be created. You might have an idea in your mind already. Or, if you want, you can communicate your preferences and aspirations to the designer/jeweler.
The designers can help you to think about the design by showing you their past works. This step is usually the hardest because you have to decide what you like and want to be created.
However, with the jeweler involved in the process, it can be quite straightforward. This is because the jeweler will know if the design you want can be created without any structural issues.
In this stage, you can also confirm the pricing and time required for creating the design. Some jewelers charge a design.
Accordingly, you can evaluate your options and even choose a different jeweler if you are not satisfied. Usually, it takes four to six weeks for the piece to be created, depending upon the stone, metal, and overall design.
Once you decide on the design, the jeweler will create a rough sketch of the jewelry from various perspectives to give you a rough idea of what will be made.
2. Making the jewelry
First and foremost, you have to finalize the design of the jewelry that has to be created. You might have an idea in your mind already. Or, if you want, you can communicate your preferences and aspirations to the designer/jeweler.
The designers can help you to think about the design by showing you their past works. This step is usually the hardest because you have to decide what you like and want to be created.
However, with the jeweler involved in the process, it can be quite straightforward. This is because the jeweler will know if the design you want can be created without any structural issues.
In this stage, you can also confirm the pricing and time required for creating the design. Some jewelers charge a design.
3. Pre-polishing the jewelry
Once the jewelry piece is created and cast into the metal (such as silver, gold, palladium, or platinum), the jeweler will clean and polish it.
Any tool marks are removed, and the ring is also inspected for problems or defects that might have occurred during casting.
4. Setting
the stones
With the jewelry being pre-polished, any gemstones are set into the piece. This process requires extreme care and precision by the stone setter as the gems are very delicate.
5. Polishing the jewelry
In the final stage of jewelry creation, the piece is given a final polish to remove any scratches and defects.
The ring is usually surgically cleaned at this stage, which allows the jeweler to remove any residues, oils, or polishing compounds.
At this stage, the piece is finally completed and sent off to the customer. The customer can now finally get the jewelry of their dreams, wear it to special occasions, and flaunt their style.
What is the cost of making custom jewelry?
It can take anywhere from $350 or more for custom jewelry to be created. The total cost of creating it comes down to your preferences and requirements.
For instance, if you want funky gold earrings with gemstones, the jeweler might charge a bit higher because it will require a lot of detail.
But if you are opting for a simple design, then you might cut some costs.
Redesigned jewelry, using your old gems to create a custom new design
If you don’t want something to be made from scratch, you can still get custom jewelry. This can be done by repurposing your old jewelry, diamonds, and gems.
Jewelers can now turn old jewelry into a new piece by recasting the metal into a new mold. You can also get the old gems extracted from jewelry pieces and fit into the new ones.
Whether your favorite piece of jewelry has become old or that family inherited ring is turning brown, a jeweler can help you to redesign it.
But it gets better! How about making new jewelry with the old one? With the gold prices shooting up, it can be challenging to buy new jewelry
This process is quite beneficial because you will not have to pay for metal or gemstones. You will only have to pay for the process of extraction and redesigning. Accordingly, if you have a limited budget but still want custom jewelry, this can be the way out.
Conclusion
Now you know how jewelers create custom jewelry! If you also want one made, then you will have to work with the jeweler to brainstorm on the design. You can check out different stores to mix and match the designs they offer.
The jeweler will then handcraft the jewelry through the process of fabrication or create a wax model. Most jewelers now use software and computer applications to construct the design. Once the design is approved, the metal is encased into the model and left to set.
The piece is then polished, inspected for any defects, and finally sent off to the customer. How cool is this?
So if you haven’t found your desired piece of jewelry yet, it’s time to get it custom-made from the experts. Check out Jewelers Connect to get in touch with skilled artisans and bring your creative idea to reality.