Frequently Asked Questions

The custom process is really for anyone that wants a truly unique one of a kind piece, whether that’s in regard to the type of stone we are sourcing, the silhouette we are creating around that stone, or the band we are designing to sit seamlessly with a pre-existing ring. It’s something you wouldn’t just come across in your average jewelry store, and it’s going to have a lot more personalization and bespoke details that are specific to you. Since we’ll be designing it in collaboration together, it also gives you a nice sense of ownership over the piece as the item wouldn’t exist without your input and feedback.

I’ve also found that my specific  process is also incredibly helpful for someone who might be considering multiple ring concepts, stone shapes, or silhouettes. Through the design process we can explore each of those in depth, and even play around with combining some of those ideas, to create a sort of hybrid of all the things you really want or like out of a ring.

On average I like to say that it takes around 3-6 months. There are certain scenarios where this timeline can extend to 6 months to a year if we are looking for a very specific stone, cutting stones to fit a design, or if there are a great deal of revisions during the design process. I do like to note, if you have a specific date in mind that you are hoping to receive your item, please add at least an additional month onto that timeline to give yourself enough time to receive your piece.

I used to, but I don’t anymore. As I grew within my career, I have really started to focus on the things I love and enjoy the most about jewelry making, and edited out some of the things I don’t enjoy, or are better suited for someone that specializes in that particular aspect of jewelry making. So while I work on the design with the client, and the physical making of the wax, I have various vendors I work with to finish the item. I have specific casters, setters, polishers, and engravers that I work with and will choose to use depending on the design, and that usually comes down to who I feel is best suited for that specific project.

Absolutely! I love working with client stones, and bringing new life into an older piece! I call this type of Custom Work an Heirloom Re-Design. When working with a pre-existing piece of Jewelry, I’m able to safely remove the stones either manually, or in more complicated cases by dissolving the metal. I unfortunately am unable to work with the actual gold, as my casters are very cautious about what they use in their facilities, but we do offer the option to turn in your gold for credit towards your new piece, or we can send the gold back to you after stone removal.

Yes, and no. Natural Diamonds over 1 carat will typically come with a GIA Certificate, or in the case of a Lab Grown, an IGI or GIA Certificate. Diamonds under a carat do not come with certification as we consider those smaller goods. While some Sapphires do come with certificates, it is far less common among colored stones, unless we are dealing with say an unheated Sapphire over a certain price point. Those certificates say very little about the stone, just due to the fact that colored stones don’t have as strict of a grading system as diamonds do. That being said, I always provide as much information regarding your Sapphire or colored stone as possible so that you have all the information you need to provide to your insurer or appraiser.

It really depends on the stone. I have specific gem dealers that I work with for larger Natural Diamonds, and other dealers I work with if I want an Antique Cut Diamond. I have specific gemologists I work with for Sapphires, Emeralds, and small colored gems, and then others that I use for more unique or more niche stones. It’s rare to find a gem dealer that does everything, so much like a lot of the aspects of making jewelry, sourcing a stone is also a process unique to what you are looking for, and I’ve found when you are working on custom pieces it's good to have a wide range of vendors to choose from so you can ensure you are finding the right fit for the client.

Yes, and this is something I love to do, and that I do quite often. This does fall under custom work, but it's treated a little differently than our typical custom process since we’ll be working with a pre-existing silhouette. The pieces I offer on the site are all priced out to reflect that particular stone that is used in that piece. Over the years, I’ve had requests where clients might want that silhouette, but their budget requirements might be a little different than the available piece, and whether that's a lower or higher price point I can always source alternative options to fit within the customers specifications.

This is really going to depend on the project. Jewelry can really range in pricing depending on the type of piece, so I always recommend reaching out so we can provide an estimated quote.

I am currently online only at the moment. That being said, I have been working with clients all over the world virtually for the last 11 years, so I always recommend setting up a phone call or a virtual meeting. The best way to get that process started and see if we are a good fit for one another would be through the Custom Questionnaire here.

Definitely my experience. I’ve been making jewelry for over 20 years. I have a very technical background from Rhode Island School of Design, where I majored in metalsmithing that gave me a firm understanding of the mechanics of jewelry. My background in jewelry design in NYC really trained me on how to efficiently communicate my ideas in a legible way, since most of the production we did was overseas. I found that this has been really helpful when designing with my clientele, as I can translate my ideas without the use of words. It’s made the design process seamless and legible, which I’ve found provides a level of comfort to the client, because what you see is exactly what you get, and when dealing with something as sentimental, and as expensive as Fine Jewelry, you really don’t want to leave any room for surprises.

I am very proud to say this has been a rare occurrence over the last 11 years, but it has happened. There are moments where things can get lost in translation between the design and the final product. In those cases I have always worked with the client to fix whatever issue they have, as I do understand the sentimentality of these pieces, and my goal is always for the client to love their piece. If it’s a small tweak, or something that needs a simple re-cast, I am always happy to do that free of cost. If the request is is a major change, like a complete re-design or we are adding additional stones or metal, that will likely result in an additional charge for those materials and time.