Take a moment and glance around the room, and allow yourself to take stock of the products, packages, garments, and furnishings around you. A human being designed and crafted every object that occupies space in your world. A precious, bespoke item deserves a special, talented artist, which is why so many lovers, dreamers, and creatives choose to work with a custom jewelry designer.
However, custom jewelry is an investment, and you can’t afford to hire the wrong professional. If you have jewelry design ideas, it might be time to interview local jewelers to find your ideal collaborator. Do you know what questions to ask as you embark on the process?
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about searching for a custom jewelry designer. Read on to learn what to look for as you seek out the artist who will bring your sterling ideas to life.
Every jewelry designer is an artist who will use their unique vision and expertise to create your piece. Thus, their custom jewelry design experience matters! Ask about your jeweler’s background, training, and skill set before you commit.
Not every artist trains at an art school, but every jeweler should have some formal training and experience. Hands-on experience is just as valid as a certificate or degree. With that said, many contemporary designers use the most up-to-date technology to aid their design and fabrication process, so ask about recent training and education.
Furthermore, designers should be familiar with the precious gem and metal market, which fluctuates. They should understand how the market impacts jewelry design costs. Be sure they can explain and justify their prices.
Artists across mediums have their own styles, which may or may not require special equipment and craft techniques. Before committing to working with a designer, take stock of your personal tastes and preferences and collect images of styles you like. When you arrive for your consultation, you’ll better understand how to convey what you are looking for.
Always ask to see a portfolio or photographs of the designer’s past work, and don’t feel shy about reading online reviews. What did past clients love about working with the designer? What elements of their work make you feel excited about working with them?
Remember that a designer is a collaborator and should consider your thoughts and ideas during the process. Their honesty and willingness to make suggestions to perfect your ideas will ensure your idea is feasible as well as durable for years to come.
The custom jewelry designer you choose will be crafting a piece that you and your loved ones will treasure for generations. Don’t choose the first designer you meet or the least expensive—choose the artist who understands your vision and wants to see it realized as much as you do.
There are many options for jewelry designers, but we hope you’ll begin your search at Gems of la Costa Jewelers in Carlsbad, CA. We use a combination of design expertise and CAD software to create bespoke pieces that will last a lifetime. Contact us to set up a consultation so we can create something beautiful together.
Regardless of how you look at it, fine jewelry is an investment. Whether you’re planning to invest and sell afterward or to pass it down in your family, you must acquaint yourself with some specifics regarding the gems, service, or your jewelry store of choice.
Here are the top questions to ask your jeweler before ordering a custom piece.
Local hand-made jewelry pieces are more valuable than those manufactured overseas. Master jewelers not only perfect the craft of fine jewels but also add authenticity to the item compared to mass-production jewelry.
Plus, local or hand-made pieces are more durable than manufactured ones, hence being a better investment.
Russia and Belgium are the sources of the best cutters in the world. Their diamonds shine more and stand out from any other diamonds on the market, reflecting the high prices. But they aren’t the only sources of quality stones. When investing money into diamonds, pay attention to the origin.
All diamond grading is manual work, which naturally may not be perfect if a non-expert performs it. A master diamond grader with experience and license should inspect the diamond before buying it. Always ask if the grader has a permit and what kind.
Buying diamonds without a warranty is risky and often unreliable. A lifetime manufacturer warranty provides the most peace of mind if you damage the diamond. Any professional jewelry maker should be able to stand behind the expertise of their product.
Even the most reputable jewelry stores experience such situations, and they always have a solution because they know why a stone may fall out of their product. After all, it’s their craft.
In such situations, they replace the diamond or stone free of charge, but some stores still don’t practice this solution. Therefore, before you make a purchase, please mind this, and ask whether they’d be willing to replace the stone free of charge.
Reputable jewelry stores have ultrasonic machines that execute the cleaning treatment of a jewelry piece. Usually, these treatments come as part of the deal when you purchase the product, but it’s always wise to ask so that you know for sure.
If you wear a piece of jewelry too frequently, the stones or diamonds will eventually become loose. This is a regular occurrence, and almost every store offers to fix it back in place as part of the cleaning process or once you notice it’s loose. But, always ask this beforehand, so you don’t pay extra money for fixing.
One of the worst-case scenarios that can happen when you own expensive jewelry is losing them or having them stolen. Thankfully, many insurance companies can cover and help you out in such situations. Ask if they can recommend any insurance company before you purchase so that you can be safe.
The art of fine jewelry requires knowledge, experience, and authenticity to establish product durability and gain trust among customers. Over at Village Jewelers, we’ll provide you with just that.
We are a jewelry store that has been around for decades, selling top-grade jewelry plus crafting custom pieces for everyone’s taste. If you’re interested in creating a one-of-a-kind proposal ring or want to purchase your first fine jewelry, give us a call.