INDUSTRY INSIGHT
CUSTOM DESIGNED JEWELRY
SPONSORED CONTENT
“ Join us from the days of old , when jewelry was made for you — not just sold .”
Curious about designing a piece of jewelry ? Some clients jump right into it as if they ’ ve been designing for years , while others can feel intimidated by the process . Here are our top four tips for creating a custom-designed piece of jewelry with confidence .
1 . Vision : Have a rough idea of what you would like to create .
Having vision doesn ’ t mean that you should have every detail planned out for the piece you are going to help design , but a general idea is helpful . Most clients rely on Google , Instagram and Pinterest to look for style inspiration . If you can ’ t find images of what you ’ re envisioning in your mind , search for details and general shapes to be modified later . The more images , the easier it is for your designer to understand the general aesthetic you are going for .
2 . Design Tools : Consider the design tools available through your designer .
Technology such as CAD , 3D Imaging and 3D printing has made the final product of custom design less of a mystery and has made the process more interactive . CAD and 3D imaging has taken a lot of the guesswork out of custom design . Years ago the shape and layout of a design would be a mystery to the client until a hand-carved wax was produced . Any changes required the designer to carve a new wax from scratch . Now your designer can send you a computer-animated image of what the final product will look like once it is cast and set . From this image the client has more control to make changes without starting over . 3D printers give clients the opportunity to have a wax model printed to see in person before the design is sent off to be cast and set .
3 . Time : Rome wasn ’ t built in a day , and neither is jewelry .
A common misconception is that once a design is solidified , the production process will take days – or that you can sit and wait while it ’ s being set . There are many , many steps that are taken from casting to completing a piece . A good rule of thumb is to expect most designs to take from 4 to 6 weeks . It ’ s always a good idea to leave wiggle room in your timeline in case of casting problems .
4 . The Designer : Choosing the right designer to work with .
Seeing a portfolio of work is a good way to see if your designer is going to be the right fit for you . Aside from a portfolio , make sure to inquire about service and upkeep options for your designs . Choosing a local designer versus online is usually better because of these issues . You want to make sure that you can take your piece to your local designer to fully communicate your needs and concerns .
This Industry Insight was written by the family at Diamond Designs .
Over the past 37 years of business Diamond Design Jewelers of Wexford has specialized is in custom design and in dealing loose diamonds and gemstones . Our family has served as Wexford ’ s longest standing jewelry store . To learn more about who we are and what we do please visit our social media pages to see our designs and to read customer reviews . If you Want to learn more about creating your own custom design or are starting the jewelry shopping process visit our showroom or call us to set up a consultation appointment today .
Facebook . com / diamonddesignjewelersofwexford Instagram . com / diadesjwls /
North Allegheny | Spring 2017 | icmags . com 15