Jewelry to order is created especially for your client with your participation. Customers want to create their own jewelry, want to create a special engagement ring for their loved one, or create an original anniversary or birthday gift. The bespoke design process means clients can include expensive gemstones or their favorite metal. The decoration must exactly match the desires and requirements of the recipient. In fact, commissioned work is the creation of the perfect piece of jewelry. The creativity involved in this process is enjoyable, making the final piece more valuable.
I believe that the design process should be as special as the product. The service that the jeweler offers puts the client at the center of the design process.
Here are some useful things to know about custom jewelry design.
- Leave plenty of time and let your clients know about it. Making jewelry to order is a longer process than just visiting a jewelry store. The time spent helps make the final decorations special, and rushing in a panic is not a good idea. The design process is part of the fun. Enjoy it – create memories by creating a piece of jewelry that you will cherish for a lifetime. These days, many couples get together to create an engagement ring, it’s great to see them both create a unique piece of jewelry as a symbol of their love. Of course, some still enjoy surprising their partner with a proposal and a ring, but more and more people are getting involved with the person who will actually be wearing the ring for the rest of their lives.
- Remind clients of their budget. It’s a good idea to have an open and frank discussion about the budget before you start working together. Encourage the client to be honest. Our advice is to strive to get the best diamond within your client’s budget, which does not necessarily mean a large carat. We discuss with each buyer of 4C diamonds (cut, color, clarity and carat weight) and how they can get a diamond of a different cut and clarity that looks bigger and more dazzling than a more classic diamond with a higher carat weight. This does not mean lower quality, it is simply a correct understanding of diamonds. The key goal that I always work towards is to provide our clients with the best jewelry within their budget.
- Ask your client to collect design inspiration. Ask them to look at pictures, Instagram, Pinterest, other people’s jewelry and think of something they like or the person who will be wearing the jewelry. It is easier for clients to convey their vision through examples than to try to describe it in words. Make a mood board with drawings of the rings they like (and ask them to think about the ones they don’t like). This helps to form a clear idea of what they need. We use inspiration to discuss options, price advice, and any possible design flaws or risks associated with a particular design. Some clients may be completely new to this and have no idea about the design they want, and that’s okay too. Then we introduce them to different designs so that they can make a decision.
- Be practical. Many clients fall in love with extravagant ring designs but find they are impractical in everyday life. Talk to your client about their lifestyle. Does this style of jewelry suit their daily activities? Are they athletic? Do they work with their hands? Our skill lies in adapting the ideas that arise from meetings with the client to the lifestyle that he leads. For example, if the client has an active lifestyle, we can offer an engagement ring made from a durable metal such as platinum with a subtle design so that the ring does not get in the way of an active lifestyle. But if the decorations and lifestyle are designed to stand out from the crowd, we also adapt this information to the design. Everything that is important to our customers is important to us.
- What metal? For engagement rings and wedding bands, metal makes up about 90% of the ring, so it’s an important choice. The metal your customers choose will depend on lifestyle, budget, and preference. Some metals, such as yellow gold, are more easily dented and scratched, while platinum jewelry can withstand a lot of wear and tear. What color jewelry does your client usually wear? Ultimately, the metal they choose will perfectly reflect their sense of style.
- Add finishing touches. Once your client has decided on a design, it’s time to complete their custom vision with the finishing touches. End options may include additional stones to complement the center stone, alternating metal colors, or something else. Customers can engrave a date, name, or symbol on the ring, insert a birth stone or gemstone that had some meaning, or even incorporate a metal or stone from their parents or grandparents ring into a new piece of jewelry. This is perfect for those who have inherited a ring that is not to their taste.
- Custom jewelry design is all about creating something special that will stay with your customers for a lifetime. If you think about all of the above points, your client will have a piece of jewelry they will cherish forever.