Design Process
Come in for a chat!
Please come in for a free consultation (by appointment only). We prefer to meet and greet each new client in person, to get a feel for their own unique style and preferences before diving into a new piece. It also gives us the opportunity to discuss the design at length and in great detail so that we are both comfortable, not just with the design but also with each other. Commissioning a jewellery piece requires a good deal of trust on both ends of the agreement, and these relationships are more easily established in person. However, though most people have by now grown weary of the C-word, the pandemic did open up many new avenues (and attitudes) in this regard. We now also do video consultations with customers from around the world, and have found them to be just as effective.
Choosing A Design
We do most of our design work in CAD, whether the article will be manufactured through 3D printing or by hand. Creating a 3D model of the piece allows us to take accurate measurements of weights and stone sizes, and plan the piece properly before manufacturing commences.
Some people arrive at our door with a clear idea of what they are looking for, others need a bit of guidance to find the perfect design. We recommend creating a Pinterest board with design ideas. If you are unfamiliar with Pinterest, any collection of images, be it digital or printed will suffice. Your board does not have to include only the specific type of thing you are looking for, so even if an image bears only one element that you like, include it for that reason. During your consultation we will discuss the different design elements and find something unique that suits your specific style and taste
Always Start With The Stone
The best place to start with any new piece is with the central focus point, be it a stone, a motif, or a piece of wood or meteorite. In the case of engagement rings it is crucial that the center stone be chosen and finalized before we start drawing in CAD. If the measurements of the central stone changes even by a fraction, it often means that the entire ring needs to be redrawn. Therefore we always encourage our clients to select their stone first, be it a diamond, a precious stone, or a semi-precious stone. The proportions of the central stone dictates all other measurements and is therefore the most important variable which should be determined right at the very start.
Finger Measurements
The second measurement essential for an accurate drawing is the finger size. Like with the central stone, all proportions are tied to the finger size, and changing the drawing at a later stage to accommodate a different measurement will normally mean the ring will need to be redrawn from scratch. If circumstances allow, we take this measurement ourselves, but in cases where stealth is necessary or distance is a problem, we normally request that clients provide us with as accurate a measurement as they can practically achieve. Minor adjustments are possible, but not ideal.
