how do I find a custom jeweler?

[honeynut]

Hi! Have an idea for a wedding band for my to-be. He''s found a few styles he likes but he wants to have something similar yet unique. Christian Bauer-ish, white gold, a few small diamonds, engraving on the outside. I''ve never done this before and am not sure how to interview designers... Any advice?

 

[zoobiedo]

If you know jewelers in your area, either personally or through others, contact them and inquire. You can get custom work from just about every vendor on Pricescope. I am currently having Whiteflash make a custom setting based on an idea I had. If you search the site and look up custom settings you will find information. Good Luck.

 

[yowahking]

If you tell us where you live, maybe someone knows of a great custom jeweler in your area. Ask the best appraiser in your area. Check with services like findmyjeweler.com to see if they have searched your city. Ask the state jewelers association. Look for ads in the phone book that have won awards for design. Most good custom jewelers can make most any type of design or at least offer you choices of similar options. Hopefully, they will be fair on price as custom does not have to mean expensive. With the new wax carving amd milling machines, jewelers have more options available than they did 5 years ago.

 

[DavidEmslie]

That is correct, there are some amazing things that can be done on a CAD machine, I have one and my designers and myself are able to offer designs that would otherwise be imposible, however, they are not the answer to everything. It still takes a good wax carver to compleat them. And a good goldsmith to finish them, however, Custom is not anyting that is truly hard in this day and age, or expensive. But it does take somoene who knows what they are doing. Smaller companies with CAD machines can run circles around larger companies, Check localy and see what you can come up with if nothing go online and find someone who has one or can do one. This time of year the turn around time should be pretty quick. I am amazed how many custom and CAD jobs I get online from people all over the US and even the world. It takes some communication, a few phone calls and emails you can get exactly what your looking for, and usualy for the same price as what a similar ring would go for retail or less! Its a great way to get something that is unique and special.

 

[honeynut]

Thanks everyone!

I am in Montreal, Canada. I do everything online, pretty much, but designing a custom wedding band through the internet kind of worries me a bit. I had all kinds of ideas about what I'd want as an engagement ring, but all that changed when I tried them on!

I tried findmyjeweler.com however I don't think it's accepting my Canadian postal code. I have Birks that I could go to locally, however I think they'd be likely to overcharge me.

2B's tried on some bands, he wants diamond but nothing too blingey. Comfort fit or 'signature fit' maybe, medium width, white gold or platinum. Contemporary style with a conservatively unique flair, lol. Engraved on the outside.

Maybe I should learn CAD?

 

[denverappraiser]

SPARKLY,

It doesn't sound like what you want is going to be all that difficult although good hand engraving is time consuming and therefore sometimes a little more expensive than people are initially expecting.

Go to a jewelery store and ask to see the secton of items made by their shop. Personally, I like independent dealers or very small chains. It's usually easy to find the display and they are normally proud of the pieces that it contains. Look to see if there is anything that has the same techniques as what you are looking for. If they do, look it over and see if the craftsmanship looks like what you want. In your case, the engraving is going to be the biggest issue so look for something that's been hand engraved. If they don't have it, ask the sales person and they may direct you to a different case because sometimes they display rings in a funny sort of way. Make sure that it's something that was done by an engraver will be able to work on yours. The objective is to be able to say that you want your ring made by the same shop that made this one.

You mentioned, Christian Bauer. Find a local dealer that sells that line and discuss it with them. It's possible that CB does custom work and will be willing to make your piece for a price that you can live with. I don't know their policy but I'm sure one of their dealers will tell you.

There are quite a few dealers on pricescope that sell this kind of work. Read through the forums and look at their individual websites for pictures. Again, the hard part is the engraving. When you find one that suits your fancy, call them up and ask whatever questions you may have. These guys are anxious to earn your business and there are some first rate stores here. Don't let their internet presence scare you away.

After a couple of rounds of this, you will find that you are pretty good at telling the difference between good work and fabulous work and will have a pretty good idea what you should expect to pay for what you want. You probably will also have come across a dealer that matches your communication style and with whom you seem to have a good relationship. From there it's easy.

It's not as hard as you think. A lot of people even think it's fun.

Learning CAD could be good fun and it's hard to say that it would be a mistake but it's unlikely to be helpful for the task at hand.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver