Hello! The way I work is a little different from most online shops. Aside from a handful of ready-to-wear pieces available in my shop, I make everything custom to order to your exact finger size, metal preference, and with the stone of your choice. In addition, I also make fully custom-designed and carved pieces from scratch.
Here’s a rundown of how it all works.
Please select your preference:
Ordering a Shop Design
Step 1: Getting Started
In order to purchase a piece from my shop, I usually need a few additional pieces of information:
- Your finger size (recent jewelry shop sizing is best)
- Your metal of choice (14K, 18K, white/yellow/rose gold, platinum or palladium)
- Your stone of choice (if applicable)
Generally, my clients have a few questions for me too; now is a good time to get these answered 🙂
Step 2: Invoicing
Once you have made all your choices, I will invoice you directly using PayPal or direct credit card invoice, or I can make a custom listing in my shop with your name on it that has all your specifications listed out (whichever you prefer); you can complete the purchase whenever you are ready. I usually run 4-6 weeks to complete a piece and I typically send you an email after a couple of weeks with an updated ETA.
Step 3: Carving & Casting
Unless there were significant modifications to my shop design (for which I will send you wax photos to approve before casting), things move ahead and require little to no input from you while I’m making the piece. If you would like, I can take a few in-progress pics. I’m always happy to do this so feel free to request these!
Step 4: Casting & Finishing up
Once your piece is cast into gold or platinum, I do the finishing work: filing/sanding/polishing/soldering/patinating/setting stones as needed. Once finished, I snap a few glamour shots to send you.
I ship USPS Priority or Express, insured.
Ordering a Custom Designed & Carved Piece
Step 1: Getting Started
Gathering Ideas: This process is a little more involved than ordering a shop piece. To begin, send me an email me with your idea & questions. I can give you at least a ballpark quote if I know a few details,
- An overview of your design idea, motifs, etc.
- Size, general shape, or width of ring
- Stones?
- Metal preference (14K, 18K, white, yellow, platinum, etc.)
- Finger size if you know it already
Your ideas can be as involved as detailed sketches you have already made or very general, like “I want you to make me something! I like plants!†and we’ll go from there.
Sketching Designs: Once I have a good idea of what you are looking for and my ballpark quote works for you, I can begin sketching designs. I sketch, email pics, and we go back and forth until the design is just right. If there are stones involved in your design, I source these & get final quotes for you.
Step 2: Invoicing
With an approved quote, design, and stones located, I send an invoice for a deposit (1/2 total) to begin work. I order the stones (if needed), and then I begin carving from literally a block of wax.
Step 2: Carving Process & Casting
Once I have the model carved, I take a ton of photos and send these to you via email. Any alterations that need to be made can be made to the wax before casting.
If everything is perfect, the next step is casting. The piece is transformed into gold or platinum! It’s awesome!!
Step 3: Finishing & Final Invoicing
Once cast, I get to the finishing work: filing, sanding, polishing, soldering, patinating, setting stones as needed. Once finished, I snap a bizillion glamour shots to send you.
Final Invoicing: Again, I will summarize the balance for you and send a final invoice. As before, no rush from my end. I ship your piece out as soon as the balance is taken care of, USPS Priority or Priority Express, fully insured.