Custom Design Process
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Phase 1
Drawing
First we will sketch a design based on the clients wants/needs.
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Phase 2
CAD Design
Our CAD designers re-create the ring model based on the drawing.
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Phase 3
3D Version
We print a 3D plastic from the CAD files, to be cast in white gold.
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Phase 4
Casting
From the 3D wax a metal casting is made before gem setting.
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Phase 5
Finished Product
Polished and set custom ring with the client's gold and diamonds.
We Do Custom Designs
"I've looked through several catalogs and nothing really jumped out at me."
"I have a vision for a ring in my mind, but I can’t seem to find what I really want anywhere."
"I wish could have more choices for my next piece of jewelry."
These are common customer sentiments. Most customers are tired of being confined to catalog jewelry pieces that don’t reflect their personal taste. Many customers have creative, personalized ideas for jewelry, but are frustrated because they can't find anything on the market that fits their image. At J. Thomson Custom Jewelers, we take pride in our ability to make the customer's vision a reality. We work closely with each customer to design a unique, one-of-a-kind heirloom piece. It may be from scratch or it may be a drastic re-styling of an existing piece of jewelry you are tired of wearing.
Discover the benefits of custom design jewelry through online communication. Not every customer is able to physically visit our store to tell us their idea or view their piece in progress. Our customers can tell us what they want from the comforts of their own home via email, approve an initial drawing and then review wax models, metal prototypes and the final product. YOU work with us through the entire process until the piece is finished to your exact specifications.
Our Pricing
There are many costs associated with a custom designed piece of jewelry. Each job is different but the pricing process is the same. Inevitably the stones, or centerpiece gem may be the top cost of a custom jewelry design, then the actual creation is made around that stone or stones, and the size you select. We usually recommend you purchase the main gem or diamond from us first and then we work closely with you to design the jewelry for your taste, desire and budget. These are the things that need to be considered when pricing a job to be done in a custom manner.
Traditional, Contemporary, Artsy, Vintage. Is it sentimental? Religious/symbolic?
Everyday, everyhere, a few times a month, once per year.
Simple, Curvy, Multiple Stone, Symmetrical or not, Setting Styles, Dimension, Curves, Multi-metal, Textures, Wild. The occasion?
A lot will depend on where on your body you will wear it, what your finger can handle? Where it will be worn; work, home, play, or everyday? Stones aligned down the finger, across the finger, straight up and down your chest, etc. How big do you want it? Bigger usually is more metal, more work, more stones, more money.
Do you want Sapphires with your diamonds, or side diamonds with your family birthstone? How many stones? How big of the stones? Colors, Clarity and Fire? Shapes
All of these factors coupled with your ideas on how you want the piece to look will determine the final cost. In addition your ability to make a decision based upon drawings, wax models, prototypes, and discussions will also determine the final cost of this design project. We can recommend, interpret, and suggest, but ultimately it s your decision.
We give very good cost estimates based on our experience in designing thousands of pieces over the past 22 years. When we give you a cost it will never be over unless you change the job in a major way many times the final price will come in under the estimate once all the hours are tabulated and metals, stones are weighed. We can also take trade-ins of old gold and other metals. Many times we can use your diamonds, gems, and even your “sentimental” metals in the new design; it saves you money and allows you to continue to enjoy “family” jewels or that special gold ring your mother gave you many years ago.
Metals/Golds($2000/oz) 14kt yellow $70/gram 14kt white gold $75/gram
18kt yellow $96/gram 18kt white gold $100/gram
Platinum $90/gram or $1000/oz* note we use Platinum .95% and Iridium 5% (no cobalt or ruthenium) Our platinum mixture is the same as Harry Winston used since the 1900s
Silver $4.00/gram
NOTE: We do take Trade Ins of Gold, so if you give us 10 grams of good gold we can use it in your job and you would not be charged for 10 grams otherwise if your gold is mixed and not good quality we can trade “scrap value” typically 75% of spot ( we return your gems) thus offsetting your costs by that amount. Not all gold is the same, some foreign manufactured goods are low quality mixes of 9kt and this would impact the appearance of your custom design if it was used in the construction.
Diamonds 1pt-9pt (0.01ct 0.09ct) Rounds
H I Si2 $1000/ct
G H Si1 $1400/ct
G/H VS $1900/ct
F G VVS $2200/ct
*All very fine cuts, quantity will get more discounts.
Diamonds over 0.10cts 0.20cts from $1400/ct – $2000/ct. Bigger stones quoted upon request with EGL or GIA certificate. Certified Diamonds available from 1/4ct on up we will still be very competitive in ANY diamond.
Initial Design Wax Carving $100-200 depending on the complexity.
CAD/CAM minimum $500 (simple), $750 (difficult) and $1000 (class ring style) for the 3D design and $100 for 3Dwax or plastic ready to cast.
Mold Making $150
Waxes $150 to $200
Casting $200 on up. Platinum $500
Finishing $159-300
Stone Setting Pave or Bead Set Small Stones $20 per stone, emeralds $25 per stone
Bezel Setting $90 per stone
Channel Work $50 per hour
Prong Set Small Stones $10/stone
Prong Set Larger Stones, Diamonds, Tanzanites $150 to $300 per karat
Metal Fabrication versus Wax — Mold —Cast Techniques $65/hour Gold and Silver
Platinum $100 per hour (Hand Fabricated or Hand Made)
We now cast in palladium – the new pure white metal harder and heavier than white gold. Paladium- Iridium is a platinum group metal.
Final Polishing $80 to $100 per job
