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    The Ultimate Guide to Creating Bespoke Jewellery

    Gemma Assistant Manager
    10/10/2024

    There’s something undeniably special about bespoke jewellery. It’s not just an accessory but a wearable piece of art, a personal treasure that tells a unique story. The process of creating bespoke jewellery is as intricate and fascinating as the pieces themselves, blending creativity, craftsmanship, and expertise. 

    Read on to uncover your ultimate guide to creating bespoke jewellery. 

     

    Understanding What “Bespoke” Means

    The term “bespoke” refers to something custom-made, tailored specifically to your specifications and requirements. In the context of jewellery, it means having a piece designed and crafted uniquely for you. A bespoke piece is the result of collaboration between you and a jeweller, ensuring it reflects your personal style, story, and vision.

     

    Start with Inspiration

    Before you begin the process, you should gather inspiration for the piece you are trying to create. You should consider the following: 

    • Your personal style: Do you prefer minimalist, classic, vintage, or contemporary designs

    • Occasion: Is the piece for an engagement, anniversary, or a personal milestone

    • Symbolism: Would you like to include elements that hold particular meaning, like birthstones or initials

    • Material preferences: What precious metal do you or the person you’re buying for typically wear, yellow, white or rose gold for example.

    Choosing the right Jewellers

    Finding the right jewellers is key to bringing your vision to life. Here’s what to look for:

    • Experience: Finding an experienced jeweller is vital to being able to create your piece to the highest quality

    • Collaboration: A good jeweller will take time to understand your vision, guide you through the process, and suggest practical adjustment.

    • Reputation: Check their reviews and see what previous customers say about their experiences. 

    Once you’ve found your jeweller, establish clear communication regarding the timeline, budget, and design.

     

    The Design Process

    Once you’ve chosen your jewellers, the exciting phase begins! 

    Initial Consultation

    This is when you sit down (either in person or virtually) with the designer to discuss your ideas. Show your inspiration, share your story, and outline your budget and discuss what you want the final item to be. 

     

    Material Selection

    The next step is choosing the right materials, such as what precious metal to use and if the piece includes gemstones, the jeweller usually sources a selection for the client to be able to choose from. 

    This might involve viewing a variety of precious gems, each chosen for its cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. 

     

    Design Development

    Once the vision is clear, the jeweller begins creating CADs that bring the client’s vision to life. It’s a collaborative process, with the client providing feedback to refine the design until it perfectly aligns with their expectations.

     

    Final Design

    Once all changes are made, you’ll sign off on the final design. It is important to note that at this stage, any modifications become difficult or expensive to implement, so make sure every detail aligns with your vision before you give the final sign off.

     

    Crafting the Piece

    With the design and materials selected, the jeweller begins the meticulous process of crafting the piece. Depending on the complexity, this can take several weeks. Traditional techniques like hand-carving, stone setting, and polishing are often combined with modern technologies to ensure precision.

    The metal is shaped and formed to create the foundation of the piece, the gemstones are carefully set into the design, ensuring they are secure and aligned. Then any engravings or intricate details are added before the final piece is polished to perfection, giving it a brilliant shine.

    Once the item is completed, the customer is presented with their piece, a moment filled with anticipation and excitement. 

     

    Understanding the Craftsmanship

    Bespoke jewellery is meticulously crafted by hand or using advanced technologies, each step requires exceptional skill. 

    This phase can take several weeks, depending on the complexity of the design and availability of materials. Your jeweller should give you an estimated timeframe before work begins.

     

    Caring for Your Bespoke Jewellery

    Once your bespoke piece is in your hands, you’ll want to care for it properly to ensure its longevity:

    • Regular cleaning: Depending on the materials, regular cleaning will help maintain shine and prevent tarnishing.

    • Professional inspection: Have your jewellery inspected by a professional jeweller once a year to ensure the stones are secure and there’s no damage.

    • Storage: Keep your piece in a soft-lined jewellery box to avoid scratches or damage from other pieces.

     

    Budgeting for Your Bespoke Piece

    Bespoke jewellery can vary significantly in price, depending on the materials, complexity of design, and the jeweller’s experience. Be transparent with your jeweller about your budget from the start, to avoid any misunderstandings. Many designers are happy to suggest alternative materials or simpler designs where possible, to help you stay within your financial means.

     

    The Legacy of Bespoke Jewellery

    Creating a bespoke piece of jewellery is about more than just acquiring a beautiful item, it’s about creating something truly unique and special. 

    From the initial inspiration to the final fitting, each step of the process allows you to craft a piece that will hold sentimental value for years to come.

    With the right designer, clear communication, and a touch of creativity, you can create something truly extraordinary that reflects your style, story, and significance.

    Want to create a Bespoke piece? Start your journey today and enquire now at info@hattonjewels.com or call us on 0203 116 0069.

     

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    5 Hatton Place,
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    These terms and conditions relate to the use of Hattonjewels.com website and any purchase from Hatton Jewels Ltd, Registration Number: 06241877, and whose Registered Office Address is 57-59 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5BU

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    All orders for Goods shall be deemed to be an offer by the Buyer to purchase Goods pursuant to these Terms and Conditions and are subject to acceptance by Hatton Jewels Ltd. Hatton Jewels may choose not to accept an order for any reason.

    When the item you wish to purchase is not available from stock you will be notified and given the option to either wait until the Goods are available from stock or cancel the order and receive a full refund within 30 days.

    Bespoke Items

    Items that are manufactured from our Build Your Own Rings range are not eligible for a full refund however a life time credit note will be issued for the full value of the item. If the item you received was a special order for a non-standard ring size* or if you ordered a Bespoke Item made to order, we regret that it can only be able to return it to us if it is faulty, as it will have been specially made and cannot be resold. *Standard Rings Sizes - Ladies I - O, Gents L - V

    Cancellation & Return

    We are confident you will be delighted with your Hatton Jewels purchase.

    However, you do have the option of returning items to us within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange if you decide that the item is not right for you or the goods are faulty. We regret that we cannot offer refunds or exchanges on goods that have been worn, damaged or have had any alterations by a third party. Returned items can only be accepted if they are:

  • In the same condition they were received
  • With all original paperwork and documents
  • In the original packaging
  • Via the returns procedure detailed below
  • Failure to do so will result in the item being returned to you. Please complete the following procedure should you decide to make a return.
  • Call us on 0203 116 0069 or e-mail info@hattonjewels.com within 30 days from the receipt of your purchase. We will give you a unique authorisation code which you must write on the original invoice which you need to include in the package.

    Address your package to Hatton J Ltd, 5 Hatton Place, London, EC1N 8RU. For security reasons please do not write ‘Jewels’ anywhere on the outside of the package.

    Post the parcel using the Special Delivery service available at the post office. We recommend that you obtain proof of posting. We cannot be held responsible for any items that are lost in transit.

    Once your package has been received by Hatton Jewels Ltd it will be assessed to verify that the item has been returned in the original condition. Once verified a full refund or exchange will then be issued.

    Delivery

    Every effort is made to deliver your purchase as swiftly as possible. You will be sent a confirmation of delivery date at the time your order is confirmed.

    For items that are in stock we aim to deliver to you within 5-7 days. If we cannot deliver within the agreed time we will notify you immediately and with your agreement arrange an alternative date. Items listed under 'Express Delivery' are items which are currently in stock and can be delivered within 5-7 days. Depending on the rate at which the payment clears, we might be able to deliver it to you sooner.

    All items dispatched are fully covered by insurance whilst in transit, and must be signed for on delivery. At this point they become the property of the purchaser and our insurance no longer applies. Please be satisfied that the parcel has in no way been tampered with in transit before accepting delivery.

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    Information on our website

    Whilst we make every attempt to ensure that our online catalogue is as accurate as possible errors can occur. Prices are subject to change without notice and will be confirmed upon receipt of your order. We may alter images for presentation purposes. Colour and size may vary slightly due to different monitors.

    If a product is not in stock and we are able to replicate it, this does not apply to antique pieces, Hatton Jewels guarantee the carat weight listed on the product as minimum and guarantee the same quality of gemstone, metal and workmanship for the order placed.

    Lifetime Warranty

    All Hatton Jewels handmade pieces come complete with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty that covers any manufacturing defects and any necessary repair will be conducted free of charge under the following terms and conditions:

  • The item is identified by our production department as being defective as a result of a manufacturing default.
  • The item has not had any damage as a result of mishandling or Inappropriate impact (eg. knocks, dents or pressure), and has had no alteration, manipulation, repair or care by a service provider apart from ourselves or is the consequence of normal wear and tear.
  • Proof of purchase must be presented.
  • This does not apply on antique pieces or signed jewellery.
  • In order to ensure all stones are secure within your piece we advise having your piece checked by a jeweller at regular intervals.

    If purchased from ourselves even if not covered by guarantee we endeavour to resolve at the lowest price possible

    Repairs and Alterations

    All repairs on jewellery that has not been purchased through Hatton Jewels are completed at the customer’s risk. We will guarantee the specific work we complete for 1 year.

    Complaints

    If you have a complaint or concern please contact:

    Hatton Jewels Ltd

    5 Hatton Place
    London
    EC1N 8RU
    Tel: 0203 116 0069
    e-mail : info@hattonjewels.com