A Step by Step Guide to Commissioning Jewellery
How to Commission Jewellery: A Step-by-Step Guide
Commissioning a bespoke piece of jewellery is a detailed and personal experience. A one of a kind piece of jewellery is truly thoughtful piece full with sentiment and love. Whether it’s to mark an occasion, remember a loved one or to create a truly unique gift, commissioning jewellery is easier than you think.
Your step by step guide on how to commission jewellery
- Be clear on your vision - decide is this to be a ring or pendant? What is your preferred style? What size des the piece need to be? What materials would you like to use? What is your budget & when do you need it by?
- Select an artist who’s style resonates with you and read up on reviews of their work. Jewellers usually specialise so choose someone that aligns with your needs.
- Working with a jeweller to make a bespoke piece starts with an initial consultation where the jeweller will discuss your requirements and learn about you. This insight is crucial to deigning a unique, one-of-a-kind piece that is truly meaningful for you. This is a key part of my design process and why my customers love my insightful designs.
- Be realistic about timelines. Commissioning a bespoke piece of work takes time and creative energies so you need to allow for design time and then time to source the materials from ethical suppliers and make the piece. This can take 6-8 weeks depending on what the artist already has on the books.
- Be realistic about your budget - commissioning jewellery is akin to engaging with an artist for their unique vision and craftsmanship With rising prices in precious materials, commissioning jewellery is not the same as buying a piece of mass produced, machine made jewellery.
- Three stage process:
- The artist will charge an initial fee for design. For this they will take your brief and provide sketches and designs giving you a variety of options to choose from. I usually provide between 8-12 at this stage of the process.
- Once we select one of these designs, it is priced up and 50% of the production fee is required at this stage to partially cover materials and initial labour. Feel confident about the design you select and make any minor adjustments at this stage as this is then what the jeweller will make. I do not show the piece again until it is ready for fitting. This is because jewellery only looks its best at final finishing stage.
- Final fitting - when a finished piece is ready I will meet the customer for a final fitting of ring or bangle size or length adjustment. Small finishing details can be altered at this stage. The remaining 50% production fee will be required at this point before the piece is delivered.
- Ensure the piece is hallmarked. As you are buying bullion the jeweller should be registered with the Irish Assay Office and the spice needs to be tested for authenticity and hallmarked accordingly.
- Delivery & Review. As an artist any piece I create is infused with my passion and crafted by my hands so I want the piece to be really special. That is why it is delivered in person wherever possible with a handwritten note to the recipient wrapped up sustainably. I will also ask you to give me a review as your experience is so useful for my future customers too.