Custom Process & FAQ

Covid-19 precautions

As of January 1, 2021, in person meetings are postponed until further notice due to Ontario non-essential business shut down requirements to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Curbside drop offs and pick ups are possible, we will try to accomodate you as best we can. Please send an email to discuss.

Custom orders may experience some delays, but we are continuing to fulfill orders and plan custom projects as usual. If you have a particular deadline, please get in touch so we can let you know what is feasible at this time.

One: Getting started

Buying a bespoke ring is a fun experience of designing a special piece from start to finish! I promise it’s not as hard as you think, and so many people say that I make it easy and stress free! You may have some ideas of your dream ring and need help putting together the pieces.

How much does it cost?

The average amount spent on a custom ring is $6000CAD. My minimum cost for custom engagement rings is $3000CAD, gold wedding bands start at $1000CAD, a custom made solitaire mount starts at $1800CAD plus the cost of a stone. The cost of engagement rings in my ready to purchase collection is $3000-15000 CAD and browsing the website may help establish what different ring designs cost.

I saw one of your rings but it is sold out, can you draw inspiration from it and recreate something similar?

Yes! If you have seen a piece of mine but it is no longer available, I am happy to make something similar. If you have any ideas on how you might like to customize it or tweak the design, I can work with you to create something perfect and just for you.

Can I bring my own gemstone?

Yes, if you have a special heirloom stone we do encourage you to design with it as the most ethical choice for making a new piece. We only receive stones that are dropped off in person, because would like to have a close look and inspect the stone before accepting them for use and advise you of any risks of resetting or reusing some stones. Our recommendation is to only re-use diamonds or sapphires or other harder gems for repurposing projects.

Due to the unprecedented challenges we face with COVID-19 government forced lockdowns, we will do our best to accommodate clients on a case by case basis. We do not re-work diamond melee (chips) unless over a certain size, please ask if you are unsure what type of jewels can be re-used. Heirloom stones are acceptable to re-work We have many stones to choose from and trusted suppliers whom we like to support and do business with. We prefer to help with your project from start to finish and hope you recognize the value in creating a custom piece from start to finish.

We can ship your finished piece back to you once complete, fully insured up to 10K USD

Two: Align the Vision

Before we begin any creative work, let's chat and get to know what it is you want, what type of gemstone you are looking for, shape, design inspiration, budget and timeframe. Schedule a phone consultation online or email us with your availability.

Does it cost anything to have a consultation?

A 20 minute phone consultation is absolutely free of charge - we are flexible to call our clients on Zoom, FaceTime or Whatsapp.

Three: Pick your stone & design

Once we have established the parameters of our project together, we require a deposit to do further work into stone sourcing, design work or any research and development associated with your custom piece.

How much does an initial deposit cost?

We charge $250 to begin custom work beyond the initial consultation and once we need to gather stones or research ideas for your custom piece. We love discussing custom work and spend a lot of time behind the scenes working for you in the beginning before we have even made a piece of jewellery, and thank you for trusting us with our process and compensating us for this time.

The $250 deposit covers the following:

Sourcing stones for your project. We may need to ship stones in from a supplier, and take photos and videos for you to select from.

Drafts and drawings of custom work for heirloom stones.

This fee is non-refundable and will be credited towards your final piece.

How many stones will I see?

We currently offer hundreds of diamonds for sale from our partner Misfit Diamonds Ltd. online, with videos and pricing, so you may browse as many as you want online and complete your purchase through our site.

If you are sourcing other gems, 1-3 stones is typical, and we do our best to curate a selection of gems that fit your parameters. Sometimes fewer or more stones are available and our clients trust us to pick the best for your specific request. If your request was challenging or impossible, we would not take on the project in the first place, as we do like to work on pieces we feel we can accomplish and that will make you happy.

When do I have to decide on my stone choice and pay for it?

We understand that you may need to sleep on your decision before confirming your choice and paying a deposit for the stone. We ask that you let us know, and pay for your stone within 5 business days. To pay, we will send a custom payment link for either 50% of the estimated total cost of the piece, or if the stone costs more than $3000 we will ask for full payment of the stone to confirm the purchase.

If I am bringing my own stone, do I have to pay for design work?

Yes, if you are not picking out a stone with us, our $250 fee will cover the time to create 3-5 drafts of designs for your consideration. There may be some small tweaks and discussions to get design just right but usually we create up to 5 concepts and follow through with one to completion.

Do you show 3D models?

We send one custom 3D model verification email before moving the ring to production. Because we take the time to refine the design by drawings, this is a final step before the ring is made into gold. If you would like 3D models made of multiple design concepts for the same project, an additional $200 per model will be applied to the final cost of your ring.

When are payments for work due?

We require at least 50% to be paid in advance of beginning production on any custom piece, purchasing a stone over $3000 requires full payment. The final balance is due upon completion and before shipping or pick up. Because of the unique nature of custom design, unfortunately, we do not offer refunds for amounts paid toward custom work or exchanges or return on custom jewellery. In the event that a customer decides not to continue to completion with a custom order once a deposit has been made, there will be no refund for work completed up to the point of cancellation. All pieces must be paid in full prior to or at the time of delivery or shipment once completed.

FOUR: Production:

This is the most exciting part and where you let me take care of the finer details. Having gone step by step from inspiration, drafts and sketches, to a computer 3D model means we simply need to set everything into motion.

What is your lead time on custom work?

We generally say 4-12 weeks for all custom pieces though some projects take more time.

What if I make changes after I have finalized the design?

If at any point you are curious as to what stage your ring is at in production, do not hesitate to ask. Any changes made at this time will be subject to fees to cover re-modelling, re-casting, or changing gemstones, and delay completion of your piece.