Frequently asked questions about

bespoke & custom, Jewellery Care, Return Policies and more

MADE TO ORDER VS. BESPOKE

Made to order:

We offer a range of ring designs on our website made to order.

These handmade rings are completed from scratch, but requiring no additional meetings or estimations. SImply order the ring in your size, karat of gold, gold colour, and refer to the timing guide for turnaround and approximate dispatch time.

BESPOKE:

Bespoke jewellery is one of a kind and tailored to your inspiration.

Some people may refer to this as custom jewellery as well. Buying a bespoke/custom 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 many ideas of how your dream ring might look and need help assembling the ideas to make a plan.

If you have a particular deadline, please get in touch so we can let you know if it is feasible with our current workload. We unfortunately do not attempt rush orders to keep the quality of work to our standards.

To get started

Steps ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR listed below outline our standard process

Please read the helpful information listed to equip you with some knowledge before we get started.

ONE: GETTING STARTED

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? 

  • Average range my clients spend: $6500CAD plus taxes & duties
  • Custom gold band minimum: $1000CAD plus taxes & duties
  • Custom solitaire design minimum: $1800CAD plus taxes & duties
  • Enamel + ring design setting 18K yellow gold minimum: $3000CAD plus taxes & duties
  • Custom restyling, using customer gold/stones: $1250CAD plus taxes & duties
  • Other jewellery projects will be quoted.
  • Estimates are subject to change due to market price fluctuations of precious metals and/or gemstones

The average amount spent on a custom ring is $6500. My minimum cost for custom gold bands rings is $1000CAD (stones not included), gold solitaires $1800CAD excluding the centre stone or accent stones, 18k gold enamel settings begin at $3000CAD excluding the centre stone or accents. 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. Custom work often costs more than ready made designs so it is not possible to make an existing ring for less in the same materials because the custom services bill additional hours and time. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please have a look at our Work Service Agreement for payment schedule on custom work.

I SAW ONE OF YOUR RINGS BUT IT IS SOLD OUT

or I  have seen a vintage/bespoke ring I like elsewhere, can you draw inspiration from it and recreate something similar?

  • Taking inspiration from our existing designs is our specialty
  • Exact replicas, duplicates of lost jewellery, or antique replication are not guaranteed and evaluated on a case by case basis

f 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/MATERIALS? 

  • You can bring a family heirloom
  • You can bring yellow gold to make a new yellow gold ring
  • You can bring white gold to make a new white gold ring
  • Regretfully we cannot repurpose platinum at this time, but hope to work with client's platinum in future.
  • We do not work with silver to restyle
  • We do not repair antique rings, but can recommend where to go
  • We do not give advice for purchasing diamonds elsewhere to use in our settings. 
  • You must drop off your stones in person in Toronto

We currently have some spots available for 2023 for customer re-purposing projects of heirloom jewellery (this means inherited diamonds/sapphires/gold etc, not diamonds purchased for less on diamond wholesale websites). The cost to work with Emily to re-imagine your ring starts at $1250CAD, and you must be able to bring your materials into our studio to be assessed, and leave materials with us for the duration of the project (we cannot do stone setting on the spot). Any additional gems, gold, required will be billed accordingly. No two re-purposing projects are alike so we suggest you schedule a virtual consultation to learn more. 

TWO: Align the vision

DOES IT COST ANYTHING TO HAVE A CONSULTATION? 

  • A 30 minute zoom consultation is absolutely free of charge 
  • To prepare, research, get inspired, make a dream board, or make a list of ideas for your projct
  • Sign up for a virtual consultation
  • Email info@emilygill.ca your inspiration notes and images
  • Chat with Emily to align the vision and set expectations

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 free zoom consultation online or email us with your availability.

Three: selecting your stone; design & payment schedule

THREE: PICK YOUR STONE & DESIGN

HOW MUCH DOES AN INITIAL DEPOSIT COST?

  • A non-refundable deposit of $350CAD plus tax is billed to have us design your piece and/or source/ship in stones is required.

Our design & sourcing fee 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. We can borrow up to 3 stones per viewing from our selection online. We have other gem dealers who can procure coloured gems (ruby, emerald, aqua, anything you can imagine really!) which are not online.

  • Drafts and drawings of custom work for heirloom stones (3 drawings, 1 turned into a CAD rendering after we've finalized the drawings).  Please ask for a copy of our work service agreement to see the Payments Revisions schedule for extra work incurred to produce your final ring.
  • This fee is non-refundable and will be credited towards your final piece.

 

HOW MANY STONES WILL I SEE?

  • 3 stones can be borrowed from Misfit Diamonds/Sapphires (our online catalogue)
  • 3 stones can be borrowed from other stone dealers if required
  • Quantities of gems shown may vary depending on rarity of stone or demand of a gem in the market
  • We cannot source or hold gems above the limit listed above without additional payment

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 EG Bespoke is sourcing gems for you from our local and Canadian trusted partners, 2-3 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?

  • You must pay for your stone in 5 days to claim it.
  • Stones over $3000CAD must be paid in full or 50% of the project must be paid
  • Stone and custom work are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

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 $3000CAD we will ask for full payment of the stone to confirm the purchase. You can pay with a credit card, send an e-transfer. We do not accept personal cheques mailed or hand delivered, (only certified cheques). We can accept cash for payment in full including all applicable taxes.

 

IF I AM NOT USING OTHER GEMS IN MY RING, DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR DESIGN WORK?

  • Any restyling work is subject to a non-refundable deposit in advance
  • $350CAD plus tax covers design work
  • Design fee is non-refundable

Yes, if you are not picking out a stone with us, our $350CAD+tax fee will cover the time to create 3 drafts of designs for your consideration. There may be some small tweaks and discussions to get design just right, and additional drawings are billed at $100CAD/concept. We only translate one drawing into a 3D model, which brings us to our next FAQ.

 

DO YOU SHOW DRAWINGS AND 3D MODELS? 

  • We show 3 design layouts and 2 tweaks - 5 total
  • One 3D technical rendering 3D model is made from the above final choice

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 $200CAD+tax per model will be applied to the final cost of your ring.

 

WHEN ARE PAYMENTS FOR WORK DUE? 

  • Payment schedule is typically in 3 installments
  • $350CAD is always due after a consultation and before stone viewing
  • 50% payment OR full payment of stone over $3000CAD
  • Balance due prior to shipping or upon pick up.

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 Time

FOUR: PRODUCTION Time: 

  • Production begins once all design details are confirmed
  • Changes to the project after confirmation will cause delays
  • Changes to the project after confirmation will increase the cost
  • 12 weeks (3 months) is the average amount of time for custom work

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?  

  • 12 weeks for full custom
  • 4-8 weeks made to order from the website (no meetings required, order online)
  • Email in advance

We generally say it takes up to 12 weeks for all custom pieces though some projects take more time. If we are closed for a holiday, we will disclose an interruption in the production schedule and let you know the earliest delivery date of your order.

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.Order a ring sizer to check your ring size from the comfort of home.

READ the work service agreement for custom work.

SAMPLE ONLY -

A copy will be sent to you via docusign upon engagement of EG Bespoke Ltd. Custom services

Custom Work - Service Agreement

Between

Emily Gill of EG Bespoke Ltd. “The Jeweller”

&

__________________________________

Our Client(s) "You"

PHASE 1

The intention of this agreement is to clearly outline the goals, roles, and responsibilities of all parties involved in this custom jewellery design and creation project.

You understand that choosing jewellery that is ready-made is the most affordable and cost-effective option. Custom work will cost a minimum of $350+HST more than buying something ready-made off the website. These additional charges relate to consulting, design and development fees.

You understand that having a piece custom designed is a unique and tailored-made experience, resulting in a finished product that has been specifically made just for you.

You and the jeweller have had a conversation by email, phone or zoom and feel ready to move forward to the (A) design and sourcing stage or (B) feel that a meeting in person would be most productive at this stage.

(A) Once you and the jeweller are clear about the details, direction, and scope of the work, the project will move to the design and sourcing stage.

(A) $350+HST design and sourcing fee will be paid online at this time, which will include some or all of the following: stone sourcing, showing, design layouts, CAD design, 3D printed model. At this time work will begin and this $350+HST fee becomes non-refundable.

(B) If a meeting in person is arranged, the jeweller will charge:

$45+HST for a 30min meeting or

$80+HST fee for a 60min meeting

These fees will also apply to additional zoom calls or emails.

You can expect to be charged $20+HST per email, phone call

These meeting fees are non-refundable and are in addition to the price of the jewellery/custom piece(s).

Based on the ease and progression of this project the jeweller may choose to waive some of these fees at their discretion.

Client Signature: ____________________________________________

Date: ____________________________

PHASE 2

The design, samples or stones have been approved and you and the has taken extensive notes and both parties feel

confident about moving forward with this project together. The jeweller will send you an invoice via Quickbooks to review.

Are there any outstanding questions to be answered?

Client Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

A 50% deposit will be required to start the work.

Once this deposit is received the jeweller begins investing in raw materials.

(This 50% deposit is non-refundable.)

A 100% payment, including TAX, will be made for the purchase of a stone $3000 or more in value

(Stone purchases are non-refundable.)

You understand that the jeweller is only able to hold stones for up to 7 days.

Once the stone has been returned to the stone dealer there is no guarantee that we will be able to acquire the same stone

for you again, and should you wish to see more stones, you will be required to pay for a Major Revision in the Revisions

Payment Schedule . You understand that due to fluctuating gold prices, your quote will only be valid for up to 2 weeks, at which point the estimate may need to be re-evaluated.

While the work is in progress if you would like to request a revision to the design or scope of the work the following fee structure will apply:

Revisions Payment Schedule

Major revision - $250+HST

Medium revision - $150+HST

Minor revision - $50+HST

Meeting schedule (B) will apply as well.

Remake - Labor+Material charges will apply

PHASE 3

A timeline (approximate or firm) has been established for each stage of the project and you feel clear about the next steps.

Viewing Stones Date:

Design phase completed and production start Date:

Receive final quote Date:

Finish piece Date:

(Dates can be approximate if our client and jeweller agree)

All Custom Work over $1000 comes with an appraisal, should you require a reprint, name change, addition of address, a $90+HST fee for a new appraisal will apply.

You agree to ask questions if anything is unclear so that the jeweller can guide you appropriately.

Once the finished piece has been presented, should it not meet your expectations the following steps will be taken:

We will evaluate together where the miss-communication occurred. If there is negligence on the part of the jeweller we will be prepared to take our responsibility and come to an agreeable solution. Should we determine that we did everything in accordance with our guidelines, then we would look at our Revisions Payment Schedule and determine the next steps.

The jeweller will retain all rights to their design(s).

We have all of the tools, experience, resources, communication skills, design advice, vision, and technical expertise to be able to offer you a high quality, unique, one-of-a-kind, tailor-made piece of jewellery designed to last a lifetime. This experience has been customized to meet your specific needs and to provide you with exceptional service. We are looking forward to working with you.

_________________________________________________________ __________________

Emily Gill of EG Bespoke Ltd. Jewellery Date

_________________________________________________________ __________________

Our Client "You" Date

Bespoke Ltd.

BOOK A CONSULTATION

 We would be happy to assist you in booking a future appointment, please CLICK HERE for a private booking link.

 

 

 

 

Client Reviews

Jewellery Care

Jewellery care can be very easily done at home to extend the life of your jewellery and keep it looking beautiful without having to visit a professional for cleaning.

Your ring may need occasional cleaning with soap and water to remove residue from the gemstones that may build up with normal wear. Scrubbing your jewellery with warm water, dish soap and a toothbrush is the most effective, safe and gentle way of cleaning your piece from Emily Gill. Rinse after cleaning and pat dry with a soft cloth. You can also use a blowdyer to remove any water spots. Remember to scrub behind the stones, as most build up will be hidden in the backs of the setting, which could be why your ring still looks lack luster after scrubbing the top.

It is safe to wash your hands, or shower with gold and diamond, sapphire and enamel jewelry made by Emily Gill. We recommend removing engagement or wedding bands while applying hand lotions to prevent build up of residue around the settings that will cause your jewelry to lack sparkle. It is better to remove jewellery while you sleep and set aside in a special dish or on a ring holder. Always wear gloves when handling toxic or abrasive cleaning products.

To protect softer gems such as pearl and opal from damaging chemicals, avoid using these products while wearing lotions or perfumes as they may compromise the gemstones.

Gold will naturally scratch with usual wear, but can become very damaged and wear away, thinning the metal slowly, if it is not set aside during activities such as working out with equipment or weights, gardening, building and construction, art and sculpture making or classes, house painting, etc.

Store silver in tightly sealed plastic baggies to prevent tarnishing while not being worn.

Giving your jewellery a day off every now and then will extend the life of your special heirloom.

Jewellery care can be very easily done at home to extend the life of your jewellery and keep it looking beautiful without having to visit a professional for cleaning.

Your ring may need occasional cleaning with soap and water to remove residue from the gemstones that may build up with normal wear. Scrubbing your jewellery with warm water, dish soap and a toothbrush is the most effective, safe and gentle way of cleaning your piece from Emily Gill. Rinse after cleaning and pat dry with a soft cloth. You can also use a blowdyer to remove any water spots. Remember to scrub behind the stones, as most build up will be hidden in the backs of the setting, which could be why your ring still looks lack luster after scrubbing the top.

It is safe to wash your hands, or shower with gold and diamond, sapphire and enamel jewelry made by Emily Gill. We recommend removing engagement or wedding bands while applying hand lotions to prevent build up of residue around the settings that will cause your jewelry to lack sparkle. It is better to remove jewellery while you sleep and set aside in a special dish or on a ring holder. Always wear gloves when handling toxic or abrasive cleaning products.

To protect softer gems such as pearl and opal from damaging chemicals, avoid using these products while wearing lotions or perfumes as they may compromise the gemstones.

Gold will naturally scratch with usual wear, but can become very damaged and wear away, thinning the metal slowly, if it is not set aside during activities such as working out with equipment or weights, gardening, building and construction, art and sculpture making or classes, house painting, etc.

Store silver in tightly sealed plastic baggies to prevent tarnishing while not being worn.

Giving your jewellery a day off every now and then will extend the life of your special heirloom.

Shipping Rates and Policies

All non-domestic shipments are sent insured and for the full declared value. Duties and import taxes to international destinations are the responsibility of the customer.

Shipping rates:

  • Within Canada: $55.00 CAD
  • Shipping to U.S.: $85.00 CAD
  • Shipping to Australia: $250.00 CAD
  • Shipping to U.K.: $225.00 CAD
  • Other destinations: starts at $150, please contact for estimate.

**International orders typically require 2-14 business days in transit. All orders are sent with a FEDEX or CANADA POST tracking number.

Shipping information:

  • Orders are shipped with Fedex, insured for additional peace of mind
  • the order will be dispatched within 5 days from the date the order is placed
  • If it is being re-sized, it will be dispatched within 14 days of being placed
  • Custom orders will be dispatched within 14 days of final payment
  • Items are subject to all duties and taxes imposed by your country and will be billed to you separately by the carrier.
  • We cannot directly control delivery times, especially concerning customs clearance.

Return shipping:

  • If an item needs to be returned for any reason, all shipping fees related to the returned item are the customer’s responsibility. 
  • Keep all shipping labels, waybills and commercial invoices associated with your purchase incase you need to return anything to us for any reason. No exceptions. 

Refund Policy

Due to the unique nature of custom jewellery, we do not offer refunds on custom jewellery, please read the work service agreement in the list above to understand why these policies are in place.

For ready to ship jewellery, do have exchange policies summarized in a complete list of our policies on returns and exchanges below:

  • Exchange or store credit only on products. No refunds. No exceptions.
  • No returns, exchanges or refunds on custom jewellery.
  • No credit or refund will be given on original shipment costs.
  • Duties and taxes are the responsibility of the customer.
  • Return shipping is to be paid by the customer.
  • Gift certificates are non-redeemable for cash and non-refundable.
  • Rings which have been resized are non-returnable.
  • Made to order rings are non-returnable.
  • All items purchased with discount codes, at a reduced price, are final sale. 
  • All items on sale are final sale.

Should you fine a manufacturers defect in your ring, please contact us for resolution, and we would be more than happy to see how we can help.

We do not insure or offer a blanket warranty on our all our jewellery as each case must be handled on a case by case basis, just as custom jewellery is. We recommend purchasing personal jewellery insurance from Jeweller Mutual (North America) to protect your investment against damage, especially if you have purchased the any gem softer than 9/10 hardness on the Mohs Scale.

Repurposing Jewellery

Every year we take on a handful of re-purposing projects to help clients incorporate sentimental family heirlooms into updated jewellery.

It is fun and a great way to breathe new life into an old piece of jewellery that may be sitting in your jewellery box.

This service is open to clients who can visit our studio in person for jewellery assessment. Please send us an email to learn more about the prerequisites of having your jewellery repurposed. Labour charges and consultation fees apply. Starts at $1500

  • We do not accept cross boarder shipments
  • We need to evaluate the jewellery in person prior to working on your ring or receiving any payment or signing contractual agreements
  • Never ship your jewellery to us without consent.
  • Try to obtain an appraisal certificate of your jewellery prior to booking with us (or ask us where to go to get one completed)
  • Ask for help! We have ideas and can let you know our professional opinion on restyling in a virtual consultation.

Get in touch to find out more

a sampling of our bespoke archives

BESPOKE GALLERY

 Emily has over a decade of experience working with clients on custom jewellery that matches their personality and style.

Your piece of jewellery can be made to order, from an existing style in our collection, or custom made from scratch from your inspiration and ideas.

Here are some exciting custom project we have worked on over the years. Want to learn more? Read our FAQ to learn more in depth about the process.