The Deadline Approaches!

Lindsay Ellen

The panic is setting in. Christmas has finally entered people’s minds. It has been at the forefront of our minds for months and we have been trying to encourage customers to plan ahead. There is still a little room on the schedule for custom work, but there are limitations to Christmas miracles.

Let’s talk about the custom design process and how planning ahead can make all the difference. As we get closer to Christmas, schedules fill up. Every single job is a rush, and when everything becomes an emergency, stress grows. Mistakes can be made, and most people don’t work as well under intense pressure.

The initial client consultation includes the design plan, discussion about budget and building a relationship and establishing trust. Making an appointment is crucial so that enough time is set aside in order to answer all of your questions. Inspiration photos are helpful if you don’t quite know exactly what it is you want. We can pull elements from different designs to achieve the look you desire.

If it is a custom remount, the old jewelry item will go to the jeweler to be disassembled. Diamonds removed from the settings will be weighed, measured, and laid out. The specifications will be shared with the CAD designer. If we are sourcing a new stone, we will be contacting our diamond dealers in New York and doing research to find the biggest and most beautiful diamond we can find for your budget. This step can take several days to a week.

Once the diamonds are selected and the CAD design is finished, this is the last stop for any revisions. We can easily modify the design until it is exactly what you want. This is also when we finalize the cost and gain approval for your new piece of jewelry. This process can sometimes add another few days or more than a week to the process to get it perfect.

Once approved, the casting is done and the diamonds are set. Plan for another two to three weeks for this step. Shipping can add another few days. Once we receive the new setting, it is inspected in-house for quality control, and if we are setting the center stone on premises, that takes a little more time.

After all of this, it is time for you to pick up your new custom design. This is the most rewarding part for me, personally. Weeks of planning, and the final delivery is what we are all waiting for. I do not accept anything that is not perfection, especially when it comes to bridal designs. A ring that is to be worn every day has to be perfect. Perfection takes time.

Customers who are informed are the best customers. We are more than happy to make an appointment for a custom consultation and dream up the perfect bespoke design of your dreams. Now is the time to decide!

Lindsay Ellen is the Jeweler’s Daughter and can be found at the Harbor Goldsmith, 680 Bald Eagle Dr, Marco Island, FL. Call the store at 239-394-9275 or email harborgoldsmith@comcast.net.