What Is Custom Jewelry?

Custom jewelry, at it's core, is jewelry made exactly how you want it. Maybe you saw a piece you liked, but you wish it was a little shorter. Longer. Bigger. Smaller. Bolder. Shinier. Matte finished. It doesn’t even matter! Even if there's a design you've always pictured, but haven't been able to find anywhere, you can custom make it.

Giving a piece of custom jewelry to someone you love is a great way to incorporate thoughtful touches, such as engraving or their birthstone. We often get requests to repurpose existing jewelry or to replace a lost piece.

Keep reading to see how our jewelers at Alexis Jae work with our customers to create a beautiful piece of custom jewelry perfect for them.

What Goes Into Custom Jewelry Design

Custom jewelry pieces are made when a buyer commissions a jeweler or artisan to create a piece precisely for them. Customers come to us to create everything from their next family heirloom to a trendy anklet. This starts a collaborative process that can take a bit of time but usually results in a stunning of fine jewelry.

Custom made jewelry can come in any form, from custom engagement rings to specialty necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. Many customers commission custom jewelry for special occasions like engagements or weddings.

Finding a jewelry designer to complete engagement rings and wedding bands is usually pretty simple. However, at Alexis Jae, we design way more than engagement and wedding bands. We can create at necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, or anklets exactly how you'd like it at a fraction of the cost of traditional retail.

The Custom Jewelry Design Process

Commissioning a designer to make a piece of custom jewelry is a longer process than simply stepping into your local jewelry store and buying something off the shelf. At Alexis Jae, we make this a seamless process. We communicate with our clients the way they'd like to be reached - whether that be e-mail, text, or a phone call.

Make sure to have the wearer’s exact size to the first consultation you have with your jewelry designer. This is less important for custom earrings, which are generally similar sizes across the board. However, if you're looking to have a custom bracelet made, you'll need the wearer's wrist size. Similarly, you'll need their ring size for a custom engagement ring or wedding ring.

Consider sending a few examples of jewelry you like, so your designer can have an idea of your vision. It’s also good to have pictures of the recipient wearing their favorite types of jewelry, so we can choose a piece that appropriately matches.

After we have an idea, we will price out the piece. Upon approval, our graphic designers will create a mockup using computer-aided design. We will send this image to you for your approval before making any physical products.

Once you approve the design, depending on the piece, our production team will make a wax model. These wax models are often used for casting jewelry made of precious metals.

Next the jeweler will start making your piece out of metal. While it might seem like this is the point of no return, there are still a few levels of customization that can be applied at this phase of the process. For example, if you decide you’d rather have a birthstone instead of a diamond set in your custom necklace, you can reach out to the jeweler to see if they can accommodate that change.

After casting, the jeweler will work to finalize your piece. Generally, they will start by polishing the cast metal and set the gemstone. Finally, they’ll give it a few finishing touches, like polishing, and custom engraving, so that you have a completely personalized jewelry piece when you pick it up.

Does Custom Jewelry Cost More?

At Alexis Jae, you can expect to pay a fraction of the price of traditional retail, even for custom pieces. Our customers are our designers! If we know other customers will love a piece, we put it on our website for other clients to purchase (unless we're asked not to).

Several other factors can impact the final cost of a custom piece. The type of metal you want can also impact price. For example, rose gold or white gold custom jewelry will likely cost more than a piece made from sterling silver. The gemstones and their size greatly impacts size.

Some designers might offer discounts for their custom pieces if you’re buying more than one. For example, two matching wedding bands may come at a slight discount compared to two totally unique rings.

If you’re worried that the final cost of your custom jewelry piece may be more than you can afford, be honest with your designer. They may have cost-saving measures or payment plans available that can help you afford the piece of your dreams.

Alexis Jae Jewelry has professional in-house jewelry designers on staff to help you create the perfect piece for your special occasion. Whether you’re celebrating an engagement, wedding, birthday, or anniversary, we offer many different types of custom jewelry, including bracelets, rings, necklaces, and more. Reach out to us today to see how we can create a piece of jewelry as unique as the special person in your life.