Custom jewelry design in Tampa
Custom work is for the piece nobody sells: a ring built around a stone you already own, a pendant from a drawing, or three old bracelets melted into one that gets worn. You approve the design before anything is cast.
When custom makes sense
- You own stones you want to wear instead of store
- You've looked everywhere and the piece doesn't exist
- You inherited gold that doesn't suit anyone as it is
- A ring needs to fit around an unusual engagement ring
- You want an anniversary or milestone piece with meaning built in
- You want to combine several small pieces into one
What gets made
Rings
Engagement rings, bands, signets, cocktail and remount rings.
Pendants and necklaces
Initials, shapes, stone pendants and reworked chains.
Bracelets and earrings
Studs built around matched stones, bangles and link bracelets.
Heirloom redesigns
Old gold and stones from several pieces combined into something that gets worn, with the leftover metal credited or returned.
Replicas and replacements
Recreating a lost or damaged piece from photos and any surviving parts.
From idea to finished piece
- Design meeting. Sketches, photos, stones and old pieces on the table. The jeweler talks through what will wear well and what won't.
- Rendering. A CAD model you can see from every angle, with dimensions and stone positions. Changes are made at this stage, when they're free.
- Wax or resin model. A printed model you can try on, so there are no surprises about size or height.
- Casting and setting. The piece is cast in your metal, stones are set at the bench, and it's polished and inspected.
- Pickup and appraisal. You get the finished piece and a written appraisal for insurance.
What affects the price
- Metal type and weight. The rendering gives an accurate weight before casting.
- Stones supplied by you versus sourced for the piece.
- Design time and how many rounds of changes.
- Setting work: a few bezels cost less than rows of hand-set melee.
- Finish and details such as engraving or milgrain.
You get a written quote for repairs and custom work before anything starts.
Custom work in Tampa Bay
A lot of custom requests in Tampa start with inherited pieces: a parent's wedding set from the 1960s, a grandfather's ring that no one will wear as a man's signet. Resetting the stones and reusing the gold keeps the meaning and gets the piece out of the safe. For pieces that will be worn to the beach or the boat, the design is adjusted for it, with lower profiles, closed backs and heavier shanks. Yellow and rose gold also hide the small scratches that salt and sand leave on white metals.
Common questions
How much does custom cost compared to buying finished?
Often similar once you account for the metal and stones. Design and model fees are quoted up front and are small next to the materials. The difference is the piece is exactly what you wanted.
Can you use my old gold?
Yes, in most cases. Old gold is refined and the value credited toward the new piece, or, if you prefer, the piece is cast from your metal where the alloy allows. The jeweler explains which applies.
How long does it take?
Four to eight weeks from approved design, depending on complexity. Holidays and wedding season run longer, so start early.
What if I don't like the rendering?
Then it changes. Nothing is cast until you've approved the model, and the first rounds of changes are expected.
Related services
Areas we serve
Custom design across Tampa and these nearby communities: