Questions?
We get it! Custom jewelry often comes with more questions than picking something out of a case.
Here are some of the questions we get the most often.
Where do we start?
What do we need to get started?
Bring us whatever you've got.
Let us know if it's an anniversary, an engagement, a collection of family jewelry, a stone you've been saving, or simply an idea you've been kicking around for years.
Tell us what you like, what you don't like, and what you're trying to accomplish.
You don't need to know exactly what you want. In fact, we're really good at helping figure that out.
What does an appointment cost?
Nothing.
There is no charge for coming in, asking questions, or talking through your ideas.
Not only is the consultation free, so is the initial design and rendering. We want to make sure we're a good fit, and can deliver what you're looking for before asking you to spend any money.
How much does custom jewelry cost?
There isn't one answer because there isn't one kind of custom jewelry.
The lion's share of projects fall somewhere in the $2,500–$15,000 range, although simpler projects can be less and more elaborate pieces can be considerably more.
Take a look at our Pricing page to get a better idea!
Can you work with my budget?
There are almost always several ways to approach a design, and changing the metal, stones, size, complexity, or construction can make a significant difference.
We are always happy to try to fit your budget, but we won't cut corners to get there.
If what you want can't be built properly for what you want to spend, we'll tell you honestly and work with you to find another approach.
What we won't do is quietly make it thinner, weaker, or cheaper than it should be just to make a sale.
Do I have to make an appointment?
Yes.
If you come to the door, and one of us is available, we'll always try to help - but we are a private, by-appointment studio. We don't keep a showroom full of jewelry waiting for people to wander in and browse.
Your appointment is your time. We want you to be able to talk with us, ask questions, and receive our full undivided attention.
What should I bring?
You don't have to bring a thing, but we'd encourage you to bring anything needed to help explain what you're looking for.
Existing jewelry, stones, photos, napkin sketches, you name it!
Do I have to live in Boerne?
Nope.
We love meeting with people one-on-one in our studio on Main Street, but we work with clients all over the country. Most projects can be handled partly or entirely remotely.
Because we use 3D models and realistic renderings in the design stage, our design process works very well over email.
What is the process?
What does the custom jewelry process look like?
We start with a conversation.
Once we understand what you're trying to accomplish, we put together a design and estimate. For custom pieces, that usually means creating a detailed 3D model and realistic renderings so you can see what we're thinking before anything gets made.
Once the design and price are approved and your deposit is in, we build it.
Then you get to wear it.
Will I see the design before you make it?
Absolutely.
We don't expect you to know from a sketch. You'll see realistic 3D renderings of your design before you ever commit to having it made.
If you're still not sure, we're also happy to provide resin models for you to feel and try on.
We also understand that revisions are often part of the process, and are happy to work with you to make sure everything looks great before you say go.
How long does custom take?
Most projects take a few days to design and price, followed by about 3–5 weeks to build once the design is approved.
Some are faster. Some are much more complicated.
If you have a deadline, tell us before we start. We'd rather give you a realistic answer than promise a date we can't keep.
How much do I have to put down?
We generally require a 50% deposit before production begins, with the balance due when the piece is completed.
The deposit covers the commitment to the project and allows us to order materials and move into production.
For unusually large or complicated projects, payment arrangements may be different. We'll explain everything before you commit.
What if I don't like the design?
Tell us!
The design process is where we're supposed to find out that something isn't quite right. Maybe the proportions are off, the style isn't what you pictured, or you've changed your mind after seeing it in three dimensions.
We don't want you to be afraid to tell us when something needs to change, and we don't want you approving a design you're uncomfortable with. Let's work together to make it right.
Are you going to tell me the truth?
What's the real difference between custom and off-the-shelf?
With something off the shelf, you find the piece and decide whether you like it... Often with a salesperson trying to convince you that you do.
With custom, you decide what the piece needs to be, and we figure out how to make it happen.
That means the proportions can fit you, the stones can have a purpose, old jewelry can become something new, and the finished piece is entirely your own.
It also means we're not building to satisfy shareholders, or squeeze every penny out of each sale. Every piece we make receives our full attention, and is built the way we believe it should be made.
Will you tell me if my idea is bad?
Yes.
We'd rather tell you before we build it than apologize after we build it.
Sometimes a design needs to be thicker, stronger, or just different from what we originally pictured. Sometimes there's a better way to accomplish what you're trying to do.
That's part of what you're paying us for.
We want your piece to be suited to your lifestyle, and made to last.
Can you make something thin or hollow?
Jewelry gets worn. It gets knocked against things. It gets dropped. It gets lived in.
We're happy to work within a budget or aesthetic that calls for a lighter design, but we'll tell you when it reaches the point of compromising durability.
Can you make something for $1,000?
Sometimes. If we can make it right.
A $1,000 budget doesn't buy every design, but it can absolutely make a well-designed piece possible if we're smart about the materials and construction.
The trick is figuring out what matters most to you and putting the money there.
We'll tell you up front what's possible, and what isn't, and work with you from there.
Can you make something for $50,000?
Absolutely.
Larger budgets give us more room to work with rare materials, unusual stones, and greater complexity.
Our goal is always to exceed expectations. If you're comfortable spending more, that doesn't mean we're going to charge more just because we can. It means we have more freedom to push the design, the materials, and the craftsmanship further.
Do you ever say no?
Yes.
Our goal is to make the right piece, not simply to take your money.
We don't believe that saying yes to everything is good customer service. If we don't believe we can do the job properly, we'd rather have an honest conversation than build something we don't believe in, or can't stand behind.
How is it made?
Can you use my existing jewelry?
Absolutely.
We work with inherited jewelry, old engagement rings, broken pieces, single earrings, mismatched stones, and gold that's been sitting in a drawer for twenty years.
In most cases, we are happy to cast from your existing gold, or credit it toward a new piece.
Can you use my existing diamonds or gemstones?
Yes.
If you already own a stone you want to use, we'll evaluate it and design around it.
That can be especially meaningful with inherited stones, old engagement rings, or gemstones you've been holding onto without knowing what to do with them.
And if a stone isn't suitable for the design you have in mind, we'll tell you that too.
Do you work with lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
We work with both natural and lab-grown diamonds.
The important thing to us is that you understand what you're buying and why. Cut, proportions, clarity, color, durability, and price all matter. “Natural” or “lab-grown” doesn't automatically make a diamond good or bad.
We'll help you find the right stone for the job and the budget.
Where do your diamonds and gemstones come from?
From reputable suppliers in the U.S. and around the world.
We don't buy stones based solely on a few letters and numbers on a grading report. We look at the actual stone and how it performs.
For diamonds, that means paying attention to cut, proportions, light performance, clarity characteristics, and whether the stone is actually attractive.
For colored stones, the conversation gets considerably more complicated, because color, treatment, origin, durability, and availability can all matter.
If you're spending your hard-earned money on a stone, we want to make sure it's worth it.
What metals do you work with?
Most of our work is in 14k, and 18k gold, or platinum; however we do offer a wide variety of precious alloys and various colors. We can also work with a variety of less traditional materials when a project calls for them.
We will work with silver and lower karats on a case-by-case basis.
The right metal depends on the design, how the piece will be worn, the desired look, and your budget.
There isn't a universal “best” metal. There's a best metal for a particular job.
Where is my jewelry made?
Every piece is made in America, designed and engineered right here in Boerne, Texas.
We have the equipment and skills to handle a lot, and we also work with a small network of American craftspeople and specialized production partners when a project calls for it. Who does what depends on the piece. A complicated hand engraving project, for example, may involve a different specialist than a straightforward gold fabrication.
Either way, we're involved throughout the process. We design it, we engineer it, we choose the materials, we inspect the work, and we're responsible for the finished piece.
You're working with a Boerne jeweler, not buying something from a catalog and putting our name on the box.
AND Because the relationship shouldn't end when you pick up the jewelry
What happens after I buy?
Do you offer repairs and maintenance?
Yes, although repairs aren't the primary focus of our business.
We take on select repair and maintenance work, particularly when it makes sense for the piece or when you're an existing client.
If we're not the right place for a particular repair, we'll tell you up front.
Do you offer resizing?
Yes.
We handle ring sizing and other select repairs, generally with a turnaround of around 10 days depending on the piece and our current workload.
Some rings can be resized easily. Others involve stones, engraving, unusual construction, or materials that make the job more complicated.
We'll look at the piece first and tell you what's involved.
What if I need help later?
Call us.
You don't stop being our client when you leave with the jewelry.
Whether you have a question about cleaning, wear, a loose stone, a repair, a future redesign, or something that just doesn't look right, we'd rather you ask than guess.
What do you mean there's no lifetime warranty?
We stand behind our work. We just don't think that requires a 14-page warranty with asterisks.
Some large jewelry chains advertise lifetime warranties that come with inspection requirements, maintenance schedules, exclusions, and enough fine print to make a lawyer reach for a second cup of coffee.
We're not interested in making you jump through hoops to find out whether we'll help you.
If something we made has a workmanship problem, bring it back. We'll look at it, figure out what happened, and make it right when it's our responsibility.
Jewelry also gets worn. It gets scratched, bent, knocked against things, and occasionally abused. That's normal life, not a manufacturing defect.
When something happens, we'll help you figure out what needs to be done. We'd rather have that conversation than hide behind fine print.
