COMMISSIONS DEMYSTIFIED - FAQs
Commissions are the opposite of fast fashion. Products of creative collaboration, these pieces will have a story behind them and are made to last - for yourself or someone you love.
I am interested in commissioning a piece of custom jewellery. How does the process work?
First steps: When you contact me for a custom piece, say an engagement ring, it helps if you have a general idea of what style or direction you have in mind. For example, collect some photo references of things that inspire you or that your partner likes.
Once we’ve discussed what you are looking for, I will give you a rough idea of the price range for the piece or offer alternatives that suit your budget. If you are ready to go further, I’ll make some rough sketches and come up with a more precise quote.
If you like the sketches and you wish to go ahead with the commission, I’ll ask for a deposit, generally 50% of the total cost.
Collaboration: You can be involved in the process as much or as little as you like. I enjoy the collaborative process, when the client feels invested and involved in creating the piece. When this happens, the process can take longer, as there are more back and forths with proposed sketches, feedback, revised sketches, etc. When possible, I’ll have the client see prototypes and make sure the piece fits properly before producing the final piece.
While it may take more time, I find that the result can be more interesting and unexpected, and the client may have more satisfaction having been involved in the creative process.
How much time does it take to make a custom piece? How much time should I plan ahead?
Depending on the complexity of the design and your degree of involvement, a custom piece, such as a ring, can take upwards of 2 months to complete. As a general rule, if you’re looking for a special gift for someone and have a deadline in mind, it’s best to contact me a few months ahead of the date.
If the piece is a variation on something I’ve made already, or if you have a very specific design in mind, the process can be shorter. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something truly original and are not sure what exactly it should look like, the design phase itself can take over 2 months and can involve many rounds of sketches and feedback.
How much will a custom piece cost?
I strive to provide clients with excellent quality, unique meaning, and competitive value in every custom piece I produce.
Cost depends on many factors:
Depending on your specifications, a custom piece may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. It may or may not cost more than a mass-produced piece from a big jewellery house, but it will certainly mean more to you because you helped to bring it to life.
Why does gold cost more than silver? Why does platinum cost more than gold?
You can expect a gold ring to cost many times more than a silver ring. Historically gold has always cost more than silver due to many factors including its properties (no tarnishing, less reactivity), supply, and cost of refining.
Metals are commodities and their prices fluctuate on the world markets. At the time of writing, gold is valued at about $1600/oz., platinum is $1300/oz., while silver is $23/oz. – that’s a big difference!
That’s not all- cost varies based on the quality (karat) of gold you choose. The higher the quality, the more expensive it is.
Platinum ends up costing more than gold because it is used in a purer form, generally up to 95% pure. Because platinum has a higher density than gold, the same exact design will weigh more if it’s made with platinum rather than gold, which also affects the price.
Why are diamonds so popular for rings?
Compared to other stones, it’s hard to dismiss the beauty of diamonds. A diamond of high quality can seem to have a life of its own.
A diamond will generally last a lifetime, or many lifetimes, of constant use without losing its lustre. While diamonds’ mainstream popularity has resulted in possibly inflated prices, their lustre, durability, and hardness are good reasons to choose them as a centrepiece stone for rings. Diamonds are the hardest stone (10 on the scale of Mohs).
It’s important to understand what kind of hardness we’re talking about, though. The scale of Mohs measures a material’s resistance to scratches: talc being a 1 and diamonds a 10. This scale doesn’t measure a stone’s resistance to impact and shock, however. If you strike a diamond with a sledgehammer, it will most likely break.
The ethical side of the diamond trade is a big issue, but there are ways around it:
What are other good stones for rings?
If you’re looking for a more colourful or creative alternative for a centrepiece stone, there are many good choices.
First, you have to ask yourself how often you’re going to wear this piece of jewellery.
In the case of an engagement or wedding ring, something you will most likely wear all the time and may want to pass down in your family, it’s best to go with a stone that ranks high on the scale of Mohs to avoid damage to your stone. Hardness of 7 and up is preferable.
A few of my favorite choices for centerpiece stones:
For more information on stones, you can visit the GIA website: Gemological institute of America
A note on ring sizing:
When I am unable to personally size the finger of the wearer, I will ask that he or she be sized by a professional jeweller. This is to ensure that I am working with proper guidelines. If the ring has been made to a specific size and it doesn’t fit, I can resize it for a small fee. If the ring doesn’t fit due to an error on my part, I will resize it for free.
Engravings:
If you desire an engraved inscription inside the ring, I can do this once we are sure the ring fits. In many cases, if a ring needs resizing, the engraving inside the ring needs to be redone. So if you are ordering a ring from another city and we can’t verify that it fits, I won’t do the engraving, but I will do my best to refer you to a local jeweller who can.
Let us know if you have any other questions you want answered.
First steps: When you contact me for a custom piece, say an engagement ring, it helps if you have a general idea of what style or direction you have in mind. For example, collect some photo references of things that inspire you or that your partner likes.
Once we’ve discussed what you are looking for, I will give you a rough idea of the price range for the piece or offer alternatives that suit your budget. If you are ready to go further, I’ll make some rough sketches and come up with a more precise quote.
If you like the sketches and you wish to go ahead with the commission, I’ll ask for a deposit, generally 50% of the total cost.
Collaboration: You can be involved in the process as much or as little as you like. I enjoy the collaborative process, when the client feels invested and involved in creating the piece. When this happens, the process can take longer, as there are more back and forths with proposed sketches, feedback, revised sketches, etc. When possible, I’ll have the client see prototypes and make sure the piece fits properly before producing the final piece.
While it may take more time, I find that the result can be more interesting and unexpected, and the client may have more satisfaction having been involved in the creative process.
How much time does it take to make a custom piece? How much time should I plan ahead?
Depending on the complexity of the design and your degree of involvement, a custom piece, such as a ring, can take upwards of 2 months to complete. As a general rule, if you’re looking for a special gift for someone and have a deadline in mind, it’s best to contact me a few months ahead of the date.
If the piece is a variation on something I’ve made already, or if you have a very specific design in mind, the process can be shorter. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something truly original and are not sure what exactly it should look like, the design phase itself can take over 2 months and can involve many rounds of sketches and feedback.
How much will a custom piece cost?
I strive to provide clients with excellent quality, unique meaning, and competitive value in every custom piece I produce.
Cost depends on many factors:
- what kind of metal and what stones you choose,
- whether you want me to design something new and completely original, or are choosing an existing design, and
- the complexity of the design.
Depending on your specifications, a custom piece may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. It may or may not cost more than a mass-produced piece from a big jewellery house, but it will certainly mean more to you because you helped to bring it to life.
Why does gold cost more than silver? Why does platinum cost more than gold?
You can expect a gold ring to cost many times more than a silver ring. Historically gold has always cost more than silver due to many factors including its properties (no tarnishing, less reactivity), supply, and cost of refining.
Metals are commodities and their prices fluctuate on the world markets. At the time of writing, gold is valued at about $1600/oz., platinum is $1300/oz., while silver is $23/oz. – that’s a big difference!
That’s not all- cost varies based on the quality (karat) of gold you choose. The higher the quality, the more expensive it is.
- 24k is pure gold - but this is usually too soft to work with.
- 18k gold is 75% gold.
- 14k is around 58.5% gold.
- 10k is actually more alloy than gold at 41.6% gold content.
Platinum ends up costing more than gold because it is used in a purer form, generally up to 95% pure. Because platinum has a higher density than gold, the same exact design will weigh more if it’s made with platinum rather than gold, which also affects the price.
- For example, a cubic centimeter pure (24k) gold, weighs 19.3 grams, while a cubic centimeter of pure platinum weighs 21.4 grams.
- A cubic centimeter of 18k gold weighs approximately 15 to 16 grams depending on the alloy.
- Pure silver weighs only 10.5 grams per cubic centimeter.
Why are diamonds so popular for rings?
Compared to other stones, it’s hard to dismiss the beauty of diamonds. A diamond of high quality can seem to have a life of its own.
A diamond will generally last a lifetime, or many lifetimes, of constant use without losing its lustre. While diamonds’ mainstream popularity has resulted in possibly inflated prices, their lustre, durability, and hardness are good reasons to choose them as a centrepiece stone for rings. Diamonds are the hardest stone (10 on the scale of Mohs).
It’s important to understand what kind of hardness we’re talking about, though. The scale of Mohs measures a material’s resistance to scratches: talc being a 1 and diamonds a 10. This scale doesn’t measure a stone’s resistance to impact and shock, however. If you strike a diamond with a sledgehammer, it will most likely break.
The ethical side of the diamond trade is a big issue, but there are ways around it:
- Canadian diamonds are generally conflict free.
- Using estate diamonds gives new life and reuses stones that were mined decades ago.
- Moissanite is a synthetic stone (manufactured in a laboratory) with a hardness of 9.5, exhibiting very similar properties to diamonds. This can be a good alternative to diamonds for those wanting the beauty and durability of a diamond, but not the cost or ethical questions.
What are other good stones for rings?
If you’re looking for a more colourful or creative alternative for a centrepiece stone, there are many good choices.
First, you have to ask yourself how often you’re going to wear this piece of jewellery.
In the case of an engagement or wedding ring, something you will most likely wear all the time and may want to pass down in your family, it’s best to go with a stone that ranks high on the scale of Mohs to avoid damage to your stone. Hardness of 7 and up is preferable.
A few of my favorite choices for centerpiece stones:
- Sapphire (Hardness of 9) If you’re looking for a blue stone this is a classic choice- famously, it’s what Princess Diana chose in her engagement ring. Part of the corundum family of minerals which includes rubys, you can find it in various colours such as pink, yellow, green, blue, colourless, and black.
- Chrysoberyl (or its colour-changing variety, Alexandrite): (8.5) Golden, yellow, light green. Despite the lower popularity of these colours, this, in my opinion is a beautiful stone with good hardness and brilliance. It would make a beautiful centrepiece for someone wanting something a little different.
- Spinel: (8) Beautiful reds and pinks, with varying saturations going from practically clear to opaque black. Great fire and brilliance.
- Beryls: In this family of minerals you’ll find Aquamarine (blue), Morganite (beige-pink), Emerald (green), as well as other colours. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 these are very suitable stones for everyday use.
- Tourmaline: (7) This stone comes in all colours and is durable enough for everyday use. Interestingly, this stone will charge up electrically when rubbed or squeezed.
- Garnet (6.5-7.5): Despite being on the lower end of accepted hardness, this stone is generally quite tough and shock resistant. It comes in various colours, and some have a fire and brilliance comparable to diamonds.
For more information on stones, you can visit the GIA website: Gemological institute of America
A note on ring sizing:
When I am unable to personally size the finger of the wearer, I will ask that he or she be sized by a professional jeweller. This is to ensure that I am working with proper guidelines. If the ring has been made to a specific size and it doesn’t fit, I can resize it for a small fee. If the ring doesn’t fit due to an error on my part, I will resize it for free.
Engravings:
If you desire an engraved inscription inside the ring, I can do this once we are sure the ring fits. In many cases, if a ring needs resizing, the engraving inside the ring needs to be redone. So if you are ordering a ring from another city and we can’t verify that it fits, I won’t do the engraving, but I will do my best to refer you to a local jeweller who can.
Let us know if you have any other questions you want answered.