How the Custom Design Process Works
How the Custom Design Process Works
It all starts with an idea, and that idea comes from you!
Maybe it’s something related to one of your passions. Or maybe it’s something that rekindles a special moment or milestone in your life. Or maybe you just want to replicate your logo, it all starts with an idea or a concept. We first ask the client to provide some basis of what they want made and what material they would like it made in. This can be either a drawing or an image they already have. Depending on what they want to be made, ultimately determines how the piece will be produced and how long it will take to manufacture.
We mainly use two processes to manufacture a custom piece of jewelry at You Design We Create. It can be made either via a Laser Cutting Machine or it can be digitally designed through Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (also referred to “CAD/CAM.”)
Laser Cutting Machine:
We normally would ask the client for a clean image, (black and white vector images are easier to work with, but we can also work with very clean JPG image.) Once we have the design or artwork, we take it into the computer and create a vector image.
On screen, you may only see a black and white image, and it may not look like much. But keep in mind this is just the beginning. From here, we start to plan out which areas of the metal will be cut into with the laser machine, to create different reliefs and contrasts. We also keep in mind how the jeweler needs to finish the piece to achieve the desired look, so this step is key.
Once it is cut out with the Laser Machine, it will look like the image you see.
Again, it may not look like much, but we are almost there! Now it just heads to the jewelers’ bench to be finished to achieve the desired look and to be given and attachment point so a chain could pass through for the sake of a pendant (what we refer to as a “bail”) or jump rings at each end of a nameplate so we can attach the chain to it.
The Finished Piece
We normally use this method for producing some of our nameplate samples, pendants that are not 3D, as well as all the pendants you see available on our online store. We can easily cut 14 Karat Gold and Sterling Silver with our Laser Cutting Machine. We also use our Laser Machine for all the engravings you request on your custom pieces. When we produce your custom piece via this method, you can expect it to be ready in as little as 1-2 business days!
Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM):
This method is usually used for more complex pieces, especially 3D pendants, rings, and anything with stones set in it.
When we use this method, we can digitally control every aspect of the piece of jewelry we are creating from the thickness and color of the metal to the size of the piece and the final weight of the jewelry. You will be able to see exactly how the piece will look before we start to make it. If there are any stones to be set, we also know the exact stone count and the size of the stones as well. You will receive a computer generated picture of exactly what the piece will look like before we even start to manufacture it.
Once the rendering is approved, it is off to be cast in the metal of your choice (14 Karat Gold, Sterling Silver, or even Platinum.)
At this point, once we have the casted piece, it follows the same steps as we did in the Laser Cut piece: off to the jewelers’ bench to be finished as desired, including setting the stones, if desired, in the piece:
The Finished Piece
Considering the length and variables in this process, projects like this can be a little more time consuming. From start to finish, it typically takes about 2 weeks minimum for a piece to be complete with this method, but it may be longer depending on the circumstances of the project.
Regardless of the production method, the result is the same: a carefully crafted piece of jewelry with attention to every detail that you will cherish for years to come!
Contact Us
Interested in making your own custom piece of jewelry? Reach out to us via the form below or feel free to stop by our showroom.