Bespoke jewelry is one trend that just keeps getting bigger.
You might be hearing the phrase “bespoke jewelry” getting thrown around a lot these days, but what exactly does it mean?
Bespoke jewelry refers to jewelry that is made especially for a client or customer. In other words, any jewelry you find lining the shelves of a retail store or on a big online marketplace like Stone & Strand isn’t considered as bespoke. Instead, if you’re coming to a fine jewelry studio in order to develop a unique engagement ring, a special necklace for your mom, or a cute baby shower gift, these would all be examples of bespoke jewelry.
Another word people use to refer to bespoke jewelry is “custom.” Custom made pieces, custom jewelry, and bespoke pieces are all essentially the same thing: completely unique jewelry made that’s only created once for a special occasion or person.
There are a lot of benefits to choosing a bespoke piece, instead of buying jewelry from a brand or retailer. Here are just a few:
- It’s Unique: Your custom piece is something no one else has owned or worn before. Even if it’s just a little different than a ring you’ve seen at the store, it still has your own unique input and creative thought put into it.
- It’s Romantic: Although not all bespoke jewelry is bridal jewelry, a large proportion of custom pieces made for clients are engagement rings and wedding bands. There’s just something extra special about creating a ring just for your fiancée,, and many couples are choosing to go the custom route every year. (For more on custom engagement rings, see our blog here.)
- It Costs Less: Yup, you read that right. A lot of times, bespoke pieces are actually less expensive than a ring or pendant you might find at the store. This is because jewelry stores actually mark up their prices extensively to cover their costs. Work with a private jewelry studio on your bespoke piece and you’ll likely be surprised at the final cost.
- It’s Unlimited: Creating bespoke jewelry is a whole different experience that goes beyond just “jewelry shopping.” When you sit down to work with a jewelry designer, you have unlimited options to create your jewelry. It’s a very personal experience that involves your creativity and imagination.
How the Jewelry Design Process Works:
In the past, if you had an idea for a bespoke engagement ring or other piece, it would cost a lot even just to get started, and the development process could take months. Fortunately, today the process is a lot more efficient, and you can expect your bespoke jewelry to be ready in about 2-3 weeks.
How is this possible? Simply put, recent 3d printing technology and digital design software has enabled the jewelry manufacturing process to speed up exponentially. Using 3D software like Zbrush and Rhino, a jewelry designer can create a 3d render of your jewelry within a few days. The best part is, you as the client don’t even need to draw anything or know much about jewelry, as a highly trained designer can create something based only on an idea.
In decades prior, it would be difficult to estimate how much your jewelry would cost before production. Today, the gold weight of the piece can easily be calculated by the rendering software. In the same way, customers in the past had to simply trust that their piece was going to turn out as they imagined it, without much guarantee of what the finished jewelry might look like. Today, customers have many opportunities to view digital and wax versions of the jewelry before it’s actually cast into metal. For these reasons, it’s never been a better time to create bespoke jewelry.
Interested in learning more? Check out our page on custom jewelry design to learn what it’s like to work with a custom jewelry studio to craft your dream piece.