Custom Design at
The Gem Vault
Custom creation has been our specialty for over twenty years. The Gem Vault offers expert design services, where clients work closely with one of our specialized designers to create a custom piece that reflects their individual style and personality. Custom design is a creative and exciting endeavor. It is the ultimate way to your dream piece of jewelry.
Designing with The Gem Vault is the perfect way to create a personalized piece of jewelry, for a special occasion or for everyday wear. From engagement rings and wedding bands, to bold statement pieces, to treasured future mementos, The Gem Vault takes great care in designing and creating pieces to last over a lifetime.
Choosing a Stone
Many design projects often begin around a stone, as it is often the focal point of the design. Deciding on a featured gemstone is one of the best ways to start a design. Choosing the stone type, color, shape, and size is an exciting part of the design phase.
The Gem Vault can help guide you through making the best selection for your piece, taking into consideration important features such as quality and durability.
Design Consultation
We provide all customers with free consultation and drawing services. During a consultation, a designer will work closely with the client to get a sense for the styles and details they would like to see in their pieces.
The designer will then create and present to the customer multiple sketches with corresponding price estimates. This creates a visual foundation from which the design idea can grow into a one-of-a-kind finished piece.
Creation
Once a design has been chosen, it will first be created in wax or built from metal. If a piece requires a wax, one will be hand-carved to the specifications of the design and once approved, will be cast in precious metal.
Simple styles can be built and assembled from metal; most often do not require a wax, and as such, can be completed in a shorter time frame. Depending on the time, complexity of the design, and the customer's preferences, we will determine which creation method is best for each piece.
Final Touches
Once the wax is cast in metal, it still looks far from finished. The rough casting is then carefully filed and polished using a variety of specialty tools until it has the bright, lustrous finish we desire. At this point, the design has gone from an idea, to a sketch, to a carefully created and shaped metal base for the jewels.
Once a piece is cast in metal, it is then carefully inspected and polished using a variety of tools until is has the bright, lustrous finish we desire. Structural elements, such as attaching prongs and settings, or aesthetic touches such as texture and milgrain, are done once the casting is polished and near its final state.
Finally, the piece is ready for our skilled metalsmiths to set the gemstones and apply any finishing textures and details.
Finished Product
With the stones set and sparkling, and the metal lustrous and polished, all pieces are given a final look over, including a stamp of The Gem Vault maker’s mark, and are often signed by the designers. Our favorite part of the design process is getting to reveal the finished product to the customer and see their excitement at their truly custom, one-of-a-kind piece!
