Do you have a vision for a special piece of jewelry? Perhaps you have an original design in mind that you cannot find anywhere else, or a treasured heirloom you would like to transform into something new.
At Noe’s Jewelry, Master Jeweler Tim and GIA expert Shelly help turn your ideas into a custom piece created around your style, preferred stones, budget, and intended use.
What Custom Jewelry Design Really Means
Custom jewelry design allows you to create a piece that feels personal to the wearer. Every detail can be considered, including the shape, stones, metal, setting, size, and overall appearance.
Unlike mass-produced jewelry, a custom piece is developed specifically for you. It may begin with a photograph, an existing piece of jewelry, or a sketch created by Tim. The result is a one-of-a-kind design that can be worn, enjoyed, and passed down for generations.
How Our Process Works From First Conversation to Final Polish
Your custom jewelry project begins with a complimentary consultation. Bring your inspiration, photographs, sketches, or an existing piece you would like to redesign. Tim and Shelly will discuss your preferred style, stones, metals, budget, and how you plan to wear the finished piece. Tim may then create a sketch to help establish the overall design direction.
Depending on the design, Noe’s Jewelry may work with a CAD designer located outside the store to create a detailed digital model. CAD technology can be a more cost-effective way to accurately develop a design from a guest’s photograph or Tim’s original sketch.
The CAD rendering allows you to review the shape, proportions, setting, and other design details before manufacturing begins. Shelly will also guide you through the stone selection process, considering the design, your preferences, and your lifestyle. Both natural and lab-grown stone options may be discussed.
Once the design has been approved, the piece may be created using hand fabrication, lost wax casting, or a combination of techniques. When CAD and lost wax casting are used, the piece is manufactured in the USA by a trusted production specialist. The design of the piece determines which manufacturing method is most appropriate.
Hand Fabrication
Fabrication is the process of building a piece of jewelry by hand from raw metal materials such as wire, sheet, or tubing, rather than pouring molten metal into a mold.
As a Master Jeweler, Tim can fabricate a piece by hand or modify an existing mounting to achieve the appearance and structure the guest wants. This process may be used when an existing setting needs to be reshaped, strengthened, or adapted to suit a new design.
The Lost Wax Casting Process
Some custom pieces are manufactured in the USA using the lost wax casting process. This method allows detailed and complex jewelry designs to be accurately produced.
The process includes the following stages:
Model Creation
A replica of the jewelry design is carved from wax or produced using 3D printing based on the approved CAD design.
Investment
The wax model is placed inside a metal flask and surrounded by a plaster-like investment material. The material hardens around the model to form a mold.
Burnout
The hardened mold is placed inside a kiln or furnace. The wax melts and vaporizes, leaving an empty cavity in the exact shape of the jewelry design.
Casting
Molten metal is poured into the empty cavity and allowed to cool and solidify into the final jewelry shape.
Finishing
The investment material is removed, excess metal sprues are cut away, and the raw piece is polished and refined before undergoing a final inspection.
A Manufacturing Process Selected for Your Design
Not every custom piece is created using the same method. Some designs are better suited to CAD and lost wax casting, while others may require Tim’s hand-fabrication skills or modifications to an existing mounting.
Tim and Shelly will guide you through the available options and help determine the most suitable manufacturing process for your piece. The decision is based on the design, materials, structure, level of detail, and desired finished appearance. Before the piece is presented, it is polished and inspected to ensure the design and finishing meet the agreed specifications.
Start Your Custom Jewelry Design
If you have a custom jewelry idea in mind, Tim and Shelly can help determine the best way to create it. Your first step is a complimentary, no-pressure consultation to discuss your inspiration, preferred stones, metals, budget, and manufacturing options. Contact Noe’s Jewelry in Cape Coral to begin creating a meaningful piece designed specifically for you.