Bespoke Jewellery vs. Custom Made Jewellery: What's the Difference?
If you're looking for something truly unique and special, then bespoke jewellery is the way to go. Bespoke pieces are specifically designed and created for an individual customer, which means that you can choose your own design, materials and even gemstones.
Laura & Chris
The key difference between bespoke and custom made jewellery is that bespoke pieces are completely unique, while custom made jewellery is simply a modification of an existing design. This means that bespoke jewellery is generally more expensive than custom made jewellery, as the value lies not only in the materials used and the time it takes to create the piece, but also in the fact that it is a one-of-a-kind, designed specifically for the wearer. Custom made jewellery often only has a material change, such as different metals or stones being used, and there will be other pieces like it. When commissioning bespoke jewellery, you are working with the designer to create a piece from scratch that is completely personal to you. This can be an exciting process, as you get to be involved in every step of the design journey and see your vision come to life. However, for some people this is daunting and a bit overwhelming, so the less involved rout of having a custom made piece is better for them.
If you’re considering having a piece of jewellery made, but not sure of which rout to go down it’s important to consult with a professional jeweller or designer you feel comfortable working with and who you feel confident can create the piece you have in mind. One-of-a-kind jewellery is an investment, so it’s important to do your research and find a designer whose style you love and who has a good reputation.
When I see a client that wants to commission a piece of jewellery we start of the journey with a meeting where we sit down together and talk about the clients ideas. They might have a sketch or a Pinterest board full of inspiration images or maybe only a vague sense of what they’re looking for. I will ask questions, take some measurements, and get a sense of the overall style they’re going for. From there, I’ll come up with a few design options for them to go away with and have a think about.
Once a decision on a design has been made, I will get to work creating their one-of-a-kind piece. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the design and the availability of materials, the process is different for everyone but the result is always the same: a beautiful, unique piece of jewellery.
Karin X
Diamond and Platinum necklace for Laura from her husband James