The Five Steps of Custom Design or Redesign

RGC’s award-winning master jeweler, Simon Mattar, shares the process of creating or redesigning a fine piece of custom jewelry.

1. Evaluation:

When a client brings in a piece of old or outdated jewelry and they are not sure what they are looking for, the first thing we do is sit down with them and start evaluating the piece. We look for what they have that is reusable in gems and diamonds, then set them aside and section the scrap items they have separately.

2. Inspiration:

The next step is to try to determine the design the client is looking for. If they don’t come in with an idea already in mind, I start by showing them other pieces and/or designs to see what may pique their interest. Once we see what is interesting to them, I get to work counter-sketching the design based on the styles they like.

3. Modification:                                                                               

Once we have a couple of concepts of designs the client likes, whether modern or vintage or sometimes mixing the two, we lay out the existing diamonds and/or gems to see if they can be used in the design. Often we modify the design to accommodate the stones.

4. Design:       

Once we have the desired design sketched out, we start the designing process. This will render an actual-size drawing showing the top view and two side views, so the client can start to really see what the creation will look like. This process can take about two to three weeks, depending on the type of design.

5. Creation:

When the client approves the three-view drawings, the next step is 3-D modeling or hand modeling, to create the actual piece that the client will see and hold. This will be the final viewing before casting and finishing. Unless there are any changes needed as the piece is being finished, the next time the client will see the piece is when it is complete and they come to pick it up. That’s when I have the satisfaction of seeing their eyes light up as they get to take home a beautiful piece of new jewelry they designed themselves.

If you have any old, broken, or outdated jewelry you’d like to give “the Simon treatment,” call us for an appointment today at 858-571-4560.