Handcrafted with love and made from scratch.
But what does that really mean, anyway?    

Custom and Bespoke work lends itself beautifully to the nature of my one of a kind process. My process is completely handmade with my own two hands in my studio in Pacific Grove, CA.  Call me old fashioned, but I still believe the best things are still made by hand. I use a combination of old-world traditional metalsmithing techniques including fabrication and lost wax casting, and I use recycled precious metals, conflict-free stones, and eco-friendly studio practices. Most current fine jewelry companies design their products on computer software, 3-D print the prototype and then outsource the mass production of that item to far away countries. None of those things happen in my studio, in fact, that's why I started my own business. I pride my work on continuing this art form handed down from artisan to artisan for many generations. My business and personal motto focuses on the belief that jewelry that has been handmade in this way is far more special and meaningful than something mass-manufactured. I believe it shows, and my goal is to have my clients come away from the experience with a beautiful, unique piece that they will treasure as an heirloom for their lifetime and perhaps beyond.

My background: I have been working as a professional jeweler since 2006 and began my own business under my name in 2010. Since 2006, I've completed more than 3 years of Metal Arts classes in varying techniques under Theresa Lovering-Brown and Carol Holaday, trained under the proficient silversmith Marne Mobley from 2006-2010, and worked as a bench jeweler/designer for Pat Areias, a sterling silver belt buckle and jewelry company from 2006-2010. Since 2012 I've had the honor of mentorship in fine jewelry production and stone setting with Lee Andrews of Sun Studios.

So how does it work?    

First, I need to get a good idea of what you’re looking for. Along with this 'How it Works' info page is a questionnaire that is the first step in beginning our process together. By answering these questions, it will get you thinking about all the qualities you want in your perfect piece of jewelry--so that I can make it come to life. My goal is to far exceed your expectations, and making sure we're on the same page is the first step to ensure that will happen.

Custom or Bespoke? Whether you are looking for something Custom (a small, personalized change to an existing design) or Bespoke (a design uniquely tailored for you) will determine our next steps in the process.

Custom

Small, personalized change(s) to a design
I already make in my portfolio
Starting at $300
Examples:
Different stone
Different metal
Prong setting instead of bezel setting or vice versa
Adding/removing small diamond(s)
Adding/removing another stone(s)
A wider/narrower band than what is shown
A different texture than what is shown

Last, once you've decided on a design, we will handle the logistics. Together, we form a Work Contract with all the details of the design including final drawings, due date, method of delivery, balance due, etc.  I require a 50% deposit to begin the build, and we will form a payment plan for the remaining balance which will be due in full upon completion of the jewelry. When the piece is finished I will make either a final balance listing on etsy for my out of town folks, or the final balance will be due upon pick-up for my local clients. 

FAQ’s    

Q: I have an idea for a design that is based on another designer's work. Can you copy it?
A: I enjoy putting my own spin on a design idea, but I won't copy the work of another artist exactly. If you have an idea based off of someone else's work, definitely send pictures of it, but most importantly, tell me what you like about it. Is it the stone? Is it the texture on the metal? Is it the shape of the band? Is it because the stone is set low against the finger, or high in 6 prongs? Those are the elements that come together that make the design what it is and it's that information that I'll use to design your dream jewelry.

Q: I like one of your pieces but I want it a little different. Can you use a different stone, or change the band?
A: Absolutely! I call this type of work Custom because it is a design I've already worked with and worked meticulously hard to perfect. A different size stone or a small adjustment like changing the shape of the band or other small changes like this is easily accommodated into the design. When your idea is totally starting from scratch or a blank slate and is completely different than things I've made in the past, there is more focus on how to design the jewelry so that it functions well. In some cases I have to 'invent' ways to achieve your concept. This type of work I call Bespoke because it is highly collaborative and much more involved. 

Q: What types of metals do you use, and where does it come from?  
A: I work in recycled precious metals; mostly gold in different colors (rose, yellow, white, green)  and karats (14k, 18k, 22k), and sterling silver but it is *usually not economical to build a custom piece in sterling silver. I buy my stock from a reputable US manufacturing company that supplies only recycled metal, and usually alloy all my own colors and karats myself.    

I don't work in titanium, tungsten, niobium, stainless steel, copper, bronze, nickel, silicone, carbon fiber, stone inlay, or wood.    

*The labor and time involved in a custom wedding/engagement ring made in sterling silver will usually drive the price up too high to be reasonable. If you're looking for the silver color I recommend 14k or 18k white gold. Although sterling silver can last with special care, it is not best suited for rings for every ­day wear or people who work with their hands. A ring made in gold will withstand the test of time and will require much less maintenance through the course of its life.    

Q: What's the difference between 14k and 18k gold?
A: As pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, gold jewelry often also contains other metals, such as silver, copper, nickel or zinc, to make the piece more durable. The karatage shows how much of the metal is pure gold, compared to other metals. 24k is 100% gold, while 18k is 75% gold, and 14k is 58.3% gold. Depending on the 'recipe' of alloy we can also change the color of the gold--white gold has more nickel or silver, rose gold has more copper, etc.

Q: Can you recycle my old jewelry into a new bespoke piece?  
A: Usually yes. The best place to start is by filling out my Questionnaire so that I can get a good understanding of what you're looking for. 

Q: Can you use my heirloom stones in one of your designs or a bespoke/custom piece?
A: Sometimes. It depends on a variety of factors so the best place to start is by filling out my Questionnaire so that I can get a good understanding of what you're looking for. When I do use heirloom stones, you must sign a waver releasing me from liability for your stone(s).

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