Bespoke Jewelry: How a Project Unfolds in Our Workshop
Written by: L'atelier NAGOYA
A bespoke piece tells a story: a meeting, a stone, a memory. Here is how we design it with you, from the first conversation to the moment the piece is handed over.
It all starts with a meeting
A special occasion, a stone that caught your eye, a drawing, a simple wish: we start from what you imagine. During an appointment, we look at your idea, your sketch or your inspirations, and we discuss them together.
The more precise the project, the more useful our advice on materials, stones and proportions. Ring, pendant, necklace, bracelet or earrings: anything is possible, within the limits of technical feasibility.
The choices: metal, stones, shapes
Together, we define each parameter: the color of the gold, the type and size of the stones, the dimensions, the comfort when worn. We adapt the project to the planned budget, explaining what each choice changes.
The quote and the 3D model
Once the criteria are defined, we send you a detailed quote, with the steps and timing. We then create a 3D model of your piece, which you approve before anything is made.
Making it in our workshop
The 3D model is used to produce a model that is cast using the lost-wax technique: the gold takes the place of the model and forms the setting. Then come bench work, stone setting and polishing, in our Saumur workshop. We describe these steps in From Sketch to Hallmark: The Main Stages of a Piece.
Personalizing an existing piece
Do you love one of our pieces but picture it differently? Another gold color, another stone, a thicker setting: we look at each personalization request case by case. Discover our creations in the Gogane collection or around the Auvergne sapphire, like Gentiane.
Redesigning an old piece
Bespoke also means giving new life to a family piece: changing a stone, reinforcing a setting, modernizing a line. We tell the story of a complete redesign in A Modernized Engagement Ring.
To learn more, visit our Bespoke page.
Would you rather talk it over in person? We welcome you by appointment at our workshop, 44 rue de Rouen in Saumur, France, or you can write to us from our contact page.
