Why choose Elizabeth Blythe for custom work?
One of the main reasons I, Blythe, the designer behind Elizabeth Blythe, fell in love with designing and making jewellery is the sentimental and personal aspect of this medium. I love love and am eternally grateful to be able to witness the many momentous occasions in each of my clients’ stories that warrant the commemorative gifting of jewellery, to someone loved or to yourself. This isn’t the same thing as walking into a jewellery store and picking something from a case. Your one-of-a-kind piece will be forged within the personal relationship we build while we work together. I’ll be there every step of the way as we bring your design to life, to answer any questions, make adjustments, make more adjustments, and have this process be as exciting and stress-free as possible. You’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, so shouldn’t the process be just as unique and tailored to your particular needs?
Does Blythe make the jewellery?
Yes and no. Depending on the complexity of the design and processes required, I may make your piece from start to finish, or it may be a collaborative effort involving a very skilled network of local artisans. I design every piece and work closely with skilled tradespeople and manufacturers who bring my designs to life. I work with CAD (Computer Aided Design) designers, diamond dealers, goldsmiths, diamond setters, laser and hand engravers, and appraisers – each highly skilled in their individual fields. I personally love to design, and my medium of choice is lost-wax casting. I will often carve your piece by hand, and participate in the finishing process, or construct your piece through fabrication. I am constantly working to improve my skills and love the challenge of custom work as it forces me out of my comfort zone. For more complex projects that are outside of my skill set, you can consider me to be like an architect; I provide the blueprint for the design and then source the best of the best in workmanship while overseeing every detail to ensure our vision is translated into the physical realm exactly how we envisioned it.
How much does your custom work cost?
My custom work starts at $500CAD+13%HST per piece and increases exponentially from there depending on the complexity of the design and materials used. I prefer to work within the budget of my clients therefore determining your ideal budget will be one of the first things we discuss. An engagement ring in particular – the symbol of the beginning of your new life together – shouldn’t have to come with a price tag that weighs you down with debt as you start this journey. The reality is that diamonds come in all shapes, sizes, and qualities. The difference between a flawless stone and one a few grades lower isn’t visible unless we look at it under a microscope. I have a specific range of diamonds that I typically stay within for presenting stone options that maximizes both size and clarity.
There are also so many options that we can examine to stay within a certain budget – changing the size of the stone, the clarity, or coloured stones like sapphires that come in a whole rainbow of shades. Of course, if you want a flawless 6-carat stone, I can definitely accommodate that as well! The beauty of a bespoke ring is not only that it is created specifically for you, but also that it is created to fit your lifestyle and budget, whatever that may be.
I’ve never done custom design before and concerned that I won’t be able to express what I want… How will you figure out what I will like?
I’ve worked with dozens of clients and have the experience to ask the right questions that will spark your inner creative genius! I aim to make this process as fun and comfortable as possible. I completely understand how daunting this all may seem, as you likely have never done it before. But I’ve done it a zillion times and one of the things I love most about my job is how it affords me the ability to connect with each and every one of you, to learn your stories, and to create something beautiful and one of a kind together. I promise to guide you, share my knowledge and answer all of your questions, and build a personal connection and relationship in the creation process.
What if I'm not satisfied with the final product?
Before a design even goes into production, I will explain every detail with you to ensure you have an understanding of what the final piece will look like. In addition to a verbal explanation, you will receive sketches, images of the hand carved model, or 3D CAD images depending on the design. I definitely don’t want there to be any surprises in the end result (unless that’s your thing!). Thus, with open communication and life-like computer imaging, it’s difficult not to be able to visualize or interpret a design before it’s produced.
I love the design you’ve presented! Let’s move forward. What is the next step?
After a 50% non-refundable deposit is placed, we will start production of your custom piece of jewellery. It takes on average 4-6 weeks to produce after the finalization of your design, but can take up to 8 weeks depending on the scope of the design.
How long does the entire process take to produce a one-of-a-kind design? Here’s a brief sample timeline:
First meeting/consultation - We discuss design, stone options, ideal budget etc. This can be either in person, over the phone, or through email. If you’d like to have a design drawn up, there’s a design period of about 2 weeks to produce a design and work out your quote.
Two weeks later - We meet again and the design is presented with pricing for your consideration. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required along with a signed industry standard contract before we proceed.
If the design is approved, we head into production, which takes from 4 up to 8 weeks. Depending on the complexity of the design, this may be preceded by sending images of the hand carved model of your piece, or presentation of CAD (Computer Aided Design) rendered images for your approval.
After the piece of jewellery is complete, we meet again for the final viewing of your new creation. Each piece comes with an appraisal from a GIA accredited appraiser for your insurance purposes. The remaining balance is due upon delivery.
I don't wish to move forward with the design or price quote. Is there a fee for your sketch/consultation?
No. One round of designs (along with pricing for your consideration) is free of charge. The consultation is also free. I keep the design(s) and add them to my portfolio. Meeting new people and creating new designs is never a waste of time.
What is CAD?
CAD, or Computer Aided Design, is a technology for design that replaces manual drafting with an automated process. It converts my vision into a 3D format so you, the client, can have an even more accurate representation of your design than I am capable of producing through sketches. It also enables me to have your design 3D printed in wax and then cast in metal, as opposed to being carved by hand. This allows for the incorporation of much more intricate details than I am currently capable of carving by hand. I work with a carefully curated selection of extremely talented local CAD designers who are specialized in renderings specific to the jewellery industry. You’ll be amazed when you see the 3D models translated from my original sketches!
What is lost wax casting?
This is an ancient process whereby a duplicate metal sculpture is cast from an original sculpture, most often carved or constructed from wax. The wax model, either carved by hand or formed by liquid wax injected into a silicone mould, is mounted on a small stem called a sprue then placed in a canister called a flask and covered in a liquid similar to a thin cement called investment. When it dries, the flask is placed inside a kiln and heated to thousands of degrees for a few hours to evaporate the wax. After this, the flask is placed in a centrifugal casting machine, the metal is melted with a blowtorch, and then poured into the machine which then uses centrifugal force to push the liquid metal into the mould. The flask is then quenched in cool water and the investment disintegrates to leave the perfect replica of the initial wax carving in metal. There is oxidization that occurs and leaves the metal discoloured so it is placed in an acid bath, which leaves a casting skin that is pale and dusty. At this point the finishing process begins, where the sprue gate is removed, and the extra material is ground away then sanded and polished to completion. Last step is setting the stones and doing a final polish before appraisal.
What is fabrication?
Fabrication is the process of shaping, forging, and soldering metal into a finished piece. It is the most traditional method of jewellery creation and encompasses the processes of assembling separate elements such as wire, sheet, cages, prongs, clasps, earring posts, etc. and integrating them into a finished jewellery item.
Do you offer engraving?
Yes! Your piece can either be hand engraved by a local master engraver, or laser engraved. Hand engraving can take up to 3 weeks, depending on the complexity, and will incur an extra cost. A laser engraving of a standard font under 15 characters is included in your quote. Anything outside of this will incur an extra cost.
What other services do you provide?
Jewellery repairs and maintenance including, but not limited to: ring sizing, refurbishing, rhodium plating, re-tipping, soldering, etc.
I have rings and bits and pieces of jewellery that I don’t wear. Can we take the gems out and re-use them?
Of course! I am happy to help you create a meaningful piece of jewellery by incorporating sentimental gems. I have experience working with old family heirlooms, wedding sets, and inherited jewellery that may need a little updating or a personalized touch. The same goes for loose gemstones or diamonds that you may have lying around. This also helps to reduce the cost of the final piece, usually by about a third.
What about the metal? Can we melt the gold and incorporate it in the new piece along with the gemstones?
If you wish to produce a high quality piece of jewellery like the designs you see in the custom gallery - the simple is answer, no; the main reason being quality control. I prefer to supply the metals in order to start fresh with pure gold and alloy. This way, you are given the opportunity to choose the karat of gold, colour of gold, or metal preference in your finished jewellery. When the piece is produced using the gold from my casting house, you can be sure there will be no casting issues and the metal will be smooth and porosity free (no pits or tiny imperfections), also free from future cracking or fading in colour. If you want, I can accept your second-hand gold at daily market value minus a small foundry fee and put it as credit towards your final quote. If using your own gold is a must, we can discuss the options however I cannot guarantee any pieces using personally recycled gold, and it will incur a foundry fee for the cost of labour of casting an individual flask.
How do I maintain my jewellery?
All jewellery eventually will require maintenance with normal daily wear and tear. However, jewellery that is worn 24/7 or during laborious activity, maintenance will be required more often. Furthermore, it is also recommended to remove jewellery when coming in contact with harsh chemicals such as hot tubs or pools where chlorine may be present. All precious metals will wear with time so it is wise to have your prongs, claws and tips (diamonds) checked periodically.
Any other questions that you may have can be addressed by contacting Blythe at info@elizabethblythe.com or filling out the Contact form in the top navigation.