From Pricing to Preparation: What You Need To Know About Custom Jewellery

Jewellery isn’t just ornamental, it also carries memories and emotions. The act of wearing jewellery itself is personal; it’s slung around one’s wrist or neck, it’s wrapped around fingers and pierced through ears.

There’s perhaps no jewellery that’s more personal than something that’s been custom-made for its wearer. While engagement rings are an obvious choice, there are various occasions people mark with bespoke jewellery.

Belinda Bottecchia, managing director of Studio Boteque, says milestone birthdays, personal achievements and births are some of the reasons clients create a personalised piece of jewellery. Alister Reid from Gray Reid Gallery adds graduations and the passing of loved ones to the growing list, with jewellery redesign and remodelling popular choices to transform heirlooms into contemporary pieces.

“Creating a bespoke piece is as much about the journey, as it is the final piece,” Reid says. “The experience is thoughtful, creative and personal. For many of our clients, it becomes just as important as the piece itself.”

Bespoke pieces are investments. Knowing what to expect can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Here, we chat to three jewellers about their custom jewellery processes.

What do you need to prepare for a consultation?

For your first jewellery consult, there’s no need to have a finalised design in mind. Instead, it’s best to arrive with inspiration and a rough idea of what you’re after.

“It’s useful to have an idea of your budget, any timelines you’re working towards and whether you have a preference for certain stones or metals,” says Olivia Cummings from Cleopatra’s Bling. “Some clients arrive with Pinterest boards and others bring just a feeling. We’ve designed rings inspired by ancient ruins, favourite books, dreams, love stories and even songs.

“Our role is to educate and guide clients through every step, so no extensive preparation or a final design is needed,” Reid says. “The most important thing is knowing the story or feeling they want the piece to convey. And don’t be afraid to ask questions!”

How much does custom jewellery usually cost?

Creating a one-of-a-kind piece requires financial investment – craftsmanship and materials drive up costs. “Creating jewellery by hand is an art form, one that requires time, precision and exceptional skill, and this is reflected in its value,” Bottecchia says. For a more accessible price point, Bottecchia mentions more clients are opting for 9K gold, about half the price of 18K gold, and lab-grown stones as opposed to mined stones.

At Cleopatra’s Bling, Cummings recommends a starting budget of $6000, with the type and weight of metal, design intricacy and labour needed as factors that vary the price. “This allows for a solid-gold setting and a beautiful diamond or coloured stone,” she says. “A unique or antique diamond, for example, could shift the budget significantly depending on its size and characteristics.”

How long does the process typically take?

Expect the bespoke jewellery process to take around eight weeks, though design complexity and material rarity can lengthen this. “From our initial consultation, I aim to present a tailored quote within a couple of days,” Bottecchia says. “Once approved, the first design draft is ready within a week. Depending on revisions, the final design is typically completed within two weeks of our first meeting. Production itself takes approximately four-to-six weeks, so from concept to completion, the full journey spans around eight weeks.”

Throughout the two months, jewellers provide updates, keeping clients informed on their piece’s journey. “We share design updates, gemstone options and progress images, and often invite clients to view the piece midway through,” Reid says. "It’s a collaborative and transparent process from start to finish.”

What are some ethical considerations?

Aside from aesthetics, clients can now consider various ethical factors when creating jewellery. “Education plays a key role in making informed ethical choices,” Reid says, heeding that lab-grown stones aren’t inherently sustainable. “It’s important to ask: where did the materials come from? How were they sourced?”

Gray Reid Gallery offers conflict-free stones, recycled metals, and antique and vintage stones, and complies with the Kimberley Process, an international certification scheme to eradicate the conflict diamond trade.

Studio Boteque works with a workshop that is Sedex -certified and a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council. “I encourage clients to consider longevity,” Bottecchia says. “My focus is on creating modern heirlooms. A true heirloom balances beauty and durability, becoming part of a legacy that outlives us all.”

Cleopatra’s Bling uses recycled metals where possible and offers antique diamonds and traceable stones. “Bespoke jewellery is not fast fashion,” Cummings says. “It asks for time, reflection and trust. The most powerful pieces are not always the biggest or most polished. They’re the ones that feel honest, that hold weight, that speak to something personal.”