I do a lot of custom work. I love the engagement with the client and the creative experience. But have I had custom jobs that went bad or did not work? For sure! Luckily, it hasn’t happened too often. I fact, I keep track. In over four decades of doing custom work, I can say that I have had four, maybe five jobs that did not work out.

The most recent or “the maybe five” was for a special birthday gift from the client’s mother. I spent hours on detailed sketches incorporating the numerous features and details the girl wanted. I provided 26 sketches. Finally, I was given a few new ideas to use that were described in great details to try again. I realized that all those details and a few pictures off the web provided by the girl were exactly what was in my very first sketch. The ring was never made, and it seemed like I was never going to get it right. This was my “maybe”.

If I Think it Will Look Bad, Don’t Make It

A few years back, I had a nice young couple looking for a band to fit an heirloom ring. I was given very precise instructions and even a decent sketch of the design the bride wanted. I remember breaking my “so-called” hard rule. “If I think it will look bad or ugly, don’t make it.” The customer was so nice and so specific that I went ahead, even though I thought that it would not look good. I remember the customers’ exact words when the ring was completed. “This is exactly what I asked for. And I hate it.” That was a failure.

I Can’t Imagine What the Jewellery Will Look Like

When approaching custom work, it can cause some degree of anxiety for people. We get questions like, “What if I don’t like it?”, “Will it look good?”, and “Can I see it before I pay for it?”. I understand that these are reasonable concerns from a customer’s point of view. And as a business owner, it is not always easy to comply with.

So many people come in and tell me they cannot visualize the finished product. I know that there are different levels of skill in visualizing an item from a picture or sketch. I have to wonder if some of the lack of skill comes from when many of us were in our early school years and heard our teachers that this skill was lacking. Occasionally, I wonder if modern teachers still do that. Or maybe it is our inner voice telling us that this skill is missing. I have to say that even those people confessing to being very poor at visualization have been able to picture their custom job with a bit of patience and effort working with me. Not that I am some guru, just that I use a few tools to help.

Tools that Help You Visualize a Custom Piece

The two best tools, after some early steps, are a wax model

or computer aided design (CAD) views. I will work out details and sketch some ideas. When I feel I am confident of the concept the client is after, I can do one of the two things. The first tool is to make an actual wax model of the item, say a ring, that will be made into the ring. It won’t be a pretty metal colour, but it is very easy to see the look and scale of the finished product.

The second tool is CAD views. The sketches of the custom work are put into a computer program and the finished design is shown on a computer screen in several views. This has the advantage that changes can be made easily in the program. The disadvantage is that the scale needs to be explained.

It is often at this point that I get asked, “If I don’t like it, do I have to take it?”. As I said earlier, I haven’t had this happen often, but the answer is most often, “yes”. However, I will say that if the ring is a great concept and look, (which is most of what I make!), I will consider keeping the ring for our showcase and let the client start over.

Many custom-made items will only fit a specific ring or may use specific gemstones. These pieces won’t be items that would easily sell in the showcase as they are so personalized. I work hard to avoid this outcome.

Can I See Custom Work Before it is Made?

The other point to make is that a custom-made item, that is truly one-of-a-kind, does not exist until it is made. That means you cannot see it before it is made except using the two tools above.

I think that custom-made items are a great option for beautiful and memorable jewellery. But is isn’t for everyone. In my store, I stock 100’s of unique custom-made items for client’s looking for something unique but not wanting to go through the custom-made process.

Troy Shoppe Jewellers has the best collection of engagement rings, wedding bands, coloured gemstone jewellery, and gold and silver jewellery in Calgary. If the thought of custom-made jewellery gives you anxiety, visit our store on Macleod Trail SW and you can see the great options that are available in the showcase.

If you are interested in the idea of custom-made jewellery, contact Troy Shoppe Jewellers to book a consultation. I look forward to creating a custom-made item that you will enjoy for years to come.