Custom Jewellery Design Process at Keir: From Sketch to Setting

Most people who ask about custom jewellery have never gone through the process before, and the uncertainty of "what actually happens" is often what stops the conversation before it starts. Here is exactly what the process looks like, stage by stage.

Stage One: The Conversation

Every custom piece starts with a conversation, not a form. We ask about the person the piece is for, the life they actually live, any existing jewellery being incorporated or replaced, and the feeling the piece is meant to carry. This stage matters more than most people expect — a ring designed around an accurate story almost never needs to be redesigned later.

Stage Two: Concept and Sketch

From that conversation, we develop initial design directions — sketches or digital renderings showing setting style, proportions, and metal. This is the stage for changing direction freely: adjusting a halo to a solitaire, shifting metal tone, revisiting stone shape. Nothing is committed to production yet.

Stage Three: 3D Rendering and Approval

Once a direction is chosen, we build a precise 3D CAD rendering. This shows exact proportions, prong placement, and stone setting from every angle before a single gram of metal is cast. This is the final checkpoint for changes — approval at this stage locks the design.

Stage Four: Casting and Setting

The approved design is cast in the chosen metal, then hand-finished and set with the chosen stone or stones. This stage is where craftsmanship becomes visible: polishing, prong finishing, and stone setting are done by hand, not by automated production line.

Stage Five: Quality Check and Delivery

Before delivery, every custom piece is inspected for stone security, finish quality, and fit against the original specifications. For rings, final sizing is confirmed at this stage if needed.

What Custom Design Costs — and Why

Custom pieces are priced by material and complexity, not by a flat "custom fee" markup. A simpler custom band and a fully bespoke, hand-carved setting with multiple stones sit at very different price points, and we walk through that pricing at the concept stage, before any design work is committed.

Timeline

Most custom pieces take four to eight weeks from final design approval to completion, though highly complex builds or pieces requiring rare stone sourcing can take longer. We give a realistic timeline at the concept stage, not an optimistic one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does custom jewellery design cost?
Cost depends on metal, stone, and design complexity rather than a flat fee — pricing is discussed and confirmed at the concept stage before any production work begins.

How long does custom jewellery take to make?
Most custom pieces take four to eight weeks from final design approval, though complexity and stone sourcing can extend that timeline.

Can I use my own stone or a family heirloom in a custom piece?
Yes. Incorporating an existing stone, whether an heirloom diamond or another gem, is one of the most common custom requests and is factored into the design from the first conversation.