Bespoke Jewellers

What is Bespoke Jewellery?

A bespoke product or service is one that has been specifically made or designed for a particular person. This means anything custom-made or made-to-order. In the case of bespoke jewellery, this will mean an engagement ring or a necklace, almost anything you can dream up, being designed and handmade by bespoke jewellers.

Bespoke Versus Mass Produced Jewellery

So, what are the differences between mass-produced and bespoke jewellery to consider before engaging bespoke jewellers? The main benefit of a bespoke piece is that it’s utterly unique. Not only will no one else have it, but you can ensure it’s a reflection of you and exactly what you want. This is because the process involves collaboration with the jeweller, from designing the piece to choosing the materials and gemstones. This can even mean reusing materials from a pre-existing piece of jewellery you own, which will help keep costs down.

Additionally, bespoke jewellery will benefit from the care and attention of an experienced craftsperson, whereas mass-produced jewellery is usually produced by labourers on an assembly line rather than a skilled professional jeweller. Of course, this is not always the case, but even if mass-produced jewellery is made by a jeweller, the same individuality and personal thought will not have gone into the piece. Ultimately, having a piece of bespoke jewellery made is a rewarding and fun process into which you can pour your creativity and bring it to life with the help of skilled bespoke jewellers.

Bespoke Versus Customised Finish

It’s important not to confuse custom made jewellery with jewellery that has a customised finish. Jewellery with a customised finish is that which allows customisation of the product, such as choosing the colour of the stone or the type of metal or even adding an engraving. Here, the design itself is not customised. Truly custom-made jewellery is designed, not just produced, for you and only you.

Is Bespoke Jewellery More Expensive?

Unsurprisingly, having an item custom made by bespoke jewellers will be more expensive than buying a piece of mass-produced jewellery. This is for various reasons.

One is the additional time it takes to design the piece prior to making it. Jewellery rendering takes time and skill that not everyone necessarily has. Additionally, mass-produced jewellery, being made in bulk, costs the manufacturer less. Because many stores selling mass-produced jewellery outsource, their wage costs are lower.

Another reason is that, whereas a bespoke piece of jewellery will have a completely unique mould, mass-produced jewellery is identical, therefore sharing the cost of the mould across multiple pieces. In addition, the bespoke jewellers will have to source specific materials and stones, such as diamonds, for your bespoke commission, which will take additional time. Again, as they are not buying in bulk, these materials will generally more expensive.

But there are ways for bespoke jewellers to help lower the cost of the jewellery. Reusing existing materials or remodelling a piece of jewellery you own is a great way of creating a unique piece without breaking the bank. When we say reusing existing materials, we are not referring to recycled gold, which you can learn more about here, but an existing piece of jewellery in your jewellery box that might need updating or a bit of TLC. If you have a ring with sapphires in it that you never wear, you might consider having these sapphires reset in a pair of earrings. This will create a bespoke piece while keeping the cost down.

Our Bespoke Services

At Edward Fleming Jewellery, we offer bespoke services. We can create a piece that is unique and handmade, with ethically sourced gold and stones. Whether you’re looking for an engagement ring, something to mark a special occasion, or just an opportunity to express your creativity through jewellery, we have the jewellery rendering and workshop skills to make your ideas come to life. If you’d like to commission a project, feel free to book an appointment at our East London Workshop by clicking here or via Zoom.