Tag Archive for 'CAD Designs'

Custom Jewellery

Published on February 20, 2011 in Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gemstones, Hand-made Jewellery and Jewellery. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , .

It has previously been mentioned that there is a fine line drawn between designer jewellery and custom (designing) jewellery. Since that time was spent more on what defines designer jewellery, this time around, we’ll delve into custom jewellery.

Just to jog your memory a little bit, the key component that separates designer jewellery from custom jewellery is who controls the designing process. When a jewellery designer is making a designer piece of jewellery, it’s completely thought up and created through the jeweller’s artistic eye. The goal is to design a masterpiece that will remain as a one-of-a-kind, never to be recreated again piece of jewellery. The amount of dedication, precision and materials used to complete this unique work of art requires a top-notch jeweller, the most precious of metals and the most magnificent of jewels.

Custom jewellery, on the other hand, is client based meaning that the design is thought out or portrayed from the client to the jeweller. It’s up to the customer to determine carat size, width of bands or chains, gemstone, types of precious metals and/or other materials they wish to incorporate into their cherished creation.

More importantly than only how the jewellery looks, it’s the sentimental reasons that go into the custom design that create a truly, original piece of jewellery. Think about heirloom jewellery – what makes it an heirloom? Many times, they’re older pieces of jewellery that are no long created but that isn’t specifically what makes them an heirloom. The secret is the emotional attachment to these pieces of jewellery that are passed down the familial line – sometimes for centuries!

It’s the same thought process behind customised jewellery. A proud husband may gift his wife a diamond ring for the birth of their first child. Mothers may wish to design similar rings or pendants that can grow as her family does, adding birthstones to signify her loved children.

Spouses may want to engrave their jewellery for anniversaries or weddings to include an endearing term or date; perhaps also including a special stone indicating something only each other understands.

Just recently, a very touching and inspiring experience occurred, here at Eskae Private Jewellers, requiring a customised engagement ring for an older couple. Both had, sadly, lost their spouses. Miraculously, this amazing couple found happiness again within each other and became engaged! Wanting to treasure the precious memories each had with their previous spouses, the couple wished to incorporate jewellery from their previous marriages to produce a magnificent engagement ring in honor of their deaths. Talk about a masterpiece!

From a jewellers viewpoint, customised jewellery is a great choice for clients (especially repeat clients) BUT it’s just as fantastic for the designing jeweller! Jewellers are artists at heart and customised jewellery allows for the required finances and extra time to do exactly what got them into the jewellery trade to begin with: Creative design.

Because ordering and purchasing vast amounts of gold and jewels are limited, jewellers save the bulk for their retail stock which doesn’t leave much time left over for their passion of designing. When a request for customised jewellery comes in, that means extra money and time for the jeweller to get the best custom materials by using their trade connections to make sure that you end up with the best piece of custom jewellery possible for your budget

Since custom jewellery has a completely different set of rules than all other jewellery – that is to turn your dream jewellery into a reality – quite literally! The processes used for designing are completely different than your run-of-the-mill window shopping wishes.

For custom jewellery newbies, when first meeting with your jeweller, he/she will sit down with you and work the details you have in mind into a sketch. After your initial meet-and-greet, the jeweller will begin incorporating his thoughts and master mindedness to expand your ideas into several more design options for you to peruse through.

Since most of the custom work revolves around mounting, some of the best custom jewellery creations are created from older or heirloom jewellery you already possess that you may have already thought of incorporating into your design. If you have an heirloom  or a family engagement ring you’d like to adjust to suit your tastes or update it while keeping its sentimental value , this is the perfect opportunity to do so!

For those lacking any creativity in their blood but still wish to have a piece of custom jewellery, fear not! This just means more fun for the jeweller to come up with some designs that can either blend your older jewellery into a new piece or coming up with a new idea altogether.

While many jewellers use old methods to create custom jewellery, many newer technologies have been incorporated, such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing), to add a large variety of newer options that can’t be done by hand.

But how custom jewellery is made is another story for another time, so until then, happy designing!

Sam Kritsotakis

Private Jeweller

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CAD designing for jewellery

Published on October 12, 2008 in Gold, Jewellery and Platinum. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

there have been some remarkable advancements in technology, in recent years, i am sure we can all think of at least 3 straight away, in any field…

one of the things that is emerging as a power in new jewellery manufacturers, is the use of CAD design systems. CAD stands for computer aided design. it does have some unique benefits, for you,

  • not only does it enable me to give you a design in a short amount of time
  • you get to see a fully rendered 3D image, which we can rotate and view from literally every single angle, of the jewellery you want to create
  • we can make changes as we go through the design process, without having it cost anyone time and or money
  • you can see the design in both 2D and 3D (3D is obviously better)
  • you can even see what different coloured stones would look like in your piece

CAD was first used in aeroplane design and manufacture, but by the passage of time and advancement of user friendly PC interfaces, CAD is now used in almost every industry where the design process takes place. a lot of people associate CAD with architecture, but there are just so many applications for the software that it is becoming mainstream in a lot of these industries.

the CAD we use in jewellery, was developed from engineering software that was used to make machining components and also from software used to make tools for heavy machines. considering the fact that jewellery manufacture is an engineering, simply done on a miniature scale, in which we work with 1/100th’s of 1mm, it has become very handy software to use!

some of the best uses for CAD in jewellery is for pieces that are entirely symmetrical and that i might need to replicate certain components of the piece many times. i can simple draw 1 half of the design in the first instance and then press a button that will mirror copy the design for me, exactly as i have drawn it on the first half! or in the later example, i can take the drawn component, which i would only have to draw once, and then plot where i want the component to go and again press a button that will insert the component where i have marked!

this does speed up the process considerably and it also has advantages in the crafting process too. these components can have interlocking components pre-assembled into the design, so that when it comes time to produce the piece, everything lines up perfectly straight, AND it is locked in place!

i have recently made some lapel pins using CAD software, these were being used as a corporate gift, and another piece i have made was a 5 diamond ring, which had interlocking settings for the 5 diamonds that went across the ladies finger.

we can use CAD to design and make pretty much any piece of jewellery that you desire, if this is something that might be of use to you in a design idea that you have, and you are not quite sure of how it may go together, then let me know at Appointment@EskaeJeweller.com and we can arrange a time to get together and develop your piece of jewellery!

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Jewellery to match YOU!

Published on October 6, 2008 in Gold, Jewellery and Platinum. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Have you ever picked up a piece of jewellery held it against either your ear or around your neck then thought to yourself, “hmmm, not quite what i thought it would look like on me…”?


trouble is you love the design, but like some dresses, jeans or other wearable fashion pieces it doesn’t suit you or your body… choosing jewellery has a few simple guidelines to follow for it to look absolutely outstanding on you!


for example:-

  • if you have short hair, wear earrings that are a little larger, not only because they will be seen more, but also because you will draw the viewers attention to your face
  • if you have a longish neckline, choose a neck piece that either has a long drop on it, or, a simple chain that is longer than normal will look great and will really accentuate your neck line

The other thing to consider is what are you wearing? are you wearing dark colours? or light colours? With the darker colours you wear, stones such as:-

  • diamonds
  • citrines
  • blue topaz
  • pale pink sapphires
  • pale pink diamonds

and lighter coloured stones will always stand out more because you have created contrast through colour.

On the other hand if you are wearing lighter colours, look for pieces that are crafted with the darker stones. these might include stones like:-

will work equally well and for the same reason, contrast through colour.

if you are wearing a heavy jacket in say winter, you will want to consider the option of a lapel pin, these are great and can be lots of fun to both design and wear! i know a jeweller who swears by his as a conversation starter, in any situation! he makes his pins in the form of insects that most people would NOT go anywhere near, even if you were paying them $1M to do so!

At the risk of being a little bit too subtle, my point is this:-

jewellery is both fun and creative. DO NOT think that it is only diamonds and pearls, rubies and emeralds… with our skill level, creative flair, and range of valuable services eskae jeweller can and will design you a piece, that is capable of going with anything, anyone, or any occasion. and it will only benefit you more, to think a little bit outside the conventional square, and to try and capture something you will cherish forever. We can also help you keep your jewellery looking spakly and new, with our jewellery health check service.

P.S. if yours or your partners jewellery is starting to look a little bit in need of some T.L.C you can make an appointment with me through my website or you can email me directly at Appointment@EskaeJeweller.com so that YOUR jewellery will be looking like brand new pieces again for the summer and party season!

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Choosing a JEWELLERY DESIGNER for YOU

Published on September 14, 2008 in Gold, Jewellery and Platinum. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

There is a special occasion coming up;

  • birthday
  • anniversary
  • new baby
  • engagement
  • first communion
  • valentines day
  • Christmas
  • an “i love you” gift
  • second baby

The list is almost endless!

But these are probably the most often thought of occasions to gift someone special a beautiful piece of jewellery. Because they are someone special you really want to give them something totally unique, something that they perhaps deserve?, something that really conveys the right message or something that simply lets this special person know exactly how you feel!

Your thinking that this sounds SUPER expensive?

You are not exactly wrong, as doing something like this does have its inherent costs. Jewellery is a wonderful way to say all of these things and more. Using diamonds, gemstones, platinum and gold is an unbelievably good way of communicating a special message to that someone special, a great way of gifting someone, a piece of jewellery that they will always treasure, and will definitely remember the moment!

Certainly having something made for yourself or a loved one, is not something that will break the bank, but WILL endure the test of time, especially if you follow these simple guidelines.

WHERE DO I START?

First things first.

  • Look for jewellers who are local to you or better yet, that come recommended to you. You will have a chance to see and hear what this person has recomended from this particular jewellery designer, if it is your kind of taste or style, even the direction that you would like to go down
  • It is ok if you dont really have too much of an idea about where or what you are trying to achieve. Considering the fact that you are speaking to a jewellery designer, it is often best to leave most of it up to the person who is the expert in jewellery design. This is what we have chosen to do day in day out, we will know what is structurally possible, and what will aesthetically look the best in the end. If you do have a rough idea of what it is you are trying to say or do, even better as it gives us a great place to start from.
  • Your message or gift will possibly need a theme, (birthday, engagement, anniversary…) all need to say something different. A good place to start looking is on the Internet, there is a huge amount of jewellery images around and a simple search on Google, will dig up a great starting point. Try to keep in theme of the occasion.

CULLING THE LIST

  • Once you find a direction and you have nailed it down to a couple of jewellery designers that you are interested in looking at closer, see what they say about doing custom creations. How do they normally go about this process? What are the steps involved in designing and then creating this work of art? What do you need to give the designer? What will the designer give you? You can expect to pay a little more for having the privilege of a custom designed and crafted piece of jewellery. This is what you need to expect, not everybody wants this, or needs this. Any good jewellery designer will have a much better idea if they can help you achieve what you are trying to do with your jewellery, after you have met for the first time.
  • You will need to know a delivery time, or at the least a time frame for the design process and the creation of you jewellery. I generally like to work around the 3-4 week mark, as i find this gives me time to speak with you and get some designs underway, then when we meet again you are presented with some variations and the two of us will be a whole lot clearer about where we are going with this jewellery project. I will give you options on either diamonds and gemstones that we had previously discussed. Once we settle on the design, and what diamonds/gemstones we will be using, it can take anywhere between 2-3 weeks for the whole piece to be crafted in gold and/or platinum.
  • I like to do what i call a “fitting” of the piece. This is two fold; Firstly it gives me a chance to make sure no changes are necessary before i go ahead and set all the diamonds and gemstones, Secondly, it gives you the chance to make sure the piece is exactly what you are looking for, it has the right direction, and is in keeping with your message or gift idea. This IS the time to make any changes to the piece, before the stones are set, as it will not damage any stones, also it will not effect the time frame too much, particularly if the changes are small. IF however, there are major changes needed, then a small delay may be necessary.
  • One thing to bear in mind when ordering a custom piece of jewellery, is that this process does take some time. Time to craft the jewellery correctly, make sure that the jewellery is structural, and has all the aesthetic qualities that a custom order demands. A rushed job is literally that, no body gains from anything of the sort. Respect for this process is required and will often lead you to a much better piece of jewellery that you will be proud to say you have had that custom designed and made for you!

GET A FINAL DESIGN AND QUOTATION:

  • As i mentioned earlier, a good jewellery designer will have design variations and options for you to choose from, they will be able to give you ball park figures at this stage. Once you a final with your choice of design and either diamonds or gemstones, a more thorough quotation can be obtained.
  • I like to present a coloured hand sketch of the piece we will be making at this stage and it will be accompanied by some final figures.
  • A deposit is usually required as most custom designs need to have diamonds, coloured gemstones, gold, or platinum specifically ordered. I work around 30% down and i WILL NOT start the job untill a 50% deposit has been paid. Everyone is different here, you will need to discuss this with your designer.
  • A point of difference here, may, possibly whether or not the jeweller offers you any sort of unlimited design revision, or if they do a “fitt
    ing”, a guarantee,     or even if they are happy to re-make the jewellery if it all turns out horribly wrong and the intended recipient does not like it at all! This is my philosophy and my company policy.

WAITING FOR THE WORK OF ART!

  • I like to keep you informed of the different stages of crafting your custom jewellery. I generally do this via email, as i like to have this on record, others i know make a simple phone call, but as this stage does not really require any action on your part, i believe that an email is great, as you can view it and forget it!
  • In the unlikely event of supply problems, a good jewellery design will call you to let you know, what the hold up is and when the expected solution is.
  • Once the jewellery is ready for a “fitting”, i like to call you and make an appointment for you to come and try the piece on. Of coarse if the jewellery is a surprise this does not apply, but 90% of the time it is what i believe to be one of the best practises that can be applied by a jewellery designer.
  • At the end of the creative process, when all the diamonds and coloured gems are set in their gold or platinum settings, an email with a photo and the valuation will be sent out to you, to tell you that your creation is ready to be collected! Once in store, a physical copy of the valuation certificate and the beautiful work of art is presented!

ONE FINAL THOUGHT!

  • IF there are any problems what so ever with your piece of jewellery, let the jeweller know what it is so that it can be rectified as soon as possible! A good jeweller will normally do this free of charge, BUT you may have to take a look at their guarantee, if one is presented to you.
  • Also if the piece IS everything you dreamt of and more let the designer know as well! We love to get feedback on the jewells that we create, and a happy smiling client is always the way forward! When somebody absolutely loves and adores their custom designed and crafted jewellery, it is a wonderful feeling and it makes me happy to be able to share in that moment of your life!

P.S.

check out these amazing pavement artworks! This will bring a smile to your face!

http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

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