Pricing

Custom Jewelry Design Pricing

There are many costs associated with a custom designed piece of jewelry. Each job is different, but the pricing process is the same. Inevitably, the gemstones, or centerpiece gem, may be the top cost of a custom jewelry design. Next, the actual creation is made around that gemstone or gemstones and the size you select. We usually recommend you purchase the main gem or diamond from us first, and then we work closely with you to design the jewelry for your taste, desire and budget. When you are pricing a custom job, you should keep those points in mind.

custom opal jewelry preliminary sketch

Design Style: Traditional, religious/symbolic, contemporary, artsy, vintage, or sentimental?

Wearability: Everyday, everywhere, a few times a month, or once per year?

Complexity: Simple, curvy, multiple gemstones, symmetrical or not, setting styles, dimensions, curves, multi-metals, textures, wild. What is the occasion?

Size/Orientation: A lot will depend on where you will wear it on your body. What can your finger handle? Will it be worn at work, home, play, or every day? Are the gemstones aligned down the finger, across the finger, or straight up and down your chest? How big do you want it? If the size is bigger, that requires more metal, work, gemstones, and money.

Accent Gemstones or Metals: Do you want Sapphires with your diamonds or side diamonds with your family birthstone? How many gemstones? How big do you want the gemstones? Do you want certain colors, shapes, clarity or fire?

All of these factors, coupled with your ideas on how you want the piece to look, will determine the final cost. In addition, your ability to make a decision based upon drawings, wax models, prototypes, and discussions will also determine the final cost of this design project. We can recommend, interpret, and suggest, but ultimately it’s your decision.

We give very good cost estimates based on our experience in designing thousands of pieces over the past 22 years. When we give you a cost, it will never be over unless you change the job in a major way many times the final price will come in under the estimate once all the hours are tabulated and metals, gemstones are weighed. We can also take trade-ins of old gold and other metals. Many times we can use your diamonds, gems, and even your "sentimental" metals in the new design; it saves you money and allows you to continue to enjoy "family" jewels or that special gold ring your mother gave you many years ago.

Costs: Here are the COST details for a typical DESIGN breakdown (every job is different).

Materials: Metals/Golds ($1600/oz)

  • 14kt yellow $60/gram & 14kt white gold $55/gram

  • 18kt yellow $75/gram &18kt white gold $70/gram

  • Platinum $110/gram or $1100/oz* 

  • We use Platinum .95% and Iridium 5% (no cobalt or ruthenium). 

  • Our platinum mixture is the same that Harry Winston has used since the 1900s. 

  • Silver is $1.50/gram. 

NOTE: We do take trade-ins of gold. If you give us 10 grams of quality gold, we can use it in your job, and you won’t be charged for 10 grams. If your gold is mixed and not good quality, we can trade "scrap value", which is typically $10 to $15 per gram. Not all gold is the same because some foreign manufactured goods are low-quality mixes of 9kt. That quality level would impact the appearance of your custom design if it was used in the construction.

Diamonds 1pt-9pt (0.01ct 0.09ct) Rounds

H I Si2 $900/ct

G H Si1 $1200/ct

G/H VS $1500/ct

F G VVS $2000/ct

*All are very fine cuts and the bigger quantity, the bigger the discount.

Diamonds over 0.10cts 0.20cts range from $1000/ct - $1750/ct. 

If there are bigger gemstones, they are quoted upon request with an EGL or GIA certificate.

Certified Diamonds are available from 1/4ct and up and will still be very competitive in ANY diamond.

Labor

  • Initial design wax carving is usually $100-200, depending on the complexity.

  • CAD/CAM has a minimum of $600 for the 3D design and $100 for a wax/plastic ready cast.

  • Mold making is $100.

  • Waxes cost $150 to $200.

  • Casting is $200 and up. 

  • Platinum is $500.

  • Finishing is $159-300.

  • Gemstones setting pave or bead set small gemstones are $10 per gemstone.

  • Emeralds are $15 per gemstone.

  • Bezel setting is $50 per gemstone.

  • Channel work is $50 per hour.

  • Prong set small gemstones are $8/gemstone

  • Prong set larger gemstones, diamonds, and tanzanites are $150 to $300 per karat.

  • Metal Fabrication versus Wax --- Mold ---Cast Techniques $65/hour (Gold and Silver)

  • Platinum is $80 per hour (hand fabricated or handmade)

  • We cast in palladium (the new, pure, white metal that is harder and heavier than white gold). Paladium- Iridium is a platinum group metal.

  • Final Polishing is $80 to $100 per job. 

The total cost will be a combination of design labor, metal costs, gemstone costs, setting costs, finishing/polishing, and actual construction. The construction can either be wax to cast, CAD, or hand fabrication, such as most of our Platinum work. When we quote a job usually from a basic discussion, we can get close, but will never have the final cost until it is done. We usually say the cost will be under $500, which means it will not exceed that amount unless the customer changes the design process. Many times the price is less than $500 as well. We will always keep you updated on your design, so there are no surprises, and you get the special design you want, at the right cost for your budget. That is our PROMISE. Please call Jeff at the toll-free number, 1-800-376-6725, for any questions.

Call Jeff for any Questions!