Fine Jewelry Gifting
Do you have a surprise gift in mind? Ive got you. It’ll help if you come to the table with a few ideas. But if you are really stumped I can help you narrow it down.
What type of jewelry would this person love? What metal type and gemstones do they like? Is there a special meaning (birthday, birth of a child, anniversary etc.) If it’s a ring, what’s the ring size? Whats the budget? All of these questions will help us get through the design process efficiently.
Once we narrow it down I’ll send you some stone options, sketches, and a price for the purposed piece. Once this is agreed upon I’ll take a deposit and begin the fabrication. The piece is usually done in 2-3 weeks (depending on the wait list).
Engagement Rings
Here are a number of questions to consider when picking out the perfect ring-
Are you looking for a diamond or a non-traditional gemstone? If it’s a diamond, clear and classic or something unusual like a salt and pepper or colored diamond?
Now shape; Round and square/rectangle being the most classic shapes but you can go off the beaten path with a marquis, kite or pear etc.
Metal color- gold, silver or white gold.
Setting- prong or bezel. I almost always do bezel setting which means the metal is wrapped around the stone. Prong lets more light in but it raises the stone up higher making it less practical for a person who works with their hands. Bezel also feels a little more “low key” since the stone is sort of sunk into the metal rather than sticking up off the band like a prong setting. There are other types of settings that can be done but these are the two most common.
Carat- Does your fiance-to-be like her jewels big and bold, or is she’s a simple dresser who wouldn’t want anything too flashy. Either way is TOTALLY OK and we can make a gorgeous ring with any size stone. In my opinion a more casual size is around 0.5 carats and a middle ground is 1 carat. A large stone would be anything over 2 carats. Don’t base this decision on price because we can always get to your budget by tweaking other factors. Let’s start with what their ideal stone is and work from there.
Finally, budget. My minimum for custom work is $500 but your budget will depend on the size and clarity of the stone you pick (salt & pepper/silver diamonds are not as expensive as clear diamonds) and on the metal type (gold is more expensive than silver). You can get a sense of what to expect with pricing in the Fine section of my shop.
Once you are ready you can email me at mh@mirandahope.com to get started.