The Creative Process
Here at Form Bespoke Jewellers we specialise in bespoke, handmade fine jewellery, designed and created to suit your unique style and budget. From your finger size, to the cut of the diamond, the shape and style of the setting, and the precious metal. Every detail of your unique engagement ring, wedding ring or eternity ring is thought of at Form Bespoke Jewellers. When you visit our Chapel Allerton showroom, we’ll discuss all the details with you. A direct discussion with your own jeweller! We’ll make sure you get your perfect jewellery piece.
Our creative process stage 1 – design
When making your bespoke jewellery, the first stage of the creative process requires meeting up in our Leeds showroom. This is simply so that we can discuss what you would like. Then we can develop your ideas to create the perfect, bespoke design to meet your requirements.
Designing -
At Form Bespoke Jewellers, we have a lot of experience in designing and creating bespoke and handmade jewellery. Especially engagement rings, wedding rings and eternity rings!
Nevertheless, if you’ve collected some designs of your own or you’ve seen something you’d like making but with a twist, please just bring them along. Even if you’ve no real thoughts on styles, we can guide you along the process.
We’re here to help with the designing as much or as little as you’d like. Plus, we have lots of examples of past commissions of bespoke jewellery in our Leeds showroom. This should help with a little inspiration. Then, once we’re clear on what it is you’d like us to make for you, we can go away and work out some prices for you.
Diamonds and Gemstones -
If it’s a stone-set piece, we can call upon one of our reputable diamond dealers to get the most competitive quotes. We can also source a selection of diamonds or gemstones for you to view. All around your price bracket but with slightly different colours and qualities. From here you’ll be able to choose your perfect diamond or gemstone.
We are often asked about ‘blood diamonds’ and whether our diamonds are conflict free, but you can rest assured that we are proud to be an ethical jewellers. All our diamonds are from legitimate sources and are completely conflict free.
Unlike high street jewellery stores, at Form Bespoke Jewellers we are not tied to sourcing a certain diamond size or quality from a certain supplier. And we’re not restricted to designing to a certain style or to brand specification. We make sure you get exactly what you want.
Useful Guides -
Diamonds Guide - Precious Metals Guide
Our creative process stage 2 – model making
Once we’ve agreed on the design of your bespoke jewellery, we can move on to the second stage of the creative process. This is the fun bit where you’ll get to see your jewellery come to life as a physical object.
Pewter Models -
At Form Bespoke Jewellers, we’ve worked for many years constructing models and prototypes and have honed our skills to a fine art.
We prefer to construct our models out of pewter because this is an easy soft metal to work with. It is also good for use on our lathe, which ensures technical correctness. We can use other media such as silver or wax but we find pewter to be the best by far. Constructing the unique pewter model of your ring usually takes about a week depending on the complexity of the piece.
Once the model is completed, you’re able to come by to try it on. Then you can confirm it looks the same completed as it did on paper. This is an invaluable procedure as at this point we are often still able to make some changes to ensure that your ring is exactly how you would like it to be. It is also very important to us that we keep you involved in all the key stages of your jewellery creation.
When you are happy with your pewter model, your ring goes to one of our reputable casting companies. Here, it is cast into your desired precious metal. Once this is complete, it is sent to the assay office where it receives its stamp/hallmark of authenticity.
Computer Aided Design (CAD) -
We are proud to be using the latest technology to provide the best service for our customers. Here at Form Bespoke Jewellers, we can alternatively use Computer Aided Design (CAD) to model your jewellery design. CAD creates an accurate visual representation of your jewellery, rather than us hand-making a pewter model. We have won awards for our CAD design work so we do often recommend this service.
A CAD rendered image is produced for you to assess and approve your ring design before it is sent to the casters. It shows your ring as a clear and precise 3D virtual image so you have the opportunity to notice things you may like to alter or adapt. This is an invaluable stage of the creative process.
Once you are happy with your CAD image, the file is then converted into a 3D wax model which is then sent to the casters to be cast into your desired precious metal. When this is complete, it is sent to the assay office where it receives its stamp/hallmark of authenticity.
Our creative process stage 3 – preparation, setting and finishing
Once your ring is returned to us, it will go through the third stage of the creative process. We have to admit that we are perfectionists, and you’ll notice the difference.
Preparation -
A cast ring comes to us with quite a rough finish, so we then clean it up with the use of various files, emery paper, and finishing machinery. The piece may even be part polished at this point, before it is set, to ensure the best end product is achieved.
Setting -
Once the piece has been prepared, it is then ready to have the diamonds or gemstones set. There are lots of different ways of setting gemstones: grain, rub, claw, channel and pave, to mention a few. We will have already discussed these settings with you within the designing stage to ensure your bespoke piece has the right setting for you.
Finishing -
After the diamonds/gemstones have been set, comes the final finishing polish or the special finish. If the metal is white gold it will be rhodium plated. Rhodium plating is a fine coating of a precious metal, which is applied electronically, giving the piece a brilliant white finish.
Having been in the jewellery trade for many years, and been involved in manufacturing, we have put in place the very latest finishing techniques and compounds. This results in the highest standards being achieved. You can be assured that you finished ring will truly sparkle.
Plus, we offer a complimentary aftercare service on all our bespoke jewellery pieces, so your jewellery will keep it’s sparkle.
Our creative process Stage 4 – presentation
The proof is in the pudding, as they say. At Form Bespoke Jewellers, we enjoy making you feel special and providing you with exactly what you imagined.
At this final stage, you will be asked to come and collect your bespoke ring from us at our Chapel Allerton studio. You will be able to see your ring in its beautiful finished state. All sparkling and special! Having been such an integral part in its creation, we hope that you will feel as much of a sense of accomplishment as we do. You have just created your very own original piece of jewellery!
And as you are showing off your bespoke ring (that you’ve created!) to all your friends and family, don’t forget to tell them about us. We always make sure we look after our valued customers as you are very important to us.
We look forward to seeing you again too. Many of our customers are repeat customers. Once you’ve designed and owned a piece of Form bespoke jewellery, it is often difficult to buy from a high street jewellers again. You simply can’t be involved in the creative process in the same way. This is where we are unique and we are always ready for your next challenge.