How to Design a Custom Piece of Jewelry When You Aren’t Sure Where to Start

Questions + prompts to get your mind moving

Want a custom piece of jewelry made but have no clue where to begin? Here are some ideas, prompts and a million questions to help you to create a design:

• What (if any) is the purpose of this piece? Are you celebrating a milestone like a wedding, birth of a child; commemorating a departed loved one; showing the world how much you love your dog or what a great vacation you had to Iceland? Do you just love jewelry (or love to gift jewelry) and want to have a custom piece made? 

• Do any symbols, colors or shapes remind you of this purpose? No worries if nothing comes to mind, this prompt is a little abstract. 

• What style do you or the lucky recipient have? Classic, modern, vintage, bold, funky, minimal, organic, edgy, casual... Do you/ they prefer larger statement pieces, smaller more dainty items? Will this new piece blend into existing jewelry or really pop out? 

• What is your or the lucky recipient’s lifestyle like? Rock climbing, mountain biking, lots of time in pools? Are you/ they hard on items? Though made of metal, jewelry can be surprisingly delicate. It’s important to consider both lifestyle and frequency of wear when designing. 

• Will this piece be for special occasions or everyday wear? Daily wear pieces should be constructed to hold up to a barrage of activities where occasion pieces could be more adventurous or whimsical. 

• Color! What colors do you or the lucky recipient wear frequently? Do you want the piece to boldly stand out or match? Color can include both stones and metal. Gold comes in yellow, white, rose and even green. 

• Are birthstones a part of your plan? If there are multiple stones- how do they look together? Are there alternative colors of stones that could be used?