Handed with a simple design, a passionate client wanted us to create a pair of earrings as part of her dream to own a jewelry store. Knowing how important this project is to the client, we leveraged our expertise in custom jewelry design manufacturing to turn her rough design into reality.
The Dream of a Passionate Doer
A client reached out to Zearrow with a rough design sketch for an earring with the goal of turning it into a tangible earring piece. She dreams of owning a physical jewelry store where they can showcase her talents while inspiring others to be service-minded.
The client is studying and working 2 jobs to fund her dream of becoming a jewelry store owner. One as a receptionist at an international hotel chain, and the other as a hostess for a luxury fashion brand’ store in her area.
Understanding her passion and seeing talent in the submitted design, our team took the task of bringing their idea to reality.
Heavy Task of Clarifying the Vision
The first hurdle our team overcame involved creating a functional design based on the rough sketch the client sent us. The sketch showed her vision for the jewelry piece: a pair of gold filled silver earrings with a couple of green stones at the bottom of each. It even has several visual references for each part of the earring to help the designers create the piece.
However, the custom jewelry sketch didn’t include measurements that would be important to bringing the concept to life. Through a thorough discussion with the client, we were able to determine the details of the project and fully capture how she wanted the jewelry piece to look.
Improving Feasibility Without Compromising on Design Appeal
As a seasoned custom jewelry manufacturer, we’re always driven to elevate the functionality and feasibility of the piece without deviating from the client’s original concept. Here’s how we approached the project to achieve the desired goal:
Consultation Process
Being on the same page in every step is essential to the success of any project. That’s why we continuously work with the client to refine their sketch through discussions and revisions.
A couple of concerns we had regarding the project are the stone and its setting. We discussed these with the client and provided professional suggestions, leveraging our experience and expertise in the industry.
Stone selection:
The initial sketch called for a green imperial jasper, possibly for the marbling effect the stone has. However, when we showed them the imperial jasper pieces we’ve worked on before, the color didn’t meet their expectations. To balance budget and aesthetics, we recommended replacing the stone with green cubic zirconia, which the client agreed to.
Stone setting:
Based on the sketch, the client wanted several wrapped around the stone and holding it in place. And while this may look aesthetically appealing, our expert design engineers saw this as mechanically impossible. The claws won’t be enough to secure the stone, leading to the stone falling over time.
Instead, we recommended changing the stone setting by hiding the claws at the back of the piece. This design will allow the stone to shine unhindered while staying securely in place.
Design Development
Taking all the agreed details into account, our design engineers started working on turning the sketch into a professional and functional design.
We began by creating a 2D design sketch based on the rough draft the client provided, adding the proper measurements along the way. After the sketch, we then made the design on our CAD modeling tool to get a better perspective of the final jewelry piece. This gives both us and the client a preview of how the earrings would look once completed while allowing our team to adjust the design as needed.
Material Selection
Once we got approval from the client, we collected all the necessary materials to craft the jewelry piece. Thanks to our robust supply chain and strict material sourcing standards, we’re able to secure the best materials for the project while staying within budget.
We opted for high-grade sterling silver as the base metal for the earrings and cubic zirconia with a luxurious yellow-green hue. These materials went through a meticulous screening process, ensuring that they met the client’s expectations.
Perfect Execution of the Custom Jewelry
Now that we have everything set, it’s time to craft a pair of sample earrings for the client.
The process starts with forming the earring using sterling silver to the desired shape. This involves the utmost skill and precision from our artisans, making sure that they capture the dimensions required for each section perfectly.
Next, the green cubic zirconia is cut and faceted to shape using a combination of precision equipment and their eye for detail. The stone is then set on a separate sterling silver piece that holds it snuggly, which is attached to the main earring to complete its form. After attaching a push-back closure, the base earring is ready for plating.
For plating, we opted for electroplating to give the jewelry a lasting shine and a mirror finish. The pieces are cleaned and prepared, then dipped in a gold bath solution. The solution is then charged via an electric current, drawing the gold ions onto the negatively charged jewelry that results in a stunning gold layer.
Our artisans then carefully inspect the pieces, then polish them until we achieve a mirror finish. A 925 hallmark is added to the earring’s backs, denoting the quality of gold we used for the piece.
The Custom Jewlery is Now a Reality
We showed the gold-filled earrings to the client upon completion, and they were completely satisfied with the result. They complimented us on how we faithfully translated their rough design sketch into a functional and stunning piece of jewelry. And while we made some changes to improve the earrings, it still captures the spirit and vibe they were originally after.
Fulfilling a Client’s Dream – All in the Day’s Work for Zearrow
Tackling a project with only a rough sketch to work on can be a challenge to many custom jewelry manufacturers, but not for experts like Zearrow. By constantly communicating with the client to understand their vision, recommending alternative solutions to achieve their desired output, and committing to providing the best service, we turned their rough idea into a wonderful piece of art.
In the end, we have another satisfied customer, all thanks to the dedication and expertise our team exhibited in handling this project to success.
Do you have a jewelry design you want to turn into a piece for your collection? Let the experts at Zearrow help bridge the gap from concept to reality, using our years of custom jewelry production and time-honed craftsmanship to get the job done. Contact our team today to schedule a consultation.
