Custom jewellery making

Custom jewellery making in Australia: prices and what to ask

Updated 4 November 2026

Custom jewellery in Australia usually costs between A$500 and A$5,000, depending on the metal, the stones and the design. For a bespoke piece, the labour alone for CAD design, handmaking and stone setting is often A$900 to A$1,400, before metal and stones are added. These figures are approximate, according to sellers' websites, November 2026. To compare offers for your piece, send a request on BlaBlaPrice.

• Metal type and purity, for example gold or sterling silver, because the metal is often the largest cost
• Stones and settings, which add cost per stone and per setting
• Design work, such as a sketch, a CAD model or a made-to-measure drawing
• Size or weight, since a larger piece uses more metal
• Your own metal, which may reduce the price if the maker only charges labour

Prices are quoted per job, not per gram, so ask for a written quote that lists labour, metal and stones separately.

Metal, stones and your own gold

Ask which metal and purity the maker uses, and get it written on the invoice. If you bring your own metal, ask whether the price becomes labour only. Stones are usually priced separately, so a quote with stones and settings listed on their own line is easier to check.

Design and sketches

A bespoke design usually begins with a sketch or a CAD drawing, and that stage is part of the labour price. Ask whether the design fee is charged even if you do not go ahead, and whether revisions cost extra. Many makers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane work from a sketch you bring.

Qualifications and training

The sources we found name no licence for making jewellery in Australia. Makers train through courses such as the Certificate III in Jewellery Manufacture, which one course listing puts at an estimated fee from A$26,000 over 12 months to four years. Ask about training and experience, and check the finished piece against the agreed metal and stones.

Seasons and timing

November is late spring, and summer runs from December to February. The sources do not show a seasonal price change for custom work, so plan the deadline with the maker rather than with the calendar. Allow extra time for stone sourcing and setting, and agree on a delivery date in writing.

What to write in your request

Name the item, the metal and purity you want, whether you have a sketch, the stones and settings, the size or weight, whether you will supply your own metal, any engraving, your deadline, your city and your budget. A photo of a piece you like makes the first quote much clearer.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the piece in your own words in a chat, and a photo can help. The AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in Australia, and shows the prices and businesses it found. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their own offer, and your contact details stay hidden until you decide to exchange them. See household services, shoe and bag repair or how BlaBlaPrice works.