Custom jewellery: rings, chains and bands made from your design
What goes into the price of a piece
Custom jewellery is priced in a few parts: the metal by weight, the jeweller's making charges, stones, finishing, and the materials for the model. Two offers for “gold wedding bands” can differ because one is 3 grams and the other 6, or the purity is different, or one is cast and the other is handmade.
On BlaBlaPrice you describe the piece once, and jewellers reply in the chat with a price or what it depends on. They see where their offer stands among the others, so they compete for your order. It is free for buyers, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose a jeweller.
Metal, purity and colour
Gold jewellery is usually 22K or 18K, and 14K is also available. The higher the purity, the more pure gold in the piece and the higher the price, but 18K is harder and holds up better for everyday wear, especially with stones. The colour depends on the alloy: yellow, rose or white gold. White gold is usually rhodium-plated, and the plating needs refreshing from time to time. Silver and platinum have their own quirks, so ask the jeweller what suits your piece best.
Weight is the main driver of cost, so the jeweller needs either a size or a target in grams. For a ring that is the finger size; for a chain it is the length and the width of the weave.
Design, 3D model and stones
If you have a sketch or a reference photo, attach it to your request. If not, the jeweller will propose a design, and it is worth agreeing how many changes are included in the price. More complex pieces are made from a 3D model and cast; simpler ones are handmade. Stones can be diamonds, cubic zirconia or coloured gemstones. For a diamond, give the weight in carats and the grade you want, and ask the jeweller to show the certificate if there is one.
What to include in your request
- The piece — wedding bands, ring, pendant, earrings, chain, signet ring.
- Metal and purity — for example, 18K white gold.
- Design — whether you have a drawing or photo, or the design needs to be created.
- Stones — type, number, weight in carats.
- Size and weight — finger size, chain length, a target in grams.
- Your own gold — whether you will bring old gold to be melted down.
- Engraving — the text and where it goes.
- Deadline — the date you need it by.
- City — where the jeweller should be.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
Example: “Montreal: I need a matching pair of 18K white gold wedding bands from my sketch, ring sizes 12 and 16, names engraved inside, and one band with a 0.2 carat diamond. Ready before the wedding on 20 February. Budget up to $1,000.”
What to look for in the replies
Ask each jeweller to state the approximate weight, the purity, how the piece will be made and the delivery time. Ask whether the piece will carry a hallmark and whether you will get a document with the weight and materials. Find out clearly whether old gold can be exchanged and at what rate. The reviews next to each offer show whether the jeweller keeps to deadlines, which is critical for wedding jewellery.
Start early: a one-off piece needs time for design, casting and polishing. For other services, see “Household services”, and to see how the site works, read “How it works”.
