One Process, Two Stories: How Commissions Can Differ

When people think of a bespoke jewellery commission, they often imagine something elaborate or intimidating, but the truth is, it’s just a conversation. It starts with your story, your old pieces, your ideas, and ends with something new that’s entirely yours.

Every bespoke piece I make is different. That’s the whole point. But underneath the differences, certain values stay the same: keeping things ethical, using what already exists, and making jewellery that’s meant to last.

Here are two recent commissions that show how pieces can share common beginnings, but turn into very different final designs.

Kathleen’s Rings: A New Take on the Past

Kathleen came to me with a selection of old gold jewellery she no longer wore, odd earrings, broken rings, and a few sentimental pieces that just weren’t her anymore. Among them were her original engagement and wedding rings, which no longer fitted or felt right.

She knew from the start that she wanted a set of stacking rings. Something special and versatile, made from what she already had. We recycled her yellow gold, melting it down and remaking it into fresh new bands entirely by hand at the bench. I added new white gold settings to frame the diamonds she’d saved. The contrast of the warm gold and crisp white really brings out the sparkle in the stones.

This ethical jewellery commission reused her materials and her memories, turning pieces that were tucked away into something modern and wearable.

 

V’s Ring: Everything in One

V’s brief was a little different. She brought me seven family diamonds and one aquamarine, and asked me to design a single ring using all of them. She doesn’t wear much jewellery, so this one ring needed to include everything. Every memory, every stone. 

She wasn’t sure what shape the ring should take, so we explored several different designs together. This is the kind of custom jewellery commission where the design develops organically, trying ideas, adjusting proportions, and tweaking layouts until we found the one that worked.

Because the design changed shape a few times and the ring needed to hold eight stones, we used CAD (computer-aided design) to plan the final layout. It was then cast in platinum which allowed for the complex structure and precise stone placement, and was the only practical choice for this kind of detailed design. 

The final ring is curved on one side and flat on the other so it can sit neatly beside her wedding and engagement rings. Each stone is set low in an open-backed bezel so it’s easy to clean and comfortable to wear; a practical, personal design with a careful balance of beauty and practicality.

 

So… Different, or the Same?

Both Kathleen and V came to me with unworn jewellery and the same desire: to create something new, personal, and wearable. But the way we got there was very different.

Kathleen wanted a bold new design using her own gold and didn’t mind if we didn’t use every single stone. Her rings were made entirely by hand - melted, shaped, and forged at the bench in a traditional process.

V, on the other hand, wanted to use every single gem, and needed something that would sit perfectly with her other rings. Her ring was modelled digitally and cast in platinum - a material that’s very difficult to hand build, but ideal for precision and durability. 

Both approaches are valid, that’s the beauty of bespoke. It’s not about having endless options, it’s about making the right piece, with care and intention.

Whether you arrive with a clear vision or a handful of old gold and questions, I’ll help you design something that fits your life and your story.