The custom design process is a one-of-a-kind experience.  We start with an initial one-on-one meeting with the client, which can be done in person or over the phone, to discuss the client's aesthetic tastes, what he or she is looking for, the budget within which we will be working, etc.  Then, if we're using the client's existing stones, we take all necessary measurements, and at that point we have all the information we need to begin the design process.  Jennifer will then take to her drafting table to draw up several ideas by hand.  These hand-drawn renderings are incredibly detailed and exactly to scale, so if you were to cut out the drawing and lay it on your finger, it would be exact size. 

From there, depending on the project, we will usually send the drawing to CAD (Computer Aided Design), and they will create the design on the computer, which then gives us a very realistic 3D computer rendering to look at before the piece goes into production.  At this point you can still make changes, make things larger or smaller, combine part of one design with another part of another, etc.  These CAD renderings are incredibly helpful to see what the piece will look like upon completion.  

Once the CAD design is finalized and approved, it gets sent to production.  The piece goes through the laborious casting process, and then the rough mounting is sent to the bench for setting and finishing.

And then, your one-of-a-kind design has miraculously been turned into a beautiful, tailor-made, real live piece of wearable art.