Custom design
Pricing begins at $2,500
with a $500 deposit
Best For
- Clients seeking a fully custom, one-of-a-kind piece — not something similar to pastdesigns we’ve created
- Clients drawn to Shelter’s overall aesthetic and comfortable giving our designers the creative reins
Custom designs are most successful when clients fully trust our design team to make creative decisions based on our expertise. We work collaboratively with custom clients throughout the process to give as much detail and foresight on the final product as possible. The first time you see your fully finished design will be when you receive the final product (although we are able to provide renderings and wax models of the piece during the design process), so we encourage custom clients to consider whether they are comfortable conceding certain design decisions (e.g. precise prong size or band width) before making the investment. We are confident that with mutual trust and open minds, our team will deliver exceptional pieces that capture your design preferences and are fully aligned with your expectations.
The Process
Introductory Meeting
We meet virtually or in person to kick off your project to get an overall vision of the piece you’d like to create. We cover metal and stone preferences, budget, and unique features. While we cannot exactly replicate previous designs or jewelry by other designers, we love inspiration imagery and encourage you to come to this meeting with pictures of styles you’d like to approximate to give us an idea of your aesthetic and preferences. After this meeting, we send you a summary report along with next steps.
Stone Sourcing
We work closely with reputable stone vendors all over the world—whether it’s a GIA-certified diamond, a uniquely cut sapphire, or a stunning tourmaline, we help you find your ideal stones. We present photos and videos of stone options with pricing. We are typically able to procure up to three stone options to examine in person. Once you have a selection, we require full payment for the stone.
Design
Our team creates three initial designs for you to review, along with pricing, measurements, and design descriptions. The designs are prepared digitally, and we make them as realistic as possible to give you a full picture of the finished piece. We include two revisions to the initial designs in the base fee; additional changes will incur a $75 fee per revision.
Wax Printing
Once you choose a design, we print a wax model for you to try on. We can have this available in our store or sent directly to you. The wax model is an exact representation of the piece and gives you a sense of scale and fit.
Production
Your vision becomes a reality! We cast your piece from the wax model and work with our trusted stone setters to make sure your piece is finished to perfection.
Recent Creations
