Hannah Florman, private and custom jeweler in Boston, discusses how to make your personalized fine jewelry feel completely one-of-a-kind.
From romantic diamond Riviera necklaces to casual yet elevated diamond tennis bracelets and bangles, fine jewelry can be a beautiful way to transition your style from day to night, effortlessly. Unlike engagement jewelry which has traditionally been reserved for that once-in-a-lifetime commitment, fine jewelry can be something you design for someone special to celebrate the other meaningful moments that punctuate our lives. Or, to design a piece for yourself that makes you feel your best. Part of the benefit of working with a private jeweler is that you’ll have a knowledgeable designer helping you bring your vision to life. By keeping a few things in mind as you start this journey to creating a special piece of fine jewelry, you’ll feel confident and informed from the start.
Come with Ideas
Bring inspiration to the table to help guide the conversation with your private jeweler. Share a bit about your lifestyle, personal style and clothing preferences, and which pieces of jewelry you find yourself wearing most. That way, you’ll be able to start conceptualizing what this piece may look like and also how it will fit into your day to day life. Come into your consultation with an idea of what you want and what you don’t want. By no means do you have to have your entire design planned out, but having some knowledge of the different shapes, settings, metals and gemstone options will go a long way in the process.
Embrace your instincts
Like with personal styling, you’ll feel most comfortable wearing a piece of fine jewelry if you feel that it adds to your existing wardrobe in a purposeful way. And, it should feel like something nobody else has - so lean on your private jeweler who will refine your design and offer a few suggestions to make it pop. Like, a unique arrangement of stones, a mix of metals or even a combination of two different designs that you love equally to make one bespoke piece.
Consider a personal touch
Adding a personal touch can immediately make your custom piece not only super unique, but very special, too. Engravings, heirloom stones, and monogramming are all great options. If you are repurposing a ring or heirloom stones, this is when you can get really creative with the orientation and design.
For instance, I worked with a client who wanted to take the diamond from her original engagement ring and pair it with a nearly identical stone for a stunning set of stud earrings. Private jewelers have this kind of access and flexibility to get their hands on *just* the right stone needed, which is a true asset for those looking to get creative. Then we upgraded her original diamond from a 1 carat to a 3 carat — look at this stunner!
Trust your jeweler
Having worked with so many clients, all with varying tastes and requests, I’ve had the experience of designing many unique pieces. Some are more classic in nature while others are a bit non-traditional. Sometimes, the best designs come from having a bit of flexibility in your expectations. When you allow your jeweler to present a few different options, and sketch out some ideas that you may never have considered, magic can happen. My best advice is to communicate clearly, but also leave room to be delighted by the experts!
Whether you’re looking to create the perfect gift for someone special, or want to treat yourself to a meaningful piece, I would love to help make your vision a reality! Schedule a complimentary consultation with me and let’s get started.
