One of the questions we get asked all the time at markets is:
"Do you do custom jewelry?"
The short answer?
Yes...with some boundaries.
Custom orders can be one of the best parts of owning a handmade jewelry business. They can also be one of the biggest sources of stress if you aren't careful.
Some jewelers only do custom work.
Some won't touch custom orders at all.
For us, custom jewelry is something we enjoy—but only when it's a good fit for both us and the customer.
Not Every Custom Order Is the Right Fit
One of the most important things we've learned is that it's OK to say no.
We don't accept every custom request that comes our way, and we don't feel guilty about it.
If something is outside our skill set, requires techniques we don't use, or simply isn't the type of jewelry we make, we'll politely decline or refer the customer to someone who is a better fit.
That's better for everyone involved.
What We Don't Do
Over the years, we've figured out exactly what fits our business—and what doesn't.
We rarely, if ever:
- Repair or redesign old jewelry.
- Work with family heirlooms or sentimental pieces.
- Set expensive, high-end gemstones that really belong in gold settings by a fine jeweler.
- Work with gold or base metals.
- Create custom wire-wrapped jewelry.
- Build intricate or highly decorative one-of-a-kind designs that don't match our style.
Neither Will nor I want the responsibility of working on Grandma's engagement ring or a priceless family heirloom.
If something were to happen to it, we'd never forgive ourselves.
Those jobs deserve someone with specialized experience, and we're perfectly comfortable admitting they're outside our wheelhouse.
We Stick to What We Know
If you've seen our jewelry, you already know our style.
Simple.
Clean.
Classic.
That's exactly what our custom work looks like too.
If someone loves the jewelry we already make and simply wants it customized with their own stone or sea glass, that's usually a great fit.
If they're looking for elaborate settings, ornate metalwork, or something completely different from our existing designs, we're probably not the right jeweler.
The same goes for ring bands (shanks). If someone wants a completely different style of band than what we normally make, we'll usually pass. We stick with the sturdy, comfortable ring shanks we use in our own designs because we know they fit well, hold up over time, and complement our style.
And that's OK.
We Love Working with Customer-Provided Stones
One of our favorite custom projects is setting stones our customers have found themselves.
We regularly work with customer-provided cabochons and sea glass.
If someone has a favorite beach rock that isn't cut yet, we can even have it professionally cut into a cabochon by our local lapidary artist before we make the jewelry.
One of my favorite stories came from the Yachats Farmers Market.
One of our neighboring vendors found a beautiful agate on the beach and asked if we could turn it into a ring.
Will took the stone to be cut into a cabochon, then created an amazing sterling silver ring for her.
She absolutely loved it.
Those are the kinds of custom projects we really enjoy.
Faceted Gemstones
We don't build custom settings for faceted gemstones.
However, if a stone happens to fit one of the standard pre-made sterling silver settings I can purchase, I'm happy to set it.
Making custom faceted gemstone settings requires specialized skills and equipment that we simply don't have.
Again...
It's perfectly OK to know your limits.
Our Custom Order Process
We've developed a simple system that works well for both us and our customers.
Here's how it works:
- We discuss exactly what the customer wants.
- We make sure the design fits our style and skill set.
- We estimate materials and labor.
- We provide a price quote, including shipping if needed.
- We discuss the expected turnaround time.
- Payment is required in full before we begin.
That's it.
No surprises.
No confusion.
Everyone knows exactly what to expect.
We Require Payment Up Front
This is probably the biggest policy that surprises people.
We require payment in full before we begin any custom order.
Not half.
Not a deposit.
The entire amount.
Why?
Because custom work often requires us to:
- Purchase additional materials
- Have stones professionally cut
- Set aside valuable shop time
- Delay work on inventory for upcoming markets
We've heard too many horror stories from other jewelers who collected only a 50% deposit, spent hours creating a custom piece, and then had the customer disappear.
Sure, the jeweler gets to keep the finished piece...
But they don't get back the hours they invested.
And there's no guarantee that custom piece will ever sell to someone else.
For us, requiring payment up front eliminates that risk entirely.
We Also Charge for Shipping
Yes...
We charge for shipping.
And that's perfectly OK.
Shipping isn't free.
Right now, shipping one of our standard jewelry pieces via USPS costs about $6 before you even factor in:
- Jewelry boxes
- Packaging materials
- Bubble mailers
- Labels
- Tape
- Gas to drive to the post office
- Our time
Those costs add up quickly.
Could we simply build shipping into our prices?
Sure.
But because we sell so much jewelry in person, that wouldn't make sense. Our market customers shouldn't have to pay extra to cover shipping they'll never use.
Shipping is simply a separate expense.
(That's probably an entirely different blog post.)
Our Turnaround Time
We usually complete custom orders within one to two weeks.
Simple projects are often finished sooner.
Handmade chains or more involved work may take a little longer.
We like keeping our list of open custom orders short.
Neither Will nor I enjoy having projects sitting around waiting to be finished.
Market Pickup Makes Life Easy
For our regular market customers, we even offer porch pickup.
I know...
Some vendors probably think that's crazy.
But we live in a small town where everyone seems to know everyone else.
Most customers simply text me when they're on their way.
I leave their package on the porch.
They pick it up.
No waiting.
No scheduling.
No awkward interruptions during the day.
It's simple, convenient, and works well for both of us.
Obviously, every business needs to decide whether something like this makes sense for their own situation.
If Someone Seems High-Maintenance...
I'll be honest.
Sometimes I politely decline.
If I can tell someone wants to negotiate every little detail, constantly change the design, or is likely to be unhappy no matter what...
I usually pass.
Especially during busy market season.
Protecting your time—and your sanity—is part of running a successful business. For us, that sometimes means bringing in help when we need it so we can focus on the work we love.
Etsy Custom Orders
When someone contacts us through Etsy about a custom order, I create a private listing that's reserved specifically for them.
The listing is simple.
Usually just a title like:
Reserved for (Customer Name)
Once they purchase the listing, we get to work.
Other Payment Options
For customers outside Etsy, we either:
- Accept payment in person at the market.
- Send a Square invoice.
- Accept secure electronic payments like PayPal when appropriate.
Customers receive receipts, and everyone has documentation of the transaction.
It's simple and professional.
Should You Offer Custom Orders?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Before you say yes, ask yourself a few questions:
- Do you actually enjoy custom work?
- Do you have time to complete it quickly?
- Will it interfere with making inventory for your website or upcoming markets?
- Is the extra income worth the added stress?
If you're already overwhelmed trying to keep inventory in stock...
Don't add custom work just because someone asks.
It's perfectly acceptable to say:
"I'm sorry, but I'm not taking custom orders right now."
Your customers will understand.
The Best Part About Custom Orders
Despite all the boundaries we've put in place, we genuinely enjoy many of our custom projects.
Some of our best repeat customers started with a custom order.
They come back year after year.
They bring friends.
They stop by our booth every summer when they're vacationing on the Oregon Coast.
Custom work isn't just about making one piece of jewelry.
Sometimes it's the beginning of a relationship with a customer that lasts for years.
And those are exactly the kinds of custom orders we're happy to make.
If you'd like to see the jewelry we make, browse our Pacific Northwest gemstone jewelry and sea glass rings in the shop. And if you're a fellow maker, you might also enjoy: How To Turn Business Cards Into Professional Jewelry Packaging and How I Use Pinterest To Promote My Small Handmade Business.