Creating a Custom Birthstone Necklace

I’ve had my own business for over a decade now. Through all of my networking, I have met many wonderful people. Even when these people move out of the New York area, I remain in touch with them. This is such a case.

A client of mine moved to Illinois over five years ago to expand her successful business. Just a few months ago, she called me and asked about creating a custom necklace with the letters of her name and the birthstones of her children and herself.

As with many of my out-of-state clients, I was happy to virtually work with my client over the phone rather than in person.

I began by sending her design examples to gain an idea of her expectations and style preferences.

Once we decided on a design to pursue, I met with my model maker to create the letters of her name.

It was essential to choose letters that were thick enough to accommodate the setting of the gemstones.

Afterwards, we selected an appropriate chain and set the spacing of the letters so it would rest in the most flattering manner. When creating a necklace, it is imperative to place the letters to fall perfectly on the décolletage.

Here is a closeup of the three letters with the gemstones.

My client chose to leave the “I” blank in case she wants to add another stone in the future.

Since this was a Christmas gift for herself, my client didn’t open it until December 25. She wrote to me to tell me just how much she loved it!

Tip: Custom jewelry requires technical knowledge. Whether you’re looking to place gemstones on small letters like this client or you’re looking to set many individual diamonds, you must be aware of the metal, the jewelers technique, and the depth of each gem. Working with a seasoned jeweler is the best way to tap into this technical ability.

Please contact me with any questions.

~ Jane Becker

jane@jbjewels.com