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How Custom Jewelry Is Made at Smith's
Every custom piece at Smith's Jewelers starts the same way — with a conversation in our Noblesville workshop. Our master craftsmen, including Brian Roll with 40 years of experience and Steve Stadick with 35, guide you through each stage of the design and fabrication process. Everything happens in-house, on the Square. Nothing is sent out to an outside vendor. Here's exactly how it works.
1Consultation
The process begins with a conversation — in person, in our Noblesville showroom. You don't need a finished idea, a sketch, or even a clear description. Many customers arrive with nothing more than an occasion, a feeling, or a piece of jewelry they want to repurpose. Our craftsmen are experienced at drawing ideas out through dialogue.
Bring in inspiration photos, a mood board, a Pinterest collection, or an heirloom piece you'd like redesigned. The first consultation is free and comes with zero obligation. By the end of the meeting, you'll have a clear sense of what's possible, what it will cost, and how long it will take. No surprises later.
2Inspiration
Once we understand what you're looking for, we begin gathering visual references to align on an aesthetic direction. This could draw from nature, architecture, historical jewelry periods, fashion, or deeply personal stories. Our designers use sketches, photographs, and reference materials to build a shared vocabulary for the design — ensuring that what's in your head and what ends up on paper are the same thing.
If you're repurposing an existing piece, this is also where we assess what stones and metal can be salvaged and incorporated into the new design. Your existing material — your gold, your diamonds — can become part of something completely new.
3Designing
With a clear direction established, our designers translate the concept into detailed drawings. This stage involves working through proportions, setting styles, metal choices, stone placement, and overall structure. We consider how the piece will wear, how it will age, and how it will look from every angle — not just straight on.
No fabrication begins until you approve the design. You will see exactly what is being proposed before a single piece of metal is touched. If the design isn't right — change it. This stage is specifically built for revision, and we expect iteration to be part of it.
4CAD & 3D Modeling
Once the hand-drawn design is approved, it moves into CAD — Computer-Aided Design. Using specialized jewelry design software, our team builds a precise digital three-dimensional model of the piece. This gives you a realistic, rotatable preview of the final product before any physical work begins.
The CAD model can also be used to produce a physical wax model — a tangible prototype you can hold and examine before casting begins. This is particularly valuable for engagement rings and other high-significance pieces where getting the proportions and feel exactly right matters before committing to metal. Changes at the CAD or wax stage are significantly easier and less costly than changes after casting.
5Casting
With the design approved and the wax model confirmed, casting begins. At Smith's, this work is done in our own Noblesville workshop — not shipped to an outside foundry. The most common method is lost-wax casting: the wax model is encased in a mold, the wax is burned away to leave a precise cavity, and molten metal is poured in to fill it. Once cooled, the mold is broken away to reveal the cast piece.
We work in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum, and sterling silver. If you've supplied your own metal from an existing piece, that material is incorporated here. The result of casting is a rough but accurately shaped piece that's ready for the finishing stage.
6Finishing
Casting produces the shape. Finishing produces the piece. The cast metal is worked through a series of processes by our craftsmen until it meets the design exactly:
- Polishing — The surface is worked to a mirror-bright finish, or left with texture as the design requires.
- Stone Setting — Diamonds and colored gemstones are set by hand with precision. Prong, bezel, pavé, channel — each setting style requires different technique and is evaluated under magnification before moving on.
- Engraving — Personalized text, dates, or decorative details are added by our hand engravers.
- Plating — Where applicable, a thin layer of rhodium, gold, or other metals is applied to enhance appearance or protect the surface.
- Quality Inspection — Every piece is inspected for structural integrity, stone security, surface quality, and dimensional accuracy before it's considered complete.
The final review happens with you present. You examine the finished piece before the job is considered done. If anything isn't right, we make it right. That's the commitment behind every custom piece that leaves our workshop.
How Long Does the Custom Jewelry Process Take?
Timeline varies by complexity, but here's a realistic breakdown for most custom pieces. We'll give you a specific estimate at your consultation.
Initial meeting, concept discussion, rough cost and timeline estimate. Free, no obligation.
Sketches, revisions, and final design sign-off. Timeline depends on revision rounds.
Digital model built, wax prototype produced for your review. Additional revision possible here.
Physical fabrication, stone setting, polishing, engraving, and final quality inspection.
Total typical range: 4–8 weeks from first consultation to finished piece. Simpler pieces can move faster. For time-sensitive commissions — especially engagement rings — let us know your date and we'll work backward from it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a design idea before my first consultation?
No. You don't need a sketch, a finished concept, or even a clear description. Many of our best custom pieces started with nothing more than an occasion, a feeling, or a single word. Come in and we'll draw the idea out through conversation. That's what the consultation is for.
Can I bring in existing jewelry to be redesigned?
Yes, and this is one of our most common requests. We can dismantle existing pieces, melt down the gold, and reset the stones into a completely new design. Your metal and your diamonds — reshaped into something you'll actually wear. Bring the piece in for a free assessment and we'll tell you what's possible.
What happens if I want to make changes after I've seen the design?
That's what the design stage is for. We build revision into the process and expect it — no finished design comes out perfect on the first draft. Changes get progressively harder once fabrication begins, which is exactly why we build formal approval checkpoints at both the design stage and the CAD/wax model stage. You're not locked into anything until you say you are.
Do I get to see the piece before it's fully finished?
Yes. The CAD model gives you a 3D digital preview. For complex or high-value pieces, we can also produce a physical wax model you can hold and examine before any metal is poured. The final quality review also happens with you present — you see the finished piece before the job is closed.
Is everything made in-house at Smith's, or does any work go out?
All design and fabrication is done in our own workshop in Noblesville by our own craftsmen. Your piece doesn't leave our building until it's finished and in your hands. We don't outsource to production houses or outside foundries.
How much does the custom jewelry process cost?
Pricing varies based on metal type, stone selection, complexity of the design, and labor. We don't have a minimum spend, and we work across a wide range of budgets. The best way to understand cost for your specific piece is to come in for a free consultation — we'll give you a realistic range before any work begins, with no obligation to proceed.
Can you make custom engagement rings?
Yes — custom engagement rings are one of our most common and most personal commissions. We design and fabricate them in-house, and we can build around your chosen stone or help you select one. If you have a timeline in mind (a proposal date, a birthday), let us know at the first consultation so we can plan accordingly.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Meet with one of our master craftsmen in Noblesville — your first consultation is free and comes with zero obligation.