Custom jewelry has become increasingly popular in Kansas City as more people look for meaningful, one of a kind pieces rather than mass produced jewelry. Whether you're designing an engagement ring, recreating a family heirloom, or building a unique necklace, custom jewelry allows you to create something truly personal.
In this guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about buying custom jewelry in Kansas City, including the design process, pricing, materials, and tips to ensure you get the best results.
What Is Custom Jewelry?
Custom jewelry refers to pieces that are designed specifically for an individual rather than purchased from a premade collection.
However, not all “custom” jewelry is the same.
Types of Custom Jewelry
Fully Custom Jewelry
Custom jewelry is start to finish, a one of a kind piece. The process is straightforward, and totally from scratch. The client comes to us with an idea or concept, we get to the drawing board right away and start with a basic sketch. From there we either begin to craft by hand or design the piece in CAD. Once complete, the metalwork is cleaned up completely, set and delivered promptly to the client.
Semi Custom Jewelry
Some clients come to us with a design they are already set on, or already have a piece of jewelry, but may want to make a few tweaks. This can be anything from different stones, stone shapes, metal colors, engraving, etc. We can make that happen. This is a fairly common option in Kansas City, especially in the younger crowd.
Why People Choose Custom Jewelry
Clients choose custom jewelry over premade for a couple of different reasons. A lot of the time stores just don’t have a style that zings you, and that’s ok.
With our custom jewelry it is a far higher quality than most big box retailers, and even other designer brands.
Custom jewelry is the best option when you have a strong sense of style, appreciation of quality, or just simply want something that will stand out from the crowd and truly represent yourself.
Custom jewelry is not always the most expensive option, especially when you have your own gemstones or metal that you would like to turn into something beautiful.
The Custom Jewelry Design Process
Although every jeweler is different, most custom jewelry projects follow a similar process.
1. Consultation
We can either meet online, or in person. In this meeting we discuss specific client wants and needs, interests and budget.
Clients should bring all materials they would like to potentially include in the design, this includes physical objects like stones, metals, magazines, or just photos.
Design ideas don’t need to be fully fleshed out, that is what we are here for.
2. Design & CAD Modeling
CAD design, simply put is Computer Aided Drafting. This is where 3D models are formed using sketches and curves in a virtual landscape.
Customers can request changes at this point, however, that can alter pricing from the initial quote depending on how big of an alteration it may be.
The digital renders are highly accurate to real life, however colors, lighting, and other things included to assist in manufacturing may look different from real life. We typically recommend to estimate your future piece to look 30% better than the computer image.
3. Stone Selection
We ethically source gemstones from many different places around the world. Some include independent sellers in Thailand, and the way to larger businesses in the United States. This is mostly up to the type of stone you are looking for.
When picking a stone, you should consider colors that match with your personal style, size, clarity, cut, shape, and a hardness that is compatible with your lifestyle.
Lab grown diamonds are quite a popular option in Kansas City, specifically in the younger audience, due to the lower price per carat.
4. Prototype or Wax Model
Prototypes are mainly created to check stone fitment, comfort, and to help the client visualize the piece in reality.
Customers can check out 3D printed prototypes in person, if they have taken the CAD route.
Adjustments are still possible at this stage, however, there may be change in cost if the changes are significant.
5. Casting & Production
During the casting process, if the piece was designed in CAD, the file is 3D printed in a wax resin compound. Once printed, it is encased in a plaster like substance (investment), cured, and the wax is burned out after several hours. Molten metal of your choice is then poured into the negative mold, and removed from the investment. After this, it is ready to be cleaned up, detailed, and set with stones. For even nicer castings we offer Hot Isostatic Pressing for our gold and platinum castings.
This process usually takes a few days up to a week depending on workload.
Many factors affect the process, included print quality, heat, metal choice, cooling, etc.
6. Final Setting & Finishing
Stones are set in several different methods, the popular ones include; prong setting, bezel setting, bead setting, pave setting, and flush setting.
Factors that make the piece durable include, proper thicknesses, material choice, forged components over cast, and settings that are truly made for the stones in mind. Not just making something fit.
How Much Does Custom Jewelry Cost in Kansas City?
The price of custom jewelry varies widely depending on several factors.
Key Pricing Factors
To put it simply the factors that price relies most heavily on are; design complexity, stone quality, metal markets, and man hours put into construction.
Typical custom pricing in Kansas City for rings starts at a few thousand dollars up to whatever you care to spend.
Choosing the Right Materials
Selecting the right materials is essential for durability and longterm value.
Metals
At JOSEPH LICATA we primarily work in the fine metals; gold, platinum, and silver. These metals can be alloyed to different karats, to be more resilient, or to alter color.
Diamonds vs Gemstones
Diamond quality is rated in the 3 C’s; color, clarity, and cut. Within those ratings you can choose the ones most important to you.
In recent years colored gemstones have started to come back into the limelight. Colored gemstones offer a one of a kind look you really cannot replicate. They can also have a much better long term value than the diamond market.
Lab grown diamonds are chemically identical to natural diamonds, the only difference is that one came out of the ground, and the other came out of a machine. Will lab grown hold value the same as a natural diamond? Probably not. But the barrier to entry to have something just as beautiful as natural is nearly non existent.
Custom Jewelry Trends in Kansas City
Local trends often differ from national trends.
Many people are creating their own custom pieces from passed down heirloom pieces in Kansas City. Not only is it a perfect way to make use of sentimental history, it has assisted many individuals in making the piece more attainable.
As far as popular styles around town, we have noticed bigger stones, sleek designs with classic motifs, and a true urge to show originality.
More than ever couples have been designing engagement rings together, while this make take away from surprise of what you may be getting… it does ensure that there are no bad surpises!
Tips for Buying Custom Jewelry
To ensure a smooth experience, consider these expert tips.
It’s best to start at least 2 months out from when you need your piece completed. We don’t typically take that long, but in the busy seasons, it can. Custom is not something you want to rush too much.
Pictures and sketches are the best ways to convey ideas effectively.
Come with a budget in mind.
Come with an open mind, the creative process is not a straight path, sometimes reality is not that same as an idea!
