Custom v. Bespoke v. Private Jeweler: Do You Know the Difference?

When picking the right jeweler for your project, things can get confusing. Most jewelers now advertise some form of “custom design” but it can be difficult to know exactly what this means until you are in the middle of a sales pitch. To help clarify some of these points, we decided to break down some of the more popular terms - custom design, bespoke design, and private jeweler - to help you understand how to navigate picking the perfect jeweler.

Custom Design

Many jewelers advertise "custom design services" but this category has the widest range of meaning and can be the most misleading when selecting a craftsperson with whom to work. "Custom design services" can run as simple as a jeweler having access to customizable pre-designed collections from vendors all the way to what we offer, which is truly bespoke, one-of-a-kind design. At its most simplistic, Custom Design can be limited to the client making small edits to a pre-designed ring, such as changing the gemstone shape or size on a setting that otherwise cannot be edited. Jewelers often use these programs to sell diamonds, with the design element really being a vector for the gemstone sale.

The limitations of this type of service are obvious. One, you as the client need to stay in your lane - you can't ask for modifications outside of what the program can offer, and you'll probably be limited to the shapes that the ring is already designed to accommodate. Larger stones might not be well-fitted for some of the pre-designed options and you almost definitely will not be able to have the gemstone sit as low as possible due to pre-designed heads and shanks. Also, many jewelers who work like this won't work with gemstones that they aren't sourcing, so your heirloom diamond might not be an option for your ring design. This is because these jewelers are mainly focused on the diamond sale, not on the ring design, so it isn't always worth it for them to design with a client-provided gemstone.

We offer a version of this type of design with our House Collection of engagement rings and wedding band styles, but the idea with these is to allow a client to pick a design he or she already loves and customize it to her preference while expediting and simplifying the design process. But, because we created these designs, we absolutely can customize them past the gemstone shank and ring size options typically offered. It's a great option for many clients who don’t want to start from scratch on their designs or who love our Collection rings already.

Alx&Co. Collection Kathryn Ring

Our Collection designs are easily adaptable and can be replicated again for future clients.

Bespoke Design

Something that is "bespoke" is that which is designed for a particular customer according to the individual tastes and specifications of that person. Typically, it is not recreated for someone else and the design is therefore truly one-of-a-kind. This is our speciality. As bespoke jewelers, we create unique designs for our clients that we will never replicate for someone else. We may (and do) pull inspiration from past projects, but we never recreate the same item twice. It also means that each and every piece that we create is designed to fit the specific measurements of the gemstone featured in the piece, meaning that your ring will sit exactly right, just for you.

Because we build our designs from scratch, we are happy to work with client-provided gemstones for your pieces. We do a lot of heirloom redesign, meaning if you have a not-so-pretty setting with a gorgeous gemstone in it, we're the perfect place for you to visit. Our specialty is walking clients through an interactive design process that ensures they get exactly what they want, down to the smallest millimeter of a change. Of course, we also source gemstones for our designs and offer private gemstone sourcing consultations for our clients. We specialize in sourcing GIA certified natural diamonds, Canadian natural diamonds, heirloom recycled natural diamonds, lab created diamonds, treated and untreated gemstones, and certified origin-specific sapphires.

Alx&Co. Designed Diamond and Sapphire Engagement Ring

Because this design is bespoke, we will never replicate it. We can pull influences from it, but this ring is truly one-of-a-kind.

Private Jeweler

Like "Custom Design", this term is thrown around without much meaning. But, for us, what a private jeweler offers is a completely individualized service that follows the client through a lifetime of wear and projects. This is our other specialty. With our in-house services ranging from bespoke design to gemstone sourcing to repairs to restoration to gifting, we cover it all. One of the most rewarding aspects of our industry is that we get to see clients over many milestones and seasons, and the fact that our work has such a meaningful impact on our clients’ lives. We know that when you walk away with one of our designs, you are inviting that piece into a deeply personal occasion that you will remember for a lifetime. While working with a private jeweler might take a little more foresight, we know that the end result is a gift that will have much more meaning and impact than what you can find at a typical walk-in jewelry store.

Questions about our process? Email us and ask! We’re always happy to walk you through what makes us different.