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Is Custom Jewelry More Expensive? (The "Sketch to Reality" Price Breakdown)

Key Takeaways:

  • Control Your Budget: Custom design allows you to choose materials and stone quality to fit your exact price point.

  • No "Brand Tax": You pay for gold and craftsmanship, not for a famous blue box or expensive marketing campaigns.

  • Use What You Have: We can melt down old gold or reset loose diamonds, significantly lowering the final cost.

Custom jewelry design is the process of creating a one-of-a-kind piece from scratch using 3D CAD rendering and wax casting. It is often more affordable than mass-produced retail jewelry because it eliminates inventory costs and middleman markups.

The "Big Box" Markup vs. The Independent Jeweler

There is a pervasive myth that "Custom" equals "Expensive." In reality, when you buy a ring from a national chain, you are paying for the physical ring plus their massive advertising budget, corporate overhead, and inventory holding costs.

At Garner Wallace, we operate with a "Keep it in Keller" philosophy. Our overhead is lower, and we pass those savings to you. When you design a custom engagement ring with us, you are paying for:

  1. The Materials: Market price for 18k Gold or Platinum and the gemstones.

  2. The Labor: The hours our CAD artist and jeweler spend modeling and casting your piece.

The Process: From Sketch to Reality

We use advanced CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software to bring your vision to life before we ever cast the metal. This ensures there are no surprises.

  1. The Consultation: You bring photos, sketches, or just an idea.

  2. The Render: We create a 3D digital image of your ring. You can see it from every angle.

  3. The Wax Model: We 3D print a wax version you can actually try on.

  4. The Casting: Using the Lost Wax Casting method, we pour the molten metal to create your heirloom.

Price Comparison: Custom vs. Retail

Let’s look at the "hidden" value of custom design.

Cost Factor

Big Box Retailer

Garner Wallace Custom

Design Fee

Usually $0 (but baked into price)

Transparent CAD Fee

Gold Weight

Often hollowed out to save money

Solid, heavy comfort fit

Stone Quality

Pre-selected (Take it or leave it)

You hand-select every diamond

Uniqueness

1 of 10,000 produced

1 of 1 (Unique to you)




FAQ: Custom Design

Q: How long does the process take?

A: Typically 2 to 4 weeks from the initial design approval to the finished piece.

Q: Can I use my grandmother’s diamond?

A: Yes! This is one of our favorite projects. We can remove a diamond from an outdated setting and place it into a modern Halo or Solitaire design. This saves you the cost of the center stone!

Q: Do I need an appointment?

A: While walk-ins are welcome, we recommend scheduling a consultation so we can dedicate time to sit down and sketch with you.


Why wear what everyone else is wearing? 💍✨ Design a ring that tells your story. From CAD to casting, we do it all right here in Keller. Come say hi to Lala and let’s get creative! 🐶💎

Walk-ins are always welcome. Visit Us: Garner Wallace Fine Timepieces and Jewelry 408 N. Main St., Suite A, Keller, TX 76248 (682) 593-0205

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