Custom Jewelry Design Process

Mass-produced jewelry is designed to appeal to a broad people base while maximizing profit. At Ambrosia, we encourage and support our clients in custom designing the jewelry they have always dreamed of, and nothing less. Since we do not charge a design fee like other jewelry stores, there is no extra cost for custom designing your jewelry with us. The value of your design is based entirely on the materials, number of diamonds, and quality of gemstones you hand select. Together, we can custom design a stunning piece of art within a budget range you feel comfortable with.
Every piece created by Ambrosia is designed, cast, set, and finished using the latest technology in combination with techniques from years of experience. With Ambrosia, you receive handmade jewelry that is superior in quality and craftsmanship and has dependable service compared to anything you may find at large jewelry chains.


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1. INSPIRATION

Designing custom jewelry all begins with a spark of imagination. Ambrosia can quickly transform your simple napkin sketches into a detailed hand illustration.

 

 
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2. SKETCH

While working with Ambrosia, you will receive detailed hand drawings of your custom jewelry. We provide several design options and suggestions until we find the perfect design.

 

 
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3. 3D MODELING

Ambrosia uses the most advanced, state-of-the-art computer design software. Our jewelry artist hand-builds your custom jewelry piece by piece into a 3D modeling program. On average, one model can take 8-36 hours to complete.
During your design meeting, you can view the jewelry from every angle, change the metal color, and even make minor adjustments right before your eyes.
With our detailed computer renderings, you can rest assured that your designs will look exactly how you envisioned.

 

 
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4. PRINT OR GROW

After the final design is approved, the computer file of the 3D model is transferred to a milling machine to cut out a wax model, or a 3D printer will grow a replica of the jewelry. Depending on the complexity of the design will determine what equipment to use.

 

 
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5. WAX MODEL

Upon request, you can view the wax mold, but you must handle it carefully as we use it for our following stages of casting.
These wax molds are slightly harder than candle wax but still very fragile. All prongs and little details are visible, and even small engraving can be seen on the wax mold.

 

 
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6. PREPARATION

The wax model is now prepared for casting. A wax stick is attached to the model's base, creating a 'spur.' This allows the jewelry to be connected to the black rubber base without touching other jewelry items.

Each spur acts like a branch and is connected to create a 'tree.' Each tree can contain a couple of wax models or several dozen.

The key is placing the jewelry at a precise angle to allow the molten gold to flow into all the design details. If not done correctly, the final casting will have missing parts, air bubbles, or blurred details.

 

 
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7. NEGATIVE MOLD

After a tree is prepared, it is placed into a metal cylinder to create a mold for casting. A plaster-like material, called investment, is poured into the flask and covers the entire wax tree. This will create a negative mold, and it will be ready for casting in a couple of days.

 

 
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8. CASTING

After the investment hardens, it is placed into a kiln to cure. Gold is melted at extreme temperatures and poured into the flask opening. The flowing gold will disintegrate only the wax model and fill all areas where the wax once was.

 

 
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9. RAW JEWELRY

After the flask cools, the investment is broken off, and the jeweler is left with a dull, dark-colored setting. It isn't very attractive until it is processed through many hours of hand sanding, grinding, and several stages of polishing. Ambrosia polishes all surfaces and prongs before setting diamonds and gemstones to create a mirror-like finish.

 

 
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10. COMPLETION

After the ring is polished in all crevices, our master jewelers set each diamond and gemstone by hand. The ring is processed through a final stage of polishing and ultrasonic cleaning. For all white gold jewelry, we complete a 10-step process of Rhodium plating to give a bright chrome-like finish that lasts longer than other jewelers.

 

As you can see, we dedicate a lot of time and attention to designing, handcrafting, and fabricating our Ambrosia Jewelry. Most of our custom designs require 6-8 weeks to complete, from the start of the designing process to the finishing of setting the stones. We believe that you can't rush beauty. 

If you have a design in mind or are looking for design assistance, we invite you to contact us and schedule a private design consultation to answer any questions and receive a free estimate.