Your Idea
Whether you know exactly what you are looking for or seeking some inspiration, our staff will work closely with you at your initial tailored consultation. Taking on board your ideas and personal touches, we will offer guidance and talk you through the entire bespoke jewellery design process. One of our dedicated design team – Douglas Blair, Roddy Sheridan or Carla Price – will guide you through the process while preparing sketches and arranging diamonds and precious stones for you to view prior to proceeding. Working to your spending limits we will provide guidance on all aspects of stone selection and precious metal choice. Furthermore, we have a stunning collection of rings and jewellery in house, mock settings and band styles available to help you come to any decision. We also offer a Computer Aided Design (CAD) facility where this modern technology can be used to create an individual design for you. We strive to make sure that this process is as exciting, stress free, and enjoyable as possible. If you cannot visit us in person we offer remote design consultations via Zoom.
Diamond or Precious Stones Selection
We have privileged access to the finest diamonds available from the Worldwide Diamond Market. With many years experience working in the diamond and precious stone industry we excel in sourcing the best stones in the marketplace to meet your requirements. In addition to traditional natural diamonds, at Blair and Sheridan we also have privileged access to the world’s finest Lab Grown diamonds giving you even more options in the consideration of your bespoke engagement ring or jewellery. We will work within your agreed spending limit and thus maximise getting the most for your money.
Once we have obtained the best diamonds, Lab Grown diamonds or precious stones for you, we will invite you to view the loose stones. Blair and Sheridan understand that our customers are not necessarily diamond experts and this is why this stage of the process is very important. We will educate you on the different gemological characteristics of each stone. This way you can make your selection with confidence, knowing that you have a sound understanding of what your are purchasing. Furthermore, all centrepiece diamonds sold from Blair and Sheridan come with a gemological certificate from industry recognised HRD, GIA, or IGI.
We purchase diamonds directly from the Worldwide Diamond Market. Every supplier adheres to the Kimberley Process therefore guaranteeing all of our diamonds are conflict-free.
Design Approval
After you have selected the best diamonds, Lab Grown diamonds or precious stones for your design, we will work closely with you to finalise and approve the design concepts. At this stage of the process, we will ensure that all aspects of the design are agreed. For example: ring sizing, band width, setting type, choice of metal and any other points that require confirmation. This process ensures a smooth transition into production. Furthermore if you require a CAD design or digital rendering of your design this can also be provided. You can receive a sketch of your design if you wish. The bespoke jewellery design process is very thorough and guarantees a stunning result and a ring or item of jewellery truly unique to you.
Creation and Delivery
Each item of jewellery requires hours of work, from the meticulous positioning of each diamond and coloured gemstone to the creation of the immaculate setting. The production of your bespoke, handmade piece of jewellery will take a few weeks from design approval. The very final stage is hallmarking where your ring or jewellery is sent to the Edinburgh Assay office. Here your bespoke design is given verification for type of metal, year of creation and sponsors mark to show who made it (see below). We will work closely with you to to have your piece ready for a mutually agreed deadline. After this process you will be invited to collect your bespoke ring or item of jewellery. If you are unable to collect in person we can arrange to have your item delivered by a next day tracked and signed for service (UK addresses only).
Aftercare and cleaning
While diamonds, certain precious gemstones and metals are not easily damaged, they do require frequent care to maintain their condition. Some regular tlc can protect the integrity of stones and delay the necessity for repair. Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Silver, Damascus Steel and Diamond/Ruby/Sapphire rings & jewellery can easily be cleaned at home using simple methods:
• Soak your jewellery in hot soapy water for 5-10 minutes – mild dish soap is fine – to loosen any dirt build up
• Use a light bristled brush (a soft toothbrush is ideal) to clean
• Be particularly gentle with delicate settings and older pieces of jewellery
• Ensure all stones are in place before rinsing – and plug the sink!
• Rinse off and polish your item using a soft, dry, lint free cloth
Follow these simple tips to ensure the longevity of your beautiful new bespoke item of jewellery:
