Commissions
A step by step guide

Begin by browsing through our extensive portfolio of past commissioned engagement, wedding and eternity rings, pendants and earrings, tiaras, and other jewellery which we hope you will find inspirational. If something catches your eye, we can give you an idea of what something similar may cost.
You may have very fixed ideas for your design, or no ideas at all, so email us with your thoughts and we will give you a ballpark quote for your commission. Let us know your budget, your timescale, where you are located and as much detail as you can - our commission price guide will help here.

Your commission starts with a consultation with one of our designers. This can happen on the phone (if you live too far away) or face to face at our Hertfordshire design studio which is within easy reach of London or the north via the A1(M). We also hold consultations at our Cambridge shop. Although it is great to be able to meet face to face, and many of our customers make the journey from all over the UK, this is not essential and a very large proportion of our commission work (including of course our commissions from America) takes place over the phone and email.
During the consultation the designer will discuss your style, what clothes you wear, what colours you prefer - this is their chance to discover the perfect design for you. If you come with a very clear idea for your commission, we will use our experience to make this a reality for you.

If appropriate your designer may do a series of hand drawn sketches either during or after the appointment to clarify ideas and pin down the design. We ask for a £80 (about US$150) sketch deposit at this stage to cover our time - this will be deducted from your final bill. At the end of this stage you and your designer will have arrived at a unique design that is exactly what you want and within your budget. We then ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit to cover materials. Our designs remain the property of Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design.

The handmaking of your jewellery now begins. If your commission involves gemstones, we will source them from our network of dealers across the world. Every stone is of course individual and being experts in this field, we have access to the best at the best prices. We may offer you a choice of stone at this stage.
Your jewellery will then be handmade in our workshop by one of our experienced goldsmiths. As each one of our commissions are unique, often it is necessary to handmake the jewellery from basic sheet and wire rather than using pre-cast bought-in parts like most other jewellers. Your jewellery will then be set with stones, hallmarked in London, engraved and finally polished - this stage takes approximatelty between 4 to 6 weeks depending upon the complexity and the time of year.

When you jewellery is ready you can come and collect it from either of our locations or we are very happy to mail it to you. We hope we can add you to our list of delighted customers, all of whom have discovered the real meaning of design and the delights of proper handmade jewellery.