Comments for

Comment on Gold Plating Jewelry Explained – How Plating Renews Your Old Jewelry by Calla Gold

Calla Gold — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:58:03 +0000

Tracey,
That’s probably the first blog post I ever put up that didn’t have a picture of jewelry in it. Good on spotting that.
I’ll keep in mine that the gold plated Porsche pulled you in. It captured my attention like a lasso around my heart.
Calla Gold

Comment on The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design by Calla Gold

Calla Gold — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:56:20 +0000

Delia,
Thanks for your feedback. I’m a pretty step by step learner myself too. I’m glad you learned something new.
I plan to pop over to your blog and see if I can learn something new today too!
Calla Gold

Comment on The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design by Delia

Delia — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:46:36 +0000

I am someone who learns from step-by-step instructions, so your blog post about jewelry design is right on! I also see how this is a great process for your customers, as they are participating directly in the design, rather than getting something at the end and asking themselves if this is the right piece for them.
Very interesting, I have learned something new today

Comment on Gold Plating Jewelry Explained – How Plating Renews Your Old Jewelry by Tracey Mikami

Tracey Mikami — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:39:28 +0000

Thanks for this simple explanation. I love the gold plated Porsche. It made me want to read this.
The before and after pics of the old faucets is a pretty genius way to show what plating can do.
I also felt you acknowledged our intelligence by showing the faucets and not jewelry, I can use my imagination. Thanks!

Comment on Wonder Bra For Your Ear Lobes! by Calla Gold

Calla Gold — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Susan, I love that you use them too. With heavy earrings they really keep them from yanking your ear lobe down don’t they?
Calla Gold

Comment on Wonder Bra For Your Ear Lobes! by Sue

Sue — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:49:30 +0000

I use them. I get them from Amazon. They are not perfect but they absolutely help. I pair them with the jumbo sized regular ole’ friction backs. The adhesive is only on one side, so hair isn’t a factor.

Comment on The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design by Calla Gold

Calla Gold — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:58:04 +0000

Patricia,
Thank you telling me of your Italian Fashion connection. More of my designs are visible in my website gallery:http://www.callagold.com/jewelry-designs-gallery/
I usually post more recent designs on my Facebook business page as well:https://www.facebook.com/callagoldjewelry
May your fashion agent exploits continue to wow the audience!
Calla Gold

Comment on The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design by Patricia Gozlan

Patricia Gozlan — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:14:55 +0000

I am a fan of beautiful and refined jewelry so this article resonates with me.
Working in fashion parallel to my coaching business I am in contact with designers in Italy. I have worked as a fashion agent for 15 years now.
I love taking a model which I see in a window and changing the way it presents itself. When I did this twice I came up with amazing results.
I believe that the jewelry designer did all the steps you mentioned here. This is the way professional work in Italy is done as well.
I’d love to see more of your designs. As I said I just love jewelry especially in white gold. Best wishes!
Patricia
Fashion Agent

Comment on The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design by Calla Gold

Calla Gold — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:08:25 +0000

Lesa,
That’s a great question. I definitely design for out of state clients. I have a free e-book on my website that shows a variety of style elements. It’s called “The Language of Jewelry Design” and is a free download on my site. It’s a recommended step that you make an “idea folder” with pictures of jewelry that has elements of your preferred style.
We can go over your design element preferences over the phone via skype. Usually I’ll put the disparate elements that you’ve said you like together and come up with a drawing to share with you. I’ll explain the various elements and get your feedback. Frequently my long distance clients send me a picture of their hands.
Part of my designing process includes taking into account the shape of your fingers, the age of your hands and your lifestyle.
An example of this is that over 45 I’ve observed that wider bands complement our hands much more than tiny skinny bands which tend to show details of our hands best left unfocused on. Where the wider band complements our hand.
On the other hand, some 20-something brides look like they are playing dress up in wider bands and need to stick to the tiny thin bands. And by band I mean the shank of the ring, not the central top design element with the main diamond and surrounding design.
Your custom design should make you look good, not just sit there and look pretty. It needs to make you look pretty. That’s its job!
Most of my out of town client look at their wax via pictures on email. However some want it mailed to them.
I’m gratified with how well designing with my out of state clients has gone. Here’s a link with pictures of steps in designing a ring for Ralph, an out of town client and Historian: http://www.callagold.com/santa-barbara-jeweler/can-you-design-long-distance-ralphs-ring-story/
It’s my job to design a ring with your input that you’ll love and be proud of. I hope you’ll join the ranks of out of state clients who have jewelry collaboratively, (you and me,) custom designed by Calla Gold Jewelry.
Calla Gold

Comment on The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design by Calla Gold

Calla Gold — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Maria,
Thank you for your excellent question. The wax step is not new.
When I wanted to become a Jewelry Designer, I surveyed my clients about their interest in having their jewelry custom designed. Some loved the idea, but were afraid to get stuck with something that didn’t live up to their dream. I also heard horror stories of clients who said “yes” to a drawing and got a ring that wasn’t what they expected. So they wear it with a sense of loss.
My happy-with-custom-design clients had been more a part of the design.These clients had been shown a wax model that they approved or had altered before the irreversible casting of gold or platinum occurred. By seeing that wax first they could let the Jeweler know if she had misunderstood a desired curve or if it felt too thick or if the placement of the side diamonds wasn’t really how it’d been envisioned by her client.
It sometimes happens that what you say you want can change. Once my client Diane saw the wax of the design she’d wanted for her Tanzanite and held it by her hand she realized that it wasn’t complementary to her hand. She’d seen the design style on a woman in her family reunion party and thought it’d look great. It did set off the gemstone beautifully, but made her finger look unattractive. We agreed that it wouldn’t work. She asked what I’d suggest and I had an idea to make her hand look graceful and feminine. We made up a whole new wax model, she loved it and then we went into casting. And the ring looks great, showcasing her Tanzanite and making her hand look good too.
I decided I didn’t want to be the butt of someone’s custom jewelry design horror story. Therefore I made the sharing of the wax model an important step in my custom jewelry design practice.
Currently I am working with a graphic designer. He drew his design. We perfectly duplicated one element in particular from his drawing that didn’t translate well. When I showed it to him in the wax, he chuckled and said, “hmmm, that’s not how I meant that to translate.” He re-drew the element and we altered the wax. He then approved it and his ring looks unique and fantastic. He is essentially a jewelry designer. He has a great eye, wonderful drawing skills and imaginative ideas. My role as a designer was to take a backseat and do the steps that would allow him to have his vision be made real.
Without the wax model checking phase in his design his ring would have looked 80% great and 20% OK.
Having the client check the wax adds time to the project and rush jobs do not use this step. I just did a job where the finished wax views were photographed and emailed to my travelling client. She approved the wax models on the fly in the airport and will soon be re-united with her wedding diamond in the ring she always wanted.
Before I can make the ring by casting it, a wax model must be made. It’s up to the designing Jeweler whether or not to share it with the client. I chose to share.
Calla Gold