Happy Stories From our customers

Many think of costume jewelry as something rather…gauche. But the truth of the matter is that costume jewelry is a perfectly legitimate way to “extra” adorn. I mean, who can afford a real diamond choker or a cocktail ring with a real sapphire? But you may be able to afford a moissanite choker. Or one like this:

A fake diamond choker

A fun, but fake, cocktail ring

Fun, flirty and fake earrings

Besides, costume jewelry has been around a long, long time. Here’s the history:

Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit, but not meant to be handed down through generations. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, outdate itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style.

Cheap jewelry also existed prior to the 1930s. Paste or glass jewelry dated as far back as the 1700s. The rich had their fine jewelry duplicated for a variety of reasons, using paste or glass stones.

By the mid 1800s, with the growth of the middle class, there were now different levels of jewelry being manufactured using fine, semi-precious and base materials. Fine jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems such as emeralds and saphires continued to be made.

Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin layer of gold attached to a base metal, entered the market for the middle class. This jewelry was often set with semi-precious gems such as amethyst, coral or pearls, and was much more affordable.

And then there was jewelry that most anyone could afford, consisting of glass stones and base metals made to look like gold. All three types were intended to be passed down to future generations.

Source: Home Jewelry Business Success Tips

If you want a piece of jewelry that’s outrageous and fun, but can only afford so much, contact us! We can make your custom design jewelry dream come true. Or stop by our showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This is a great example of custom jewelry redesign, where the client provides the stones and sometimes the metal. In this case, we created a truly dazzling piece that saved the client money and re-used existing material (ecologically sound!)

Dear Joe,

Once upon a time I met this woman who was to one day become my wife…. Having no idea what to do for wedding bands, I came to you and together we designed my wife’s 3 piece solitaire engagement ring and 2 part wedding bands, and a custom wedding band for myself. Back then it was all we could afford and the rings were testaments to our love for one another.

But then one day many years later, my wife decided that she wanted to have her 3 rings somehow mechanically glued together so they wouldn’t all turn in different directions.  And I think this is where it all began……I am now forced to come and meet with you to discuss the metal gluing process…. and somehow we went from gluing (bad Idea), to designing to bigger dialmonds and making a whole new ring (better Idea). I’m not sure how this happened but it turned out to be the most fantastic rings anyone had ever seen. (it would win this contest hands down if it were in the contest)

(contd below pics)

So for the next four years, I had to stare at this really cool over the top bling ring, and listen to all the compliments, and then look down at my old ring in saddend disappointment that mine just wasn’t big enough or pretty enough. (yes size matters)  To make matters worse my wife chipped her stone….. and again ……You convinced me to replace it with a bigger center stone.  What was I thinking? Now her ring was WAY over the top and my ring was now this inferior little piece of jewlery that just wasn’t good enough any more.

SO ….Thank you for helping me make my dreams come true!  Its not fair that my wife got to have you design a really cool ring with all kinds a big crazy diamonds and I had to be stuck with the first ring I could afford to have you design when we got married 8 years ago. Finally…..  I now have my own size 14 Bling Ring with 18 1/2 carat diamonds totaling 9 carats. (note 1 more carat that my wife’s ! )  Some people say its crazy, but when they see that its designed in the same style as my wifes they see that it was meant to be!

No one has ever created 2 more perfect rings that go together, and we are showered with complements continuously on how beaiful they are. Mostly from strangers who are complaining about being blinded from yards away,  Laugh.

and if you read this story and your thinking why did I go 1 more carat than my wife? Well its pre planning because one day she will chip a stone in her ring and Good ol’ Joe will trick me into getting her something bigger, and this way I will still be one step ahead.

Thanks Joe,  I got what I wanted !

Stephen S

Marc wanted a matching ring and cuff link set using his three blue topaz stones, and he wanted something a little bit different. This is what happens when you give me a little design freedom. Black and white diamonds with blue topaz.

Like so many of our custom design jewelry projects, the idea behind this wide pave diamond band came from a piece of costume jewelry. Jim requested a few changes for his own version. Notice the hand cut/pierced plate that gives you practical access to the backs of the diamonds for cleaning while adding a nice bit of detailing.

See proposal pics and ND’s testimonial here: