Most delays in custom jewelry start before any work does: the quote comes back with questions, and the questions take days to settle. A complete brief gets you an accurate price and a firm date in a single round. Send these twelve things.
The piece
- A sketch, photo or reference image. Rough is fine. Mark what matters most.
- Dimensions. Width, height and thickness. For a ring, the finger size and the band width.
- Metal and karat. Yellow, white, rose or platinum; 10K, 14K or 18K. If you are unsure, say which price point you are aiming for.
- Finish. High polish, satin, hammered, rhodium plating, or none.
The stones
- Stone list. Shape, size in mm, carat weight and quantity, and whether each is natural or lab-grown.
- Who supplies them. You, your client or the manufacturer. Stones sent in should come with a certificate or clear photos, and be checked on arrival.
- Setting style. Prong, bezel, channel, pavé, and how many accent stones.
The job
- Quantity. One piece or a run, and whether you expect to reorder.
- Target price. A budget range lets the manufacturer suggest alternatives instead of guessing.
- Deadline. The date the piece must be in your hands, and the date your client expects it if they differ.
- Approval steps. What you want to see before casting (a render, a printed model, or both) and who signs off.
- Special notes. Engraving text and font, packaging, a maker’s mark, or anything you may need to adjust later, such as resizing.
Why it pays off
Every item you leave out becomes a question, and every question adds a day. With the full brief, the quote you receive is the quote you pay, and the date you are given is a date you can promise your client.