Designing a custom piece of gold jewellery is the ultimate way to stand out against the crowd. Carefully customising every element means you can create a piece that is entirely bespoke to you. It’s also a great option as a gift for someone special, as they’ll appreciate the time and effort that’s gone into making such a unique piece that holds great sentimental value.

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift for someone you love, or you’re simply giving your jewellery collection the ultimate upgrade - enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind piece with custom-made gold jewellery. 

Whether you want to customise a ready-made men’s gold chain or ladies’ pendant, or you’d prefer to build the perfect custom piece from scratch, our experts at Hatton Jewellers are here to guide you through the process.

Choosing Your Custom Gold Jewellery Design

If you’ve decided to go for a custom piece of jewellery, it’s important to take the time required to create an in-depth plan of the overall design. The more research you carry out, the better the end result will be. Here are a few initial elements to consider: 

• Jewellery Type 

The first step is deciding what type of jewellery you’d like to create, be it a custom ring, bracelet, necklace or chain. To help you settle on which is the best personal choice for you, think about what you want to use your jewellery for. Are you creating a lavish statement piece that you’ll save for special occasions? Or do you want to design a piece of jewellery that’s suitable for everyday wear? This decision will affect further design decisions later down the line. If you need some inspiration, here are some of Hatton Jewellers' most popular designs:

Men’s Jewellery

 

• 9ct Gold Classic Cuban Link Chain
• 9ct Gold Textured Square Curb Bracelet 
• 9ct Gold Presidential Link Gents Diamond Ring
• 9ct Gold St Christopher Pendant Necklace

Women’s Jewellery

 

• 18ct White Gold Diamond Dress Ring
• 9ct Gold Tight Link Curb Charm Bracelet
• 18ct White Gold Diamond Drop Pendant
• 18ct White Gold Diamond Cushion Ruby Ring
  
  

For more information on selecting a piece of gold jewellery, check out our guide on buying truly timeless gold jewellery.

• Choice Of Gold Colour

Next, you want to consider what type of gold to opt for. This is entirely down to personal preference. Gold can be crafted in a variety of colours, and there are key differences between each type of gold. Yellow gold is the most recognised colour, thanks to its honey-like hue. It is commonly used across all jewellery types, including rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. White gold has a pearly silver tone to it. Its colour is achieved by mixing alternative silver metals with yellow gold. Finally, we have rose gold with its pinkish-golden colour. This type of gold is created by mixing copper with yellow gold. Each type of gold can be used to create a custom piece of jewellery, so the choice is yours.

• Customisation

The customisation process is a chance for you to really explore what design elements will make your piece of jewellery unique to you. Maybe you wish to stand out from the crowd with a fully iced out piece, or perhaps you’d prefer to go for a more personal touch, with an engraving of initials on a classic pendant necklace or an anniversary date on the inside of an engagement ring. 

 

What Carat Should You Choose?

Each carat has different properties that will impact the crafting process. Some are much more durable than others, which is why choosing the right carat for your custom piece is of great importance. Here is a breakdown of gold carats to help you decipher which one to opt for when designing your custom piece of jewellery.

• 9ct Gold

This carat contains 37.5% of pure gold and is mixed with a large number of other metals, making it one of the strongest and most durable forms of gold - ideal for crafting intricate jewellery designs.

• 14ct Gold

This carat contains 58.3% of pure gold and is another popular choice that’s often used for crafting gold jewellery.

• 18ct Gold

This carat contains 75% of pure gold. Its unique blending with stronger metals helps to intensify colour and durability.  This carat is often used when creating white or rose gold jewellery. 

• 22ct Gold

This carat contains 91.67% of pure gold, making it much softer than its fellow lower carats. Due to this, it's best to avoid this carat if you have a gem-set design in mind. This carat is more suited to be used in crafting plain gold jewellery, such as wedding bands.

• 24ct Gold

The highest of all carats, 24ct gold contains a remarkable 99.9% of pure gold. Extremely soft and pliable, this precious metal is not well suited to the creation of fine jewellery. Its lack of durability deems it unfit for the natural wear and tear of an everyday piece of gold jewellery. 

Whatever carat you decide on, you’ll want to keep it in top condition. For all the best tips and tricks on looking after your collection, check out our helpful guide on how to care for gold jewellery.

Adding Diamonds Or Gemstones

Incorporating diamonds or precious gemstones within a custom piece of jewellery is a great way to make sure your piece stands out from the crowd. Gemstones can add a personal touch to your jewellery, due to their pairing as birthstones. Having your birthstone worked into your design instantly makes it unique to you or the recipient. If you’d like to delve further into this, check out our blog on discovering your birthstone. If you’ve got your heart set on including diamonds in your bespoke design, it’s important to consider certification. 

Diamond Certification

Certified diamonds are verified by a recognised gemological laboratory, such as the World Gemological Institute. This is a thorough process where each diamond is carefully weighed and examined to determine its quality and origin. From here, each gemstone is graded, determining whether the gemstone in question is a natural diamond, a lab-grown diamond, or contains any non-diamond material. Once this process is successfully completed, a certificate of authenticity is issued as evidence of the diamond’s quality. This certification can be an important lifeline if it ever comes to selling your diamond or making an insurance claim as this vouches for its value.

For more information on diamond certification, check out our latest blog, Diamonds: Certified vs Uncertified

Set A Budget For Your Custom Design

As each custom piece of jewellery is unique, prices will vary depending on what bespoke elements you wish to include. Once you have an idea of what gold jewellery design you’d like to go for, you can then contact your chosen jeweller for a design quote. Throughout this process, it’s important to set a limit on how much you’d like to spend on your piece. Each design element can hugely impact the price of its craftsmanship, so having a clear budget means you can successfully make those necessary decisions to align with your overall desired cost. 

How To Minimise The Cost Of Custom-Crafting 

Everybody wants the perfect custom piece for the best possible price. If you’re looking for ways to curb your spending, there are a couple of tricks to be aware of. 

• Opt for a lower carat - this can often decrease the price of a custom design.
• Choose a smaller piece of jewellery - a ring, for example, can allow you to use a higher carat but could still work out cheaper in the long run than a chunky golden chain, due to less gold being required for the overall design. 
• Go for look-alike gemstones - if you want the look of a diamond-studded piece without the hefty price tag, you could opt for a diamond look-alike instead, such as cubic zirconia (CZ). This is a popular gemstone used in jewellery pieces due to its remarkable resemblance to that of a real diamond. 

How Long Does a Piece Of Custom Gold Jewellery Take To Make?

There is no set time frame on how long it can take to fashion a bespoke creation but your chosen jeweller should give you an indication of the expected timeline. It’s important to factor in every step from beginning to end. The initial design time alone can be a lengthy process, as you may need to go back and forth with the digital design team several times to communicate any small changes you’d like to make until you’re happy with it. Though this can be time-consuming, it’s taking this extra care that will result in a piece of jewellery that perfectly matches your vision. Then there’s the craftsmanship itself. If you’ve opted for a simple design, this will of course be quicker to create - whereas a more intricate design which requires more precision can take significantly longer.

Looking for a little inspiration for your gold jewellery designs? Explore more of our men’s and women’s gold jewellery here, or visit the Hatton Jewellers blog or user guides for more expert advice.