In a world of mass production, there is something profoundly personal about commissioning a piece of jewelry designed exclusively for you. At Riavv, we see bespoke creation as an intimate collaboration between client and craftsperson, resulting in a unique piece that tells a story only you can tell.

Our London atelier has been creating custom designs for clients around the world for over fifteen years. While each commission is unique, our creative process follows a thoughtful journey that transforms your vision into a wearable work of art. Join us as we take you through the steps of our bespoke design process, from the first conversation to the moment you hold your finished piece.

The Initial Consultation: Building Trust and Understanding

Every bespoke journey begins with a conversation. Whether in our private consultation room overlooking the Thames or via video call for our international clients, this first meeting is about building rapport and understanding your vision.

During this session, we'll explore:

  • Your inspiration: Whether you're drawn to a particular era, influenced by a special location, or have a specific design in mind
  • The piece's purpose: Is this an engagement ring, an anniversary gift, or a personal indulgence?
  • Your lifestyle: How and when you'll wear the piece affects its design and construction
  • Budget considerations: We're transparent about costs and can suggest ways to achieve your vision within your budget
  • Timeline: Understanding when you need the piece helps us plan the process

We encourage clients to bring images, sketches, or existing jewelry that inspires them. Some clients arrive with detailed ideas, while others simply share an emotion they want the piece to evoke. Both approaches are equally valid starting points for our journey together.

During this consultation, we might share examples of previous commissions, material samples, or gemstones from our collection to help visualize possibilities. We believe in complete transparency and will address any questions about sourcing, sustainability, or technical aspects of the creation process.

"I arrived at my consultation with only a vague idea about incorporating elements from my grandmother's vintage brooch into a modern piece. By the end of our conversation, Elizabeth had helped me articulate a vision far more beautiful than I could have imagined on my own." — Sofia M., London

Design Development: Translating Vision into Form

Following the initial consultation, our design team begins the creative process of interpreting your ideas into workable jewelry designs. This phase typically takes 1-2 weeks and involves several key steps:

1. Mood Boards and Material Exploration

Our designers create mood boards that capture the essence of your vision through images, textures, and color palettes. These visual references help ensure we're aligned on aesthetic direction before proceeding to detailed designs.

Simultaneously, we explore material options suitable for your design, considering factors like:

  • Durability requirements based on how the piece will be worn
  • Color harmony between metals and gemstones
  • Ethical sourcing options aligned with your values
  • Budget optimization without compromising quality

2. Initial Sketches

Our lead designer then creates hand-drawn sketches exploring different interpretations of your concept. These preliminary drawings focus on overall form, proportion, and capturing the essential character of the piece rather than technical details.

We typically present 2-3 different design directions, each offering a unique approach to your brief. These initial concepts are presented during a second consultation, either in person or virtually, where we discuss your preferences and refine the direction.

3. Design Refinement and Technical Drawing

Once you've selected a preferred design direction, we refine it through more detailed technical drawings. These specify dimensions, stone settings, metal thicknesses, and other construction details required for successful execution.

For more complex designs, we may create 3D digital renderings that allow you to visualize the piece from different angles. This technology helps clients better understand how the finished piece will look and feel when worn.

"The design process is a dance between artistic vision and technical possibility. My job is to find that perfect balance where beauty meets wearability, where your story meets our craft."
— Elizabeth Riavv, Founder and Head Designer

Material Selection: Choosing the Perfect Elements

With the design refined, we move to the exciting phase of selecting the specific materials that will bring your piece to life. This often involves a dedicated material consultation where you can see and feel the options in person.

Gemstone Selection

For designs featuring gemstones, this is often the most exciting part of the process. We source stones specifically for your commission, presenting several options that meet your criteria for:

  • Color and saturation: Even within the same gemstone type, variations in hue can be significant
  • Cut and shape: How a stone is cut affects its brilliance, sparkle, and character
  • Clarity and inclusions: We help you understand what's visible to the naked eye and how inclusions might affect durability
  • Size and proportions: How the stone will look in the context of your design
  • Ethical sourcing: Documentation of the stone's origin and responsible sourcing

We believe in educating our clients rather than simply presenting options. We'll explain the unique characteristics of each stone, any treatments it may have undergone, and how these factors affect both appearance and value.

Precious Metal Selection

While the design sketches may have specified a particular metal, the final selection often happens during this phase. We'll discuss:

  • Color options: Yellow, white, or rose gold; platinum; or mixed metal approaches
  • Karat choices for gold: Understanding the tradeoffs between purity, color, and durability
  • Finish possibilities: Highly polished, matte, hammered, brushed, or combination finishes
  • Recycled options: Using sustainably sourced or recycled precious metals

For clients interested in incorporating heirloom pieces, we also discuss possibilities for reworking existing materials into your new design, preserving their sentimental value while creating something fresh.

Final Design Approval

With materials selected, we create a final design specification that includes detailed drawings, material descriptions, dimensions, and pricing. Upon your approval and initial deposit, we move into the creation phase.

Creation: Crafting Your Piece by Hand

The heart of our bespoke process lies in the hands of our master craftspeople, who transform designs from paper to reality using techniques refined over generations. Depending on complexity, this phase typically takes 4-8 weeks.

1. Model Making

For most designs, the first step is creating a three-dimensional model. Depending on the piece's complexity, we may use:

  • Traditional wax carving: Sculptural pieces often begin with our master carver shaping jewelry wax by hand
  • CAD modeling and 3D printing: For pieces with precise geometric elements or complex stone settings
  • Direct metal fabrication: Some designs are built directly in metal through techniques like forging, soldering, and wire work

For particularly significant commissions, we invite clients to approve the wax or metal model before proceeding. This allows for any final adjustments to scale or proportion before the piece is finalized.

2. Casting and Metal Work

Wax models are transformed into metal through the ancient lost-wax casting process. Once cast, the raw metal form requires extensive refinement:

  • Filing and shaping to perfect every curve and angle
  • Soldering of separate components and construction elements
  • Creating settings for gemstones that will hold them securely while showcasing their beauty
  • Adding texture or engraving details as specified in the design

Our goldsmiths work with precision tools, many of which are themselves handmade for specific purposes. Each craftsperson in our workshop has at least 10 years of experience, bringing not only technical skill but also the artistic sensitivity needed to honor the design's intent.

3. Stone Setting

Once the metal framework is perfected, our specialist stone setters begin the meticulous process of securing the gemstones. Different setting techniques require different approaches:

  • Prong settings: Creating and shaping the small metal claws that hold stones securely while maximizing light exposure
  • Bezel settings: Forming a custom metal rim around each stone and carefully pushing the metal over the stone's edge
  • Pavé settings: Setting multiple small stones close together to create a continuous sparkle
  • Channel settings: Precisely cutting channels in the metal to hold stones in a clean, architectural line
  • Tension settings: Using the metal's spring tension to hold stones, creating the illusion that they're floating

Stone setting is perhaps the most high-stakes phase of creation—one slip can damage an irreplaceable gemstone. Our setters work under magnification with steady hands and complete focus, often spending days on a single piece to ensure perfection.

4. Finishing

The final phase of creation involves bringing the piece to its optimal finish through:

  • Multiple stages of filing and sanding with progressively finer materials
  • Polishing to achieve the desired luster, from mirror-bright to subtle matte
  • Selective texturing techniques such as hammering, engraving, or frosting
  • Applying any specialized finishes like rhodium plating for white gold or patination for artistic effect
  • Final cleaning to remove any compounds used in the finishing process

Each piece receives a final quality inspection by both the workshop manager and the lead designer to ensure it meets our exacting standards and perfectly realizes the approved design.

"Watching my ring take shape was fascinating. Riavv sent progress photos throughout the creation process, and even invited me to visit the workshop to see the stone setting. That experience made the finished piece even more special to me." — James T., Manchester

The Reveal: Presenting Your Finished Piece

After weeks of creative collaboration and skilled craftsmanship, the moment arrives to present your finished piece. We believe this moment deserves celebration and attention to detail.

The Presentation Experience

We invite you to our atelier for a private presentation of your commission. Your piece is presented in our custom packaging, accompanied by:

  • A hardbound documentation booklet with images of the design and creation process
  • A certificate of authenticity detailing the materials, craftsmanship, and any gemstone certificates
  • Care instructions specific to your piece's materials and construction
  • A personal note from the designer and lead craftsperson

This moment also provides an opportunity for us to check the fit and feel of the piece, making any minor adjustments if needed. For rings, we offer complimentary sizing within the first year.

For clients unable to visit in person, we arrange secure delivery and schedule a virtual presentation to share the piece's journey and answer any questions.

Aftercare and Relationship

Our relationship doesn't end with delivery. Every bespoke client becomes part of the Riavv family, with ongoing benefits including:

  • Complimentary annual cleaning and inspection
  • Priority repair service if ever needed
  • Consultation on future pieces that might complement your commission
  • Exclusive previews of new collections and private events

We view each bespoke piece not as a transaction but as the beginning of a relationship that may span generations, as pieces become future heirlooms.

Client Stories: Bespoke Journeys

Every bespoke commission has a unique story behind it. Here are a few abbreviated journeys from concept to creation that illustrate the range of our bespoke work:

The Constellation Ring

When astronomer Dr. Maya L. approached us to create an engagement ring for her partner, she wanted something that represented their shared love of the night sky. Working from star charts showing the constellation visible the night they met, we created a platinum ring with precisely placed diamonds mapping the stars of Cassiopeia. The inside band features an engraved coordinate of the exact location and time of their first meeting.

The Legacy Redesign

After inheriting several pieces of Victorian jewelry from his grandmother, Thomas W. wanted to honor their history while creating something he could wear daily. We carefully extracted the original gemstones and melted down the gold to create a contemporary signet ring featuring the family crest in hand-engraved detail, with the original stones reset in a pattern around the edge. The piece maintains its heritage while gaining new life for another generation.

The Anniversary Collection

To celebrate 25 years of marriage, Robert commissioned a suite of jewelry for his wife Catherine that could be worn together or separately. The collection included a necklace, earrings, and bracelet in 18k gold with sapphires sourced from locations meaningful to their journey together. Each piece incorporated a motif from their wedding rings, creating a visual connection between past and present.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Bespoke Process

How long does the entire bespoke process take?

From initial consultation to completed piece typically takes 8-12 weeks, depending on design complexity and material sourcing. For commissions needed for specific occasions like weddings, we recommend starting the process at least 4 months in advance.

What is the investment range for bespoke pieces?

Our bespoke commissions typically start at £3,500 for simpler designs and range upward based on complexity and materials. During the initial consultation, we provide transparent guidance on how different choices affect the final investment.

Can I incorporate my own materials or gemstones?

Yes, we regularly work with client-supplied materials, particularly for redesigning heirloom pieces. We thoroughly assess these materials to ensure they're suitable for the new design and will be honest if we believe certain elements would be better replaced.

What if I'm not in London?

Many of our bespoke clients are international. We conduct virtual consultations via video call and can arrange secure shipping of material samples and finished pieces worldwide. For significant commissions, some clients choose to visit us at key points in the process, and we're happy to help arrange these visits.

What if I don't have a clear idea of what I want?

Many clients begin with only a feeling or occasion rather than a specific design in mind. Our consultation process is designed to help you discover and articulate what you're drawn to, even if you arrive without concrete ideas.

Do you create bespoke wedding and engagement rings?

Yes, bridal jewelry represents about half of our bespoke commissions. We offer dedicated bridal consultations that can include both partners or be arranged discreetly for surprise proposals.

Begin Your Bespoke Journey

Every piece of jewelry tells a story. With our bespoke service, we invite you to author that story from beginning to end, creating something that is meaningful, beautiful, and uniquely yours.

If you're interested in exploring a bespoke commission, we welcome you to book an initial consultation through our contact page or by calling our atelier directly. Whether you have detailed plans or just the beginning of an idea, we're excited to explore the possibilities with you.

The journey from concept to creation is as rewarding as the final piece itself—a collaboration that results in more than jewelry, but in an artifact of personal significance that may be treasured for generations.