TRIJORA · CUSTOM PROCESS
How a Custom
Piece Gets Made
Seven stages, from the first message to a finished piece on its way to you. Nothing goes to the bench until the design, the materials and the timing are agreed in writing — so there are no surprises at the end.
Timeline at a Glance
These are typical ranges for made-to-order studio work. We give you a window for your specific piece before you commit, and tell you early if the queue is longer than usual.
| Stage | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry and quote | You describe the idea; we confirm feasibility, materials and price. | 1–3 working days |
| Design confirmation | Specification and materials agreed in writing, or a sample reviewed. | 3–7 working days |
| Materials and scheduling | Stones selected, deposit received, slot booked. | Confirmed at booking |
| Making | Bench work: cutting, forming, setting, finishing. | Typically up to 30 days |
| Rush making | Only when we have capacity and you confirm it in advance. | Around 10 days |
| Check and pack | Quality check, photography, packing. | 2–3 working days |
| Shipping | Tracked international delivery. Varies by destination and service. | Additional |
Standard making time is typically up to 30 days. Rush making, when we have capacity and you confirm it in advance, is around 10 days. Shipping time is additional.
The Seven Stages
Every custom piece goes through the same path. The first four happen before any metal is cut, which is where changes are easy and free.
1Tell us what you have in mind
You send the idea in whatever form it exists: a description, a photograph, a sketch, a link to something you like, or one of our own pieces you want adapted. You do not need technical drawings. What helps most is knowing what it is for — a gift, everyday wear, a collection — and roughly when you need it.
- You send: A description, reference images, or a TRIJORA piece you want changed.
- We reply: Within about 1–3 working days, with first questions and whether the idea is workable.
2Scope, materials and a quote
We work out how the piece would actually be made: which metal, which stone, what construction, what finish, and roughly how many hours of bench work it needs. Then we quote. A quote covers the material, the making, and the finish — and we tell you if anything about the idea will not hold up in wear, before you commit to it.
- You send: Your target budget if you have one, and the quantity — one piece or a small run.
- We reply: A written quote, the material options, and any structural risks we can see.
3Choose the metal and the stone
Most pieces are made in 925 sterling silver. Natural stones are chosen individually, because no two are the same — colour, inclusion and flash all vary within a single type. Where the design depends on a particular stone, we show you what is available before making, so the piece you receive is the one you picked.
- You send: Any preference on tone, colour, stone size, or metal finish.
- We reply: What is available now, and whether your preference changes the price or the timing.
4Confirm the design before we start
Nothing goes to the bench until the design is settled. Depending on the piece, confirmation is a written specification, reference photographs of the materials, or a first sample you review. This is the point where changes are cheapest — once metal is cut, options narrow.
- You send: Approval, or the changes you want.
- We reply: A final specification: material, dimensions, finish, quantity, price and making time.
5Deposit and scheduling
Custom work is scheduled in the order it is confirmed. A deposit secures the slot and covers materials. We tell you the making time for your specific piece rather than a general figure, and we tell you early if the queue is longer than usual.
- You send: The deposit and your shipping address.
- We reply: A confirmed making window and, for larger runs, progress updates.
6Made by hand
The piece is made at the bench: cut, formed, soldered, set, wrapped, filed and finished by hand. Handmade work carries small traces of the maker — tool marks, slight asymmetry, the way a bezel closes — and these are the point of the piece, not faults. If you want a machine-perfect surface, we will say honestly that this is not what we do.
- You send: Nothing — this is the quiet part. Ask if you want a progress photo.
- We reply: A photograph before shipping on request, or if we hit a decision we need you to make.
7Checked, photographed and shipped
Every piece is checked against the specification before it leaves: material, dimensions, finish, stone setting, clasps and fittings. It is photographed, packed, and shipped tracked. If a piece fails the check it is remade or corrected rather than sent out.
- You send: Confirmation of receipt, and any fitting adjustment you want.
- We reply: Tracking details, and care notes specific to the materials used.
What You Can Change
Almost everything about a piece is open. This is the practical list of what customers most often ask us to adjust.
| Element | What is possible |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Ring size including half sizes, bracelet and necklace length, drop length on earrings, chain thickness, band width. |
| Metal | 925 sterling silver as standard, with brass or other selected metals on request. Oxidised, brushed, matte or high-polish finishes. |
| Stones | Stone type, size, cut and colour tone — chosen from what is actually available rather than from a catalogue image. |
| Construction | How a piece is joined and hung: chain, leather, waxed cotton or textile; hook, stud, clip or wrap fittings. |
| Personal details | Engraving, initials, dates, and small symbolic elements where the design allows them. |
| Presentation | Jewellery cards, pouches, boxes, care cards and — for brands — your own logo and packaging. See the wholesale page. |
Where the Limits Are
Custom work has real boundaries, and it is better to hear them before you order than after. These are the five that come up most often.
- Natural stones are individual: We cannot reproduce an identical stone. We can match a type, a size and a colour range, and we show you the actual stone before setting it where the design depends on it.
- Structure sets the boundary: Some shapes cannot be made safely at a given thickness or weight. If an idea will not survive being worn, we will say so and offer an alternative rather than make something that breaks.
- Handmade means variation: Pieces in the same run are siblings, not clones. Expect small differences in stone, patina and tool marks. This is stated again on the product pages, because it is the most common surprise for first-time buyers.
- Changes cost more later: After metal is cut or a stone is set, changes usually mean remaking the part. Confirm at step 4.
- Timing depends on the queue: Rush work is possible only when capacity allows. Ask before you promise a date to someone else.
What Affects the Price
A custom quote has two parts — material and bench hours — and the hours are usually the larger one. These are the factors that move the number.
- Material weight and type: Silver is priced by weight; larger stones and rarer types cost more, and natural variation means two stones of the same type can differ in price.
- Bench hours: Hand-wrapping, stone setting and complex construction take time. The hours, not the material, are usually the larger part of a custom price.
- Complexity and risk: Thin sections, moving parts and tight tolerances need more care, and sometimes more than one attempt.
- Finish: High polish, brushing, oxidation and texturing are separate steps, each with its own time.
- Quantity: A single piece pays full setup cost. A small run spreads it — which is why per-unit pricing falls on repeat and wholesale orders.
We quote in writing before any work starts, and the quote is what you pay — if making the piece turns out harder than expected, that is our problem, not a revised invoice.
What to Send Us
Five things, and the first message can be as short as you like:
Questions
Do I need technical drawings?
No. Most projects start from a photograph, a description or a sketch on paper. If the piece is structurally unusual we may ask for more detail, but we develop the technical side with you rather than expecting you to supply it.
How long does a custom piece take?
Making time is typically up to 30 days, with rush making around 10 days when we have capacity and you confirm it in advance. Quoting and design confirmation happen before that, and shipping time is additional. We give you a window for your specific piece rather than a general figure.
Is there a minimum order?
For a single custom piece, no — one piece is fine. For brand and wholesale work, minimums depend on the design and materials; see the wholesale page or ask us directly.
Can you copy a design I saw somewhere else?
We will not reproduce another maker's work. We will take the parts you like — a proportion, a stone, a way of hanging — and design something of your own around them. Send the reference and tell us what draws you to it.
Can I change my mind after ordering?
Before production starts, usually yes, and usually at no cost. After metal is cut or a stone is set, changes normally mean remaking that part. This is why we confirm everything at step 4.
Will my piece look exactly like the photo?
If you ordered an existing design, it will be recognisably the same piece with different stone character. Natural stones vary in colour, inclusion and flash, and handmade finishing leaves small marks. We photograph before shipping on request so nothing is a surprise.
Can you use a stone I already own?
Often yes — inherited or loose stones are common in custom work. Send photographs and dimensions first: some stones are too fragile, too included or too small to set safely, and we will tell you honestly rather than risk damaging it.
Do you do engraving?
Yes, on most designs where there is a suitable flat surface. Tell us the text and the position before production; engraving adds a little time and is not reversible.
What if it does not fit when it arrives?
Contact us. Because pieces are made to order, what can be adjusted depends on the design — some can be resized, shortened or re-strung, and some cannot. We tell you which applies before you send anything back.
How do I start?
Email sale@trijora.com or use the contact button on this page. Tell us what you have in mind, roughly when you need it, and any budget you are working to. A photograph or a link is worth more than a paragraph.