Jewelry Manufacturing
Handmade Gold & Silver Jewelry Services
Made by hand at the bench, not poured from a mould
Every piece we make is shaped from raw metal by a goldsmith, one at a time. Bring a sketch, a photo, or your own stone, and we build it from there. Most rings, pendants and earrings are finished in under two days.
The difference
Why handmade jewelry wears better
We make jewelry in 925 sterling silver and in 9K, 10K, 14K and 18K gold. Rings, pendants, earrings, bangles, bracelets, brooches and full matching sets, in whatever style you can describe.
Most jewelry sold today, including a lot of it sold as handmade, starts life as molten metal poured into a mould. That is casting. It is the fastest and cheapest way to make jewelry, and for large production runs it is the right tool for the job.
But casting has a known weak point. As the metal cools inside the mould, tiny air pockets stay trapped in it. Jewelers call this porosity. It leaves the metal softer and more likely to bend, dent or crack, and it shows up first at thin points like prongs, shanks and clasps.
Working by hand skips the mould entirely. We start with a solid sheet, wire or ingot and shape it ourselves: hammering, stretching, sawing, filing and soldering it into the finished piece. That working of the metal does something casting cannot. It compacts the metal as it is shaped, so the finished piece ends up denser and harder, and it stays that way. Prongs grip tighter. Settings do not loosen as quickly. Fine, delicate detail that would be fragile in cast metal holds up well when it is worked by hand.
It takes longer at the bench and costs more in labour, because there is no shortcut for shaping metal one piece at a time. We think it is worth it, and clients who have had a piece cast elsewhere and then remade by hand usually agree.
- No porosity weakening the metal
- Harder, denser metal from working it, not pouring it
- Stronger prong tips that hold stones longer
- Fine detail and two tone work moulds cannot reproduce
- Every piece finished and checked under magnification
Side by side
Handmade and cast
Both methods have their place. Here is the honest difference.
Two metals worked into a single piece. Cast versions are made as separate parts and joined afterwards.
Inside a white gold band, filed and polished by hand.
What we make
Any piece, in gold or silver
Pieces
- Rings and engagement rings
- Pendants and necklaces
- Earrings
- Bangles and bracelets
- Brooches and pins
- Cufflinks and men's jewelry
- Full matching sets
Metals
- 925 sterling silver
- 9K gold
- 10K gold
- 14K gold
- 18K gold
Gold in yellow, white or rose. We have also made pieces in platinum on request, so ask if that is what you need. If you want a particular karat, alloy colour, or two metals combined in one piece, tell us and we will confirm it is workable before you commit to anything.
Recent work
Pieces from the bench
A selection of finished work in gold, white gold, sterling silver and gold plated silver. Every one of these was made by hand to a client's design.
More finished pieces in our online jewelry store.
Mountings & semi-mounts
Settings made to your stone
If you only need the setting, we make that too. A mounting is a finished piece built ready for its centre stone, and ours are made by hand to the exact measurements of the stone going into it rather than pulled from a stock mould.
The stone first, then the setting built around it.
Built to measurement
Send the dimensions of your stone, or the stone itself, and the seat is cut to fit it. No forcing a stone into a setting that was never made for it.
Any setting style
Prong, bezel, channel, pave, halo, three stone and cluster. Solitaires through to full bridal sets in silver or gold.
For the trade
Designers and retailers can order semi-mounts in batches to their own spec and sizing, with repeat work made to the same pattern each time.
Set here or ship bare
We can set your stone before shipping, or send the mounting unset so your own jeweler finishes it. Your call.
Matched pairs and sets
Earring pairs and matching sets built to the same pattern, so the finish and proportions read the same across every piece.
Sized before it ships
Ring sizing confirmed with you before the piece is finished, so it arrives ready to wear rather than needing rework.
Why this matters
Most stock semi-mounts on the market are cast in fixed sizes, so you end up hunting for a stone that fits the setting. Building the mounting by hand reverses that. The stone leads and the metal follows, which means less metal, a closer fit and a better hold.
Your stones
Already have the stone? We will build around it
Because we facet and treat gemstones ourselves, most of our jewelry clients start with a stone rather than an empty setting. That might be a sapphire we cut for you, a stone from your own collection, or a piece you have inherited and want reset.
If it is an heirloom, we will assess the stone honestly, tell you whether it can be used as it is or would benefit from re-cutting, and design around it. Old gold or silver from a piece you no longer wear can often be melted and worked into the new one, so nothing sentimental has to leave your hands.
Need the stone cut first? See our gem cutting services and custom lapidary, or browse loose stones.
A client's own chain and sapphire, made into a custom Montana outline pendant.
Repair & redesign
Old pieces, made new
Not every job starts from a blank sheet.
A chipped tanzanite, recut and set into an 18K white gold ring with diamonds. We take on metal repairs just as often, from worn prongs and thin shanks to broken clasps.
Resetting
Move stones from a piece you no longer wear into something you will.
Structural repair
Rebuild worn prongs, thin shanks and broken clasps before a stone is lost.
Restoration
Bring back inherited pieces that have been damaged or badly repaired before.
Combining pieces
Bring stones from several old pieces together into one new design.
Resizing and refinishing
Sizing adjustments, re-polishing and rhodium finishing.
Not sure it can be saved?
Send photos first. We will tell you honestly what is possible before you ship anything.
How it works
From idea to finished piece
Send us the idea
A sketch, a reference photo, or a description. Tell us the metal, karat and stone, or send the stone itself.
We quote it
We talk through settings, sizing and finish, then give you a firm price and a date before any work starts.
Made at the bench
Your piece is shaped from raw metal by hand, then each stone is set and secured under magnification.
Checked and shipped
Polished and checked for symmetry, fit and stone security. Photos or video for your approval, then insured tracked shipping worldwide.
Sketch to finished piece
A customer's sketch, and what it became at the bench.
Turnaround
Days, not weeks
Most custom jewelers quote four to six weeks because the work goes out to a casting house and comes back. Ours never leaves the bench.
Bench time
Made in house, start to finish
No moulds to cut, no waiting on a third party, no queue behind a production run. One goldsmith takes the piece from raw metal to finished, which is why the timeline looks nothing like the industry norm.
Times are bench time from design approval. You get a firm date with your quote.
Materials & quality
What goes into your piece
Metals
Verified purity in the karat and colour you specify. If you want a particular alloy for hardness or colour, tell us at quote stage and we will work to it.
Stones
Use your own, or we source them. Ceylon sapphires are our own trade, so we supply and cut them directly. Certification is available through our lab testing service.
Benchwork
Solder joints cleaned so they do not read as joints. Edges finished so the piece is comfortable to wear, not just good in photos.
Final check
Symmetry, weight, stone security and finish all checked before packing. Working by hand means we can correct a problem while the piece is being made, which is not possible once metal has been cast.
Who we build for
Individuals and trade
- Individuals who want one piece made exactly to their own design
- Collectors and buyers with loose stones that need a setting
- Independent designers and small brands who need a reliable bench overseas
- Miners and dealers who want finished pieces made from their own material
If you are a designer or retailer placing repeat work, get in touch about trade terms and batch pricing on mountings.
Made in Kandy
Where the craft comes from
We work out of Kandy, in the hill country of Sri Lanka. Kandyan gold and silver work is a recognised craft tradition here, passed down through families long before Sri Lanka became known worldwide for its sapphires. That background in traditional benchwork, combined with our own lapidary trade, means the person setting your stone understands how it was cut and how it should sit. More about us.
Questions
Before you order
What metals and karats can I choose?
925 sterling silver, and 9K, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, white or rose. Gold and silver are our main trade. We have also made pieces in platinum on request, so ask if that is what you need.
Can you copy a design I found online?
Yes. Most jewelry designs are not protected, so if you have found something you like, send us the photo and we will make it for you, sized to your stone and your finger. The only time we will raise it with you is if the piece is a well known trademarked design from a major house, and even then we will usually suggest a small change rather than turn the job away.
Do you only set stones you have cut yourselves?
No. We are happy to set stones you already own or bought elsewhere, as long as we can inspect them first.
Can I order a mounting without a stone?
Yes. Send us the measurements of your stone and we will build the mounting to fit it, then ship it unset for your own jeweler to finish. If you would rather we set it, send the stone and we will do both.
How long does a piece take?
Half a day to two days at the bench for most rings, pendants and earrings. Three to four days for larger or more complex pieces, depending on the design. Shipping is on top of that. You get a firm date with your quote.
Do you do casting?
Our work is handmade, and that is what we recommend for one off and fine detail pieces. We do take on cast work by request, and when we do we control the pour carefully to keep porosity down and finish the piece by hand to the same standard. For large identical production runs, a dedicated casting house is usually the better fit, and we will tell you so rather than take the job.
How do you price custom work?
Metal type and weight, stone work, and how much bench time the design needs. Complex designs and higher karats cost more. You always get a firm quote before work starts. Send us your design and we will price it.
Can I see it before it ships?
Yes. We can send photos or video at key stages for your approval.
Can you repair or remake something I already own?
Yes. Send photos first and we will tell you what is realistic before you ship anything.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Insured and tracked, worldwide. See shipping and payments for details.
Start a piece
Have a design in mind?
Send us your sketch, your photo or your stone and we will quote it. No obligation, and we will tell you straight if there is a better way to make it.
Want to see finished work first? Browse our online jewelry store or read client reviews.