It begins with a consultation with Anna. Email info@lorakjewelry.com to schedule a consultation appointment. The consultation is all about a client's inspirations - feel free to bring reference images, or stones you already have if you want them reset into something new.

Once the consultation has taken place, there will be a series of sketches and quotes that narrow in on the final design. Once the design is chosen, if the piece will be created through CAD, draft renderings of the design will be shared to you for your approval and/or modifications.

After choosing the ideal design, we require a deposit of 50% of the total cost. If the design requires the purchase of a large gemstone, this cost is required upfront as well. The final custom piece is either made through the lost wax method, CAD, or hand fabrication. The design dictates the method of manufacturing. If a particular method is preferred, please ask about the types of techniques that can be used to create your piece.

CAN A CLIENT USE STONES THEY BRING IN?

If you have gemstones you'd like to use in a new design, we can repurpose them. It's a great way to breathe new life into a family heirloom, or reuse a sentimental gemstone.

RECYCLING PROGRAM

We offer a recycling program where you can bring in precious metals to be refined and used as credit toward your purchase. In some cases, we may also be able to reuse metal from sentimental pieces without refining, depending on the design and the type of metal. Let us know what you have, and we’ll explore the best option for your project.

GEM SOURCING

We specialize in sourcing any type of gemstone you desire. With a global network of trusted suppliers, we can obtain high-quality gems from all corners of the world—tailored to your exact specifications.

WHAT ABOUT LAB-GROWN GEMS?

Absolutely! Lab-created diamonds are an excellent option for budget-conscious and environmentally-aware buyers.

WHAT'S THE LOST WAX METHOD?

Using a variety of specialized carving tools, the designer carefully carves a block of wax into a precise replica of the final piece. This wax model is then encased in plaster to create a mold. When the mold is heated, the wax melts away, leaving a hollow cavity in the exact shape of the ring. Next, molten metal is poured into the mold, capturing every detail of the original carving. Once the metal has cooled and solidified, the mold is broken away to reveal the raw casting. The piece is then hand finished, i.e. sanded, polished, and set.

WHAT DOES CAD-MADE MEAN?

CAD 3D software is primarily used in jewelrymaking to assist the jeweler in creating a 3D-printed wax replica of the ring, rather than using the traditional carving process. First the ring is designed in 3D, including all setting components, before being 3D-printed. The CAD wax replica follows the rest of the steps of the “lost-wax” process above. CAD-designed rings can sometimes have a more rigid, symmetrical appearance than their hand-carved counterparts. We offer several CAD-designed ring styles, and also use CAD in our custom process when appropriate.

WHAT IS HAND-FABRICATED METALSMITHING?

Hand-fabricated jewelry pieces are created directly in metal using a variety of traditional metalworking techniques like sawing, soldering, forming, and texturing—without the use of molds or casting. This is often the most time consuming method, generally used for the more simple designs.

The custom process is exciting and specifically catered to you, and therefore labor-intensive and involved.  Due to this in-depth process, there are no returns or exchanges for custom-made pieces.  Once the design has been finalized and the manufacturing process has begun, your deposit cannot be refunded.  That being said, you are involved in every decision and no part of the process begins without your approval.  Here at LORAK we do everything we can to make the process fun and exciting, yet easy and concise, with amazing results.