Custom Diamond Engagement Ring

Photo by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

This is a custom ring that was designed by one of my clients - he works as an engineer and using 3D Digital Software for his work. He and his wife designed the ring as a replacement for her original one, which was stolen. For more information, pictures and for both of their comments on the final ring and the experience click here: Custom Engagement Ring.

New Engagement Rings & Wedding Rings

I worked on several new designs over the weekend. They're not up on the website yet, but here is a preview. Due to a big project I'm working on right now, time is tight, so it will be a few days before they're posted anywhere else (there are a few more images on Payson & Co., LLC's facebook page).

Quote

Je ne cherche pas. Je trouve.
I do not seek. I find. --Pablo Picasso

Renderings

I have spent a big chunk of the last two days doing renderings for one of my clients - creating images of several jewelry pieces, that use enamel and stones, with a variety of colorful options. The pictures are wonderful! Sometime soon I will be able to share them - once the pieces are available in the market I will post images and links.

Inspiration from Nature

As I am working on a new line for a large resort company I am finding my inspiration directly from nature. There is so much there to work with, and throughout history, everyone from architects to painters to jewelry makers have used nature as a primary source of artistic stimulation.

This flower ring is an example of a piece drawn directly from nature. It is hand carved into the metal using gravers that are shaped specifically for the job, then each leaf is chased using hand-made tools to give it texture and lay it out to look like a real leaf.

Inspiration

I keep going past the most amazing buildings in NYC! What they inspire is absolutely wonderful. One of my favorite inspired pieces is from the side-walk level grill along a building on 34th and Madison. From the simple and beautiful swirls there I created the Four Seasons Ring (see picture). And, a new client just contacted me to modify this ring to create a custom ring for their wedding.

Two new custom wedding bands

It's been such a wonderful week! I have two new customers who have requested some really beautiful, interesting and potentially challenging designs for their custom wedding jewelry. I'll be asking permission to post pictures - perhaps 'in progress' pictures here to the blog and to the blog on my website at www.paysonjewelry.com.

Amazing...

It is truly wonderful how many people find my website and connect with me to discuss and consider a custom piece of jewelry. I love the interactions too - since I usually work from home, it's wonderful to have the emails and phone conversations - and the occasional face-to-face meeting to talk about details, expectations, desires and, of course, design.

One of the questions that frequently comes up around custom work is time. I thought I would lay out some of the steps involved in creating a custom piece and help you understand what that can mean as far as time is concerned.

The first step is the design development process. Sometimes people have a very clear idea of what they want, and if they can send me a sketch we can jump light-years ahead on the project. In this case a picture really is worth a thousand words - maybe more. It lets me understand the idea and get onto the same page as the client. If someone describes something to you, say a ring, and they say it has a diamond, with 2 smaller rectangular stones on each side, it's white gold with yellow accents, with some swirls or scroll like patters - what do you picture? I can assure you that everyone reading this is picturing something completely different - where if I were to post a picture - even a very simplified sketch - everyone would be starting from the same place. It gives a starting off point for the beginning of the discussion.

The design phase can last for days or weeks, depending on the clarity of the client, the deadline (if there is one), and availability of my time and the clients. I've had designs that went back and forth 10 times in 2 days, and other clients who didn't get back to me for 3-5 days after a concept was sent. Basically, this phase depends on both myself and the client and can be very quick or take a very long time.

Next time I'll talk about signing off on the design and getting started.

Having fun with social networking...

So, I've spent the last two days learning a few things. :-)
One of them is how to create a Facebook Badge! Check it out:

FedEx every day! Yesterday it was the remaining components of a custom necklace I made for a fashion show on TV (stay tuned for info about the airing - should be sometime in the fall) and today the information to complete a beautiful and complex pave ring design. I love love love working on such wonderful pieces!!

A note on the piece for the TV show - wow, was that hard to complete! I got a voicemail late Thursday afternoon and connected with the contact working with the producers on Friday May 23 around 10am. The necklace had to be completed by Thursday May 29, and there was a holiday in between, a part of the necklace had to be picked up by Friday afternoon - overall MAJOR time crunch! On top of it, the producers wanted to see 'samples' of my work before deciding! :-) I offered to send the samples, but said if they wanted me to do the piece and have it ready for the shoot on the 29th, I'd have to start before 4pm on the 23rd. Apparently they made the decision to go with me (perhaps anyone else had already said no?), and I worked my tail off to get it done in time.

I heard back from them a few days after delivering it that the shoot was a complete success, the necklace was a delight to the person on the show to whom it was presented and everyone loved it! YES!

I'm working on finding out about posting an image of the necklace once the show airs...