For jewellery crafting there are various approaches, and with the introduction of technologies that make processes more efficient, fine jewellery has become more mass-produced. However when considering purchasing jewellery that is meant to last a lifetime, a ring that is handmade is vastly different from a ring that has been made using these new technologies that incorporate wax casting, 3D printers, or moulds. Handmade jewellery is truly a dying art that is becoming increasingly rare due to the level of artistry required, technical skills that take decades to hone, and because it tends to be more laborious and time consuming. There is nothing like a beautiful piece of handmade jewellery, and you can easily see the difference when comparing pieces side by side, as well as through the years of wear and tear.

- A handmade piece of jewellery is inherently stronger, because the metal has been worked and hardened by the process of rolling, bending, hammering and shaping when manipulating the metal into shape. 

- During the handmade process, the setting that holds your precious diamond or gemstone has been individually carved out precisely to the specifications of your stones, therefore guaranteeing that the overall setting and claws holding the stone are harder and more dense. With "handcrafted" production (casted/molded method) it is more common for the metal to be porous, making the setting more fragile and dangerous during the lifetime of the ring. 

- With handmade jewellery, all aspects of the piece can be finished to a very high standard as the jeweller has access to file and polish all of the integral parts; for example, the metal pieces under the setting of the center stone should be nicely polished, and just as beautiful as the finish on top. These small intricate details are what distinguishes the finesse and finish of a handmade piece.

- The quality of 18K gold used for the handmade method is almost always a more superior mix compared with other 18K gold that is used in a handcrafted approach (not all 18K gold mixes are created equal). 

- Another key aspect of handmade bespoke jewellery is the opportunity to make small changes to the setting at the midway point, so we can make sure the ring is coming to life as expected, and there is more control throughout the production process. 

We never take shortcuts during our bespoke process, and when some of our clients wonder why our jewellery lasts longer, or sparkles more than other pieces they see in stores, it’s because we never skip key steps, or cut processes to lower costs. Each of our pieces are expertly handmade and individually finished to perfection, making each ring completely unique, and precisely the level of detail you hope for in a special lifetime purchase!

- A "handcrafted" jewellery piece is made by the process of casting. A mould is made out of wax either by hand carving or using computer aided design (CAD/3D printing), and is then sent to a casting factory. The next step is a plaster mould that is made around the wax, and once the plaster has hardened, the wax is melted from the plaster mould and molten metal is poured inside. Because the metal is reheated and then poured into the cast, the gold tends to be more porous from airbubbles, and will not be nearly as hard as a handmade ring. The cast piece is then cleaned up by hand (therefore “handcrafted”), and set with diamonds, and/or gemstones. 

- As the “mould” is typically used for mass produced settings, they are not individually made for the measurements of your stone, and therefore can lack precision that may not be easily noticed to the untrained eye (ie- gaps, uneven settings, claws that don’t contour to the stone, or are easily pulled away, etc). 

- There are some jewellers that handmake the settings and cast the bands, or vice versa, so it is important to ask the question, especially if the person you're buying your piece of jewellery from does not explain the difference up front.