A Closer Look at The Custom Design Process
HOW IT ALL BEGINS
When you book an appointment with Form To Feeling for a Custom Design Consultation, you will meet with Cub Root in our Austin office, virtually, or in the comfort of your own home or office. The reason Cub has chosen this business model, is to ensure you are given his full attention while working together to create your one-of-a-kind piece.
Your custom design piece starts as an idea, whether that is in your head, on your Pinterest board, from our Portfolio, or from a conversation between you and Cub. There are many times clients are unsure of what they want at all, and Cub is able to ask questions about special moments, significant items, dates, etc., and come up with an idea.
If you have a specific stone in mind for your custom design, that information is something Cub will use to incorporate into the piece. He has incredible connections in the industry, giving him access to stones that traditional jewelry storefront, third party retail stores, and online sellers, do not have access to. This is one of the benefits of working with a Private Jeweler who is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and the AGS Guild President.
Incredibly unique kite shaped diamond hand selected by Cub Root with Form To Feeling in Austin, TX.
CREATING AND EDITING YOUR DESIGN
Next, Cub creates a sketch that can be edited and tweaked to be absolutely perfect for you. Cub is meticulous with this and typically spends hours drawing this design. He will create as many different designs as you would like to compare and he will edited it 100 times, if that is what it takes to make sure you are completely blown away by the final sketch. Your jewelry is a representation of the most special times of your life. This fact is not lost at Form To Feeling. The design of your new piece of jewelry is carefully executed to capture and display the love and beauty within your relationship. Incredible attention to detail is what sets us apart from other jewelry stores, it doesn’t matter if your budget is $1000 or $10,000,000. After all, small details sometimes make the most significant difference.
Custom design sketch by Cub Root with Form To Feeling in Austin, TX.
CAD - COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN
CAD is an acronym for Computer Aided Design. It is a design that occurs in a program on a computer, where we can create three-dimensional objects in the virtual world. CAD programs are used in many industries, including jewelry! Prior to CAD all renderings were created using wax blocks and carving out the piece. While this may be a super cool way of creating a piece, it does not ensure attention to detail on a micron level. CAD allows for a lot of manipulation and almost infinite detail to create a piece that will be the exact dimensions and specifications you want. Cub creates all of his own CAD designs, something unique to Form To Feeling. This ensures that every detail communicated with Cub in your design appointment is accurately portrayed in your design.
CREATING A COMPUTER GENERATED MODEL
This is when you get to see what your piece will look like in real life, or as close to it as it gets before actually creating the piece. Sketches, and CAD images are great and truly necessary pieces of the process, but the 3D CAD image allows us to make images of pieces that don’t exist yet, creating an added value for you - our clients. It allows you to see what your design will look like when it is complete. Cub is even able to create an image with a rendering that looks similar to your hand with the ring on your finger (down to the color of your nail polish!). If there are any touch ups that need to be made, this is when you and Cub will go over those and make sure the piece is everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Your design is 3D printed at the highest resolution for casting and cast without porosity, something that is overlooked or hidden by a typical jewelry store. Even the accent gems used are all matched perfectly for cut and color, and the diamonds are cut to perfect ideal proportions, even down to 0.80mm in diameter. We are committed to perfection.
LET THE CRAFTING BEGIN
The attitude towards finishing your jewelry is no different than the initial steps. It is during this step that we have the opportunity to give your jewelry the care and attention it needs in order to last a lifetime. Using only the absolute best in the industry, Cub now turns the project over to our Master Jeweler who sits down and using the perfect marriage of modern and traditional techniques, brings all of the pieces together to create your finished piece. For over 15 years, our Master Jeweler has amazed us with his attention to detail, and unmatched craftsmanship. My favorite corny joke is that our Master Jeweler is a true gem 😉. But I mean it! He makes miracles happen, and when clients bring in pieces that were not created by our Master Jeweler, it’s obvious. He is an artist and one-of-a-kind in the industry. We are incredibly lucky to have him. His attention to detail and unmatched craftsmanship is what we are all about at Form To Feeling. We want to make sure your piece is the absolute best and will last for generations to come.
FINAL TOUCHES AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS
We try our best to get professional images for each and every piece we create, but unfortunately many times, the timing does not always work in our favor. If professional photos of your piece are something you would treasure, we are more than happy to get photos at any point after delivery as a complimentary service. We are so proud of the pieces we create and want you to be just as proud. We honor the quality of your piece for its lifetime and would love if you come in for cleanings and check-ups over the years.
Photo by White Pig Studio
DELIVERY FOR YOUR BIG DAY
At Form To Feeling we will go above and beyond to make sure the process and your big day is everything you’ve ever dreamed of. We have even had a “re-proposal” in our office after recreating an engagement ring for a client! Even Cub shed a tear!
This particular custom design was for a client in Houston, and the piece was hand delivered during hurricane season for the engagement to help keep it a complete surprise. Cub did not drive a boat, but he would have if that meant getting the piece to the client on time.
Engagement ring and wedding bands in their cozy new home. Photography by Dreamy Elk LLC.
ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED?
Cub can help you create the piece you’ve always dreamed of in an environment free from pushy sales people. He has extensive experience and knowledge in creating unique, entirely custom-designed jewelry using the highest quality materials possible. If you seek something one of a kind, we have the resources to bring your ideas to life, no matter your budget.
