You can have a lot of freedom to express yourself when it comes to your outfit. Your clothes and jewelry are the first things that people check out about you.

Jewelry is a highly personal accessory as is, but custom jewelry takes it to an entirely new level. Custom jewelry is jewelry that you can personalize yourself. This might mean something as simple as adding your own engraving to something as advanced as incorporating a unique photograph.

New advancements have made custom jewelry accessible so that anyone can wear completely individualized pieces. Thinking about making one yourself?

Here are some things to keep in mind and some of the best places to buy fine jewelry:

What Makes Custom Jewelry So Popular?

Mass marketed jewelry has its place. Sometimes, it’s nice to be able to grab a stunning chain necklace or ring without needing to think twice. So why are personalized pieces suddenly becoming so popular?

By their nature, they stand out. They have the potential to be completely one-of-a-kind. It’s a simple way to get a ton of compliments when you’re out and about, as people will be genuinely curious about the meaning behind your individualized piece.

A custom piece of jewelry can match your personality better than any mass-marketed piece. Having full control over your look gives you the ability to craft something that is entirely geared towards your desires. It lets you act as the jeweler for a little while.

And finally, custom pieces make great gifts for other people. Research shows that gifts that reflect who you are tend to be even better than gifts that reflect your knowledge of the receiver. With that in mind, creating a custom pendant based on your personality can be the perfect way to tap into sentimentality, helping you give a gift that they’ll cherish forever.

Varsity Letter Custom Pendant

Additionally, a custom engraved engagement ring/dream ring or matching wedding bands or anniversary rings speak volumes. 

Things To Look for in Custom Jewelry

Whether you’re buying for yourself or crafting a custom piece for someone important in your life, there are some important things to consider before you dive into the design process or fill up your cart. 

Decide the Type of Piece You Want

When you think of custom pendants, you probably don’t think about the sheer amount of different customization options available. These will quickly become your favorite pendants. 

• Letter pendant: This lets you write out a special word or phrase to be worn around your neck at all times. These are great for spelling out someone’s name or for letting the world know about your personal catchphrase.
  
  
• Picture pendant: This personalized necklace incorporates photographs of people, places, logos -- anything. This lets you hold important people or sentimental figures close to your chest at all times.
  
  
• Custom lockets: Similar to picture pendants, these let you put a photograph of anything you want on the inside. However, they’re covered with a diamond-studded exterior, letting you keep your image a secret.
  

It all comes down to personal preference. If you’re the type who loves diamonds, then letter pendants or lockets are probably the way to go. But if you want to be able to show off your love for a special someone, then a picture pendant will seal the deal.

If diamonds aren't your thing, think about birthstone jewelry. Artisans can place your birthstone in custom bracelets or custom earrings, for example. 

The Gems and Metals

No pendant is complete without some stunning gold or shining diamonds. Luckily, custom pendants give you full control over the material you want to set your custom words or pictures over top of.

You can deck out your piece with some solid gold if you really want to make an impact. The density and durability of solid gold are truly unmatched, and being able to wear a personalized piece with pure gold around its edges is a pretty great feeling.

Of course, solid yellow gold can run a high price tag. Luckily, you can customize the value of your piece just as much as you can customize the look. Gold vermeil is a great alternative that incorporates silver plated with real gold. In the US, it has to be at least 2.5 microns and ten karats or higher. These are at a lower price compared to solid gold but are of very similar quality.

And if you’re really on a tight budget, you can customize your custom pieces with gold plating. This uses a very thin layer of pure gold over top of a base metal. It might not be as sturdy as solid gold, but with proper maintenance, it can last you a long time. And the best part? No one will ever be able to tell the difference from just looking at it.

White gold and rose gold are also great, affordable options: no matter what, there's a metal that matches your look.

5mm Round Cut Tennis Necklace in Rose Gold w/ Pink Stones

As for diamonds, it works in pretty much the same way. Diamonds are extremely pricey gemstones because they’re the hardest material on planet earth. There’s nothing better than being able to sport some real diamonds, especially if they surround a unique picture pendant.

But alternatives like cubic zirconia help you achieve the look of real diamonds without the real diamond prices. They’re a great alternative if you want to wear some personalized pieces without maxing out the credit cards.

Best Custom Jewelry Retailers

Once you know what to look for in your custom piece, it’s time to think about what to look for in the retailer themselves. First things first, check for quality. You can do this by seeing if they offer a lifetime guarantee on their products.

Retailers with lifetime guarantees are confident in the quality of their products. They don’t think you’ll feel the need to make any returns because you’re unhappy, and that’s why they’re more than willing to make some arrangements for a refund if you’re not fully happy with your product. Look for places that run promotions when you hop on their email list or run offers on free shipping. 

Additionally, you want variety in your customization options. Some jewelers offer “customization,” but they don’t let you do anything more than adding an engraving. Custom jewelry designers that give you control over the base metal and the design of the piece, in general, are more reputable places to get your favorite personalized piece.

Finally, fair prices play an important role. Some sketch retailers will overcharge just based on the fact that they can. And while real diamonds and gold are expensive, places that offer more accessible alternatives are respectable sources for getting the most desired look. 

So, what places meet all of these criteria. 6 Ice not only matches all of these must-haves for custom jewelry, but we also offer everything from gold chains to earrings. It’s your one-stop-shop for the perfect accessory of all kinds.

Building Your Jewelry Collection

Custom jewelry lets you take the personalized quality of jewelry to the next level by letting you create whatever your heart desires. From word pendants to picture pendants, you can have full control over the base metal and physical attributes of each custom jewelry piece.

The best places to get custom jewelry have a strong mission statement, lifetime guarantees, tons of customization options, and fair prices without hidden fees. These retailers and skilled designers are most confident about the craftsmanship of their products and are more likely to give you a piece that exceeds your expectations.

 

Sources:

The Psychology of Gift Giving: 3 Lessons | Psychology Today

Gemstone Hardness and Wearability | International Gem Society

Cubic Zirconia vs Diamond: Beauty, Quality, and Value | Diamond Pro