There are plenty of ways consumers can shop sustainably, including seeking items made using recycled or responsibly sourced metals and gems, as well as found materials.
But even the most environmentally and socially conscious jewels are at risk of overproduction, leading to unused and unpurchased stock that creators and their retailers might not know what to do with. The most responsible jewelers might repurpose said items’ materials to create something new and in-demand, but that means extra labor and production costs.
Which is why many jewelers are doing made-to-order pieces—those jewels that are produced only once a customer places the order. This doesn’t necessarily mean one-of-a-kind, nor does it have to be personalized or customized—though both of those options also often fall under this label.
“I make everything made-to-order for my customers because it means more efficient consumption and use of materials,” says Priyanka Mehta of Nue Fine Jewelry. “We don’t have to deal with deadstock, and I like to be as sustainable as possible and made-to-order supports this. It’s also cost-efficient, and easy to customize ring sizes and bracelet and necklace lengths, etc.”
Of course, there are challenges facing an exclusively made-to-order brand, Mehta says. “I have customers who struggle to visualize options even when you provide them with a render or image of the exact piece,” she says. “There’s a certain touch and feel associated with jewelry that some clients still want. This is a hurdle especially with older customers, 50+ in age.”
In a society of need-it-now consumption, some consumers may find the average production time—anywhere from two to 10 weeks for most of the pieces pictured here—tough to swallow. But, Mehta says, in her experience, this isn’t the case. “I find that customers don’t mind if it takes a little longer for a piece to be produced on order—they like the idea that it’s being created just for them.”
“Honestly it’s a financial rationale for me! I work primarily in gold and still have a small audience, so as a small business owner I can’t afford to stock inventory of all the options I offer,” says Emma Rose of Emma Brooke Jewelry (one of her creations is pictured at top). “For my repeatable styles, I usually make one as a sample for photography, etc., then make new stock only as they’re ordered.”
Rose’s one-of-a-kind pieces, on the other hand, are “made once, then waiting for a home,” the designer tells us. When the inspiration (or a compelling gemstone) strikes, it just can’t wait.
Whether they take two weeks to complete or 10—or even longer during peak times—these jewels, with their lifelong potential, are totally worth the wait.
Top: Rolling Orb fidget pendant in 14k yellow gold with amethyst orb and 0.06 ct. t.w. diamonds, $1,250; Emma Brooke
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