I love working intimately with clients to create something individual and personal. It's different from my everyday ranges and I really enjoy the challenge of translating an idea from someone's head into a thing of beauty hewn in precious metals and stones. I love the idea of combining old with new and sourcing unusual stones or transforming great granny's old stones into something fresh and modern. It makes me happy and my clients even happier.

The first steps of the custom process can be done initially over email or a consultation at our studio in Durban. At this stage we can discuss design, remodelling old jewellery, stone sourcing, metal colours, budget and timelines.

If you would like to incorporate stones into your design there are a couple of options you can choose from a selection of gems held at the studio, or if there is a specific gem you are searching for I will try my best to source it for you.   

Once the initial design has been discussed and stones sourced, I am able to do some drawings and finalise details of the design. Then I will discuss options for manufacturing. Sometimes we use CAD design or make up a wax model of the piece of jewellery. 

At this stage amendments can be made to the design before finally hand making or casting it in metal. This allows you to talk through composition and scale through a studio visit, by email or telephone conversation.

 Once we have a finalised the design we proceed to the next stage a payment of 60% or the full amount is needed to proceed.

For custom pieces the time scale is usually 6 - 8 weeks, although if you are needing something sooner please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate your timeline.

Please note during the custom process sometimes we handed stones, old bits of jewellery, sentimental items. We try our best to look after and treat these items with care and respect. However as some of these items are extremely old or worn down we cannot guarantee they will survive the custom process. Our customers need to be aware of this risk. We have a disclaimer which we will discuss with you in the event of you handing over your precious items.

Please note we take the utmost care regarding your jewellery while in our possession. We do our best to keep them safe and secure at all times. This disclaimer is in place to keep our business, Chantal Jaimee Jewellery from being held liable for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise such as theft/damages to your jewellery/ stones/ other objects. The customer acknowledges and agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by the law that CJ Jewellery does not accept any responsibility or liability for any such circumstance.