There is something profoundly different about wearing a piece of jewellery that was made specifically for you. Not adapted from a catalogue, not selected from a display case, but designed from a conversation — shaped by your story, your preferences, and the significance of the occasion it marks.
At Franco Jewellers, custom jewellery design has been at the heart of what we do for over 58 years. It is how Franco Ceresiani built this business in 1968, and it is how his daughters Silvana and Daniela continue it today. The process is personal by nature, unhurried by design, and handled entirely in-house — from the first sketch to the final polish — by a master jeweller with more than 25 years of experience.
This page explains exactly how custom jewellery design process works, so you can come to your first conversation feeling informed and confident rather than uncertain about what to expect.
Why Commission a Custom Piece?
Many people arrive at Franco Jewellers after spending time in other jewellery stores, trying on ring after ring, and feeling that something is always slightly off. The setting is close but not quite right. The stone shape is almost what they imagined. The metal colour is near enough, but not exactly.
Custom design exists to close that gap entirely.
When you commission a piece through Franco Jewellers, you are not choosing from what already exists. You are creating something that does not yet exist — a piece built around your vision, your style, and the relationship or occasion it represents. It can be as simple or as detailed as you want. It can draw from a design you have seen and loved, or it can emerge from a conversation that starts with nothing more than a feeling.
Custom design is also the only path to a truly handmade piece. Unlike cast jewellery, which is produced by pouring molten metal into a mould, every custom piece at Franco Jewellers is handmade by our master jeweller from scratch. Fewer than 10% of jewellers in Australia work this way. The difference is in the weight of the metal, the precision of the setting, and the lasting quality of the finish.
Step One: Your First Consultation
Everything begins with a conversation. Not a sales pitch — a conversation.
When you book an appointment at our Collins Street boutique, you are given dedicated time with Silvana or Daniela. No interruptions, no other clients competing for attention, no pressure to decide anything. The first meeting is simply about understanding what you are looking for and what the piece means to you.
We will ask about the occasion — whether it is an engagement ring, a wedding band, an anniversary gift, or something entirely different. We will ask about your style, the metals you are drawn to, the gemstones that appeal to you, and any designs you have noticed and loved. We will also ask about your budget, because understanding what you want to spend helps us guide you toward options that will genuinely delight you rather than choices that feel like compromises.
If you do not arrive with clear answers to any of these questions, that is completely fine. Most clients do not. Part of what Silvana and Daniela do in that first meeting is help you discover what you actually want — often by showing you examples from the collection, sharing photographs of past custom work, and walking you through the possibilities available in different metals, stones, and setting styles.
There is no obligation to proceed beyond the first conversation. Our founder Franco’s philosophy — “friends just the same” — still guides how we approach every client. We would rather you leave informed and comfortable than rushed into a decision.
Walk-ins are welcome Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm, though booking an appointment ensures you have Silvana or Daniela’s undivided attention for your consultation.
Step Two: Diamond and Gemstone Selection
For pieces that feature a centre stone — custom engagement rings in particular — gemstone selection is often the most meaningful part of the process, and we treat it accordingly.
Franco Jewellers works exclusively with GIA certified diamonds, both natural mined and lab-grown. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certification is the most rigorous and internationally respected diamond grading standard available. Every GIA certificate documents a diamond’s cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight, giving you complete transparency about what you are purchasing and the confidence to compare stones with genuine knowledge.
During your consultation, we will walk you through the factors that affect a diamond’s appearance and value — not to overwhelm you with information, but to help you understand why one stone might suit your vision better than another. The goal is always to find the stone that looks most beautiful to your eye within the budget you have set, rather than the stone that looks best on paper.
If you are considering a lab-grown diamond, we will explain the differences honestly — including cost, availability in certain sizes and shapes, and the considerations that matter for resale and insurance purposes. If you are drawn to coloured gemstones — sapphires, emeralds, rubies, or others — we can source these as well, drawing on our relationships with suppliers built over decades in the industry.
Step Three: Design Development
Once we have a clear understanding of what you are looking for and the stone you want to feature, the design phase begins.
For most custom pieces, this starts with sketches. Our master jeweller translates the ideas from your consultation into initial drawings that show the shape, setting, and proportions of the piece. You review these, respond to them, and the design evolves through that dialogue. There is no limit to the number of revisions — we refine until the design feels exactly right.
For more complex pieces, particularly engagement rings with intricate settings or unusual design elements, we create CAD (Computer-Aided Design) renderings. These three-dimensional digital models allow you to see the finished piece from every angle before a single gram of metal has been touched. They capture the precise dimensions, the stone placement, the band profile, and the surface finish, giving you the closest possible preview of what you will receive.
This stage can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the design and how many rounds of refinement feel right to you. We do not rush it.
Step Four: Handcrafting Your Piece
When the design is approved, the work begins in our on-site workshop on Collins Street.
Every custom piece at Franco Jewellers is handmade by the same master jeweller who has guided the design. There is no outsourcing to an external casting house, no anonymous workshop in another state or country. The person who understood your vision is the person who brings it to life.
Handmaking — as distinct from casting — means the metal is worked by hand into the precise shape required by your design. The band is formed, the setting is constructed, and every structural element is built individually rather than produced in a mould. The result is a piece with greater density, greater precision, and greater durability than a cast equivalent.
Your gemstone is then set by hand as well, using whichever setting technique your design calls for — claw, bezel, pavé, channel, or others. Once set, the piece goes through its final stages of polishing and finishing.
The typical timeline for a custom piece from approved design to completion is four to six weeks, depending on design complexity. We keep you informed throughout, and you are welcome to visit the workshop to see your piece taking shape if you would like to.
Step Five: Collection and Aftercare
When your piece is ready, you come into the boutique to collect it in person.
That moment — holding something that did not exist six weeks ago, that was made specifically for you — is one we genuinely look forward to as much as our clients do. Silvana and Daniela will be there to present the finished piece, walk you through its care, and make sure everything is exactly as you envisioned.
If anything requires a minor adjustment — a slight resize, a finish detail — we attend to it before you leave. Your satisfaction is not assumed; it is confirmed.
Our relationship with you does not end at collection. Franco Jewellers offers ongoing aftercare for every piece we make, including cleaning, checking stone settings, and resizing if needed over time. Many of our clients have been returning to us for decades — some have brought their children to commission engagement rings after wearing pieces we made for them in the 1980s and 1990s. That kind of continuity is not something we take lightly.
What Does Custom Jewellery Cost?
The honest answer is that custom design covers a wide range, and the most useful thing we can do is have a conversation with you about your budget before making any assumptions about what is and is not possible.
As a general guide, custom engagement rings at Franco Jewellers typically range from approximately $3,000 to $20,000 and above, depending on the metal, the stone, and the complexity of the setting. Custom wedding bands vary similarly. Pieces without a centre stone — pendants, bracelets, plain bands — often sit at the lower end of this range.
What custom design does not mean is paying a premium over a comparable ready-made piece simply because it was made for you. Because we work in-house without outsourcing, our pricing reflects the actual cost of the materials and craft — not the markup that comes with retail overheads or intermediary manufacturers.
The first consultation is complimentary. There is no obligation to proceed, and no pressure to commit to anything in that meeting.
What Our Customers Have to Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the custom jewellery design process take from start to finish?
From your first consultation to collecting the finished piece, the typical timeline is six to ten weeks. This includes design development, revisions, and four to six weeks of handcrafting. If you have a specific date — a proposal, a wedding, an anniversary — we will work to your deadline, and it is always worth getting in touch early to allow adequate time.
Can I bring in a design I’ve found online or in a magazine?
Yes, absolutely. Many clients arrive with photographs, screenshots, or sketches of designs they love. These are a useful starting point for the conversation, and our master jeweller can create something inspired by a design you have seen while making it distinctly your own. We do not copy existing pieces exactly, but we can absolutely draw on elements that appeal to you.
Can I use stones or gold from an existing piece?
Yes. If you have existing jewellery — inherited pieces, an old engagement ring, loose stones that have been sitting in a drawer — we can often incorporate these materials into your new design. This is covered by our jewellery remodelling service, which follows a similar process to custom design from scratch. We assess the condition and suitability of your existing materials before the design phase begins.
Do I need to know exactly what I want before booking a consultation?
Not at all. Many of our clients arrive with nothing more than a budget and a general sense of style. Part of what Silvana and Daniela do in the first meeting is help you understand what you are drawn to and what will suit you — often in ways you had not considered. The consultation is exploratory, not a test of how much you already know.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The initial consultation carries no cost and no obligation. It is simply a conversation, and you are welcome to leave it without committing to anything.
Begin Your Custom Jewellery Journey
Whether you arrive with a clear vision or are starting from scratch, the first step is the same: a conversation with Silvana or Daniela in our Collins Street boutique.
Book your complimentary consultation online, call us on (03) 9564 7755, or email franco@franco.com.au. Walk-ins are welcome Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm; Sunday by appointment.
We look forward to creating something made entirely for you.
Contact Information:
Franco Jewellers
📍 Manchester Unity Building, Suite 904 / 220 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
📞 Call: (03) 9564 7755
📧 Email: enquiries@franco.com.au
