Not every piece of jewellery worth owning starts on a shelf. Sometimes it starts with a stone that has been sitting in a drawer for twenty years, or a sketch on the back of an envelope, or simply a feeling — that you want something that doesn’t exist anywhere else, made by someone whose name you know.
That is what custom jewellery means at Franco Jewellers. From our Collins Street boutique, Silvana and Daniela Ceresiani work with Melbourne clients to design and create bespoke pieces — rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and gemstone jewellery — handcrafted in-house by our master jeweller. Every commission is different, because every client and every reason for commissioning a piece is different.
What Custom Jewellery Actually Means Here
A genuinely custom piece isn’t a catalogue item with a few tweaks. It’s a design built from a conversation — about the person the piece is for, the materials you want to use, the occasion behind it, and the story you want it to tell. At Franco Jewellers, that conversation happens directly with Silvana or Daniela, and the piece itself is made on-site by our master jeweller, who has more than 25 years of specialised experience.
We handmake rather than cast the jewellery we create — a distinction that affects only a small proportion of jewellers in Australia, and one that produces a denser, more durable, better-finished piece. You are welcome to ask about the difference during your consultation; it’s one we’re happy to explain in detail.
Beyond Engagement and Wedding Rings
If you’re planning an engagement ring or wedding band, our dedicated our engagement ring collection and our wedding ring collection pages cover that process in depth. This page is about everything else — the custom jewellery Melbourne clients commission for reasons that have nothing to do with a proposal.
Pendants and Necklaces
From a single stone set simply in 18ct gold to an elaborate diamond cluster design, custom pendants are one of the most personal pieces we create — often built around a specific gemstone, birthstone, or family diamond.
Earrings
Custom diamond and gemstone earrings, designed and set in-house, in 18ct white, yellow, or rose gold, or platinum. We work from a design brief or a reference image, or start from nothing more than a colour and a budget.
Bracelets
Men’s and women’s custom bracelets, from fine diamond lines to bolder gold pieces, designed to suit how they’ll actually be worn day to day.
Gemstone Jewellery
Sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and coloured diamonds sourced and set to your specification, with the same GIA-certified standards we apply to diamonds across every category.
Jewellery Remodelling
Many of our custom commissions begin with jewellery our clients already own — an inherited ring, a pendant that no longer suits their style, loose stones from a piece that’s been sitting unworn for years. Rather than starting from scratch, we assess what you have and design something new around it, reusing the gold, diamonds, or gemstones wherever possible. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of what we do: taking something with real sentimental value and giving it a design you’ll actually wear again.
How the Custom Design Process Works
Every custom piece follows broadly the same path, regardless of what’s being made:
A first consultation to understand what you’re after — whether that’s a fully formed idea or just a feeling you’re trying to put into words. From there, our master jeweller develops a design, usually with a CAD rendering so you can see exactly what the finished piece will look like before any metal is touched. You review and refine it until it’s right, and then it’s made — by hand, in our on-site workshop, with progress checks along the way.
For a full breakdown of each stage, visit our custom design process page.
Why Melbourne Clients Choose Franco Jewellers for Custom Jewellery
Everything made in-house. Your piece is created in our own workshop by our master jeweller — never sent to an external casting house or overseas manufacturer.
58+ years of Italian heritage. Franco Jewellers was founded by Italian immigrant Franco Ceresiani in 1968. Today his daughters Silvana and Daniela continue that legacy from Collins Street, bringing decades of family expertise to every commission.
Direct access to the owners. You work with Silvana or Daniela throughout your project — not a rotating sales team.
No pressure, ever. Custom jewellery is a considered decision, not an impulse purchase. We’ve never used urgency tactics, and we never will.
GIA certified diamonds and ethically sourced gemstones, with both natural and lab-grown options available across every category of custom work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does custom jewellery cost?
Pricing depends on the materials, the design’s complexity, and the stones involved. We work across a range of budgets and are transparent about costs from your first consultation — there’s no minimum spend and no pressure to go beyond what’s comfortable.
How long does a custom piece take to make?
Most custom commissions take between four and ten weeks from design approval, depending on complexity. Rings and more intricate pieces sit toward the longer end; simpler pendants or earrings can often be turned around faster.
Can you use gold or stones I already own?
Yes. Remodelling existing jewellery — reusing your gold, diamonds, or gemstones in a new design — is something we do regularly. Bring the piece in and we’ll assess it as part of your first consultation.
Do I need a design in mind before I book a consultation?
No. Some clients arrive with a clear brief; others have nothing more than an occasion and a rough budget. Either way, Silvana and Daniela will help you develop the design from there.
Book Your Complimentary Consultation
The first step is a conversation — complimentary, obligation-free, and at your own pace. Book an appointment with Silvana or Daniela at our Collins Street boutique to begin designing a piece that’s genuinely your own.
Franco Jewellers is located at Suite 904, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne. Walk-ins are welcome Monday to Saturday, 11am–4pm. Sunday visits are by appointment only.
Call (03) 9564 7755, email franco@franco.com.au, or book online.
