Designing a custom piece is an opportunity to celebrate your unique story and create a piece of art that no one else in the world will own. By gathering inspiration, collaborating on the design and entrusting the craftsmanship to our skilled jeweller, you’ll end up with a piece that symbolises your singular journey. When you’re working with artisans at Tompkins Jewellers in Lethbridge, Alberta the custom process turns your dream into a reality.

How to begin:

1. Choose a trusted jeweller. At Tompkins Jewellers we offer 4 in-house designers as well as an in-house master jeweller with over 25 years of experience in custom work, positive reviews and clear communication. The immediate benefit to using an In‑house designer and goldsmith is it makes it easier to oversee quality and adjust details on the go. You can also check in on the progress in real time, and view progress if you wish.
2. Be prepared but flexible. Bring inspiration but remain open to suggestions regarding diamond and gemstone options, metal choices and design tweaks which may enhance your vision.  We will show images of past creations, which may or may not peak your interest in a slightly different direction, and also chat about your metal choices and how they may be impacted by your lifestyle.  Not all metals are great for all lifestyles.
3. Communicate your budget early. Transparency helps the jeweller suggest diamond and gemstone options and settings that maximize value. We hand pick our diamonds from across Canada, and gemstones from across the world to suit your specific preferences. Ask about financing or payment plans if needed.  At Tompkins Jewellers we offer a six month No Interest, No Payment plan to make the process easier if required.
4. Think long-term. You may choose to wear your ring every day and as such, it is wise to consider lifestyle (e.g., durability if you work with your hands), maintenance requirements and future resizing.  Some things to consider: Rose and yellow gold are softer metals so we can counteract that by creating a heavier version; white gold usually requires rhodium plating for upkeep which is done in store, usually within a few business days. Platinum takes longer to refurbish when the time comes for cleaning and polishing ~ so be prepared to leave your ring for a ½ day for a complete inspection and refurbishing..  So you can see that each metal has it's own unique offering, and we can work together to see which one suits you and your lifestyle best!
5. Give yourself plenty of time.  Whether you are looking for a truly exotic gemstone, or a specific ratio in an elongated diamond, allow for a one to three week timeframe to find the diamond or gemstone of your dreams.  The dimensions of said diamond or gem are necessary to begin the accurate design process needed to produce a wax prototype
6. Enjoy the process. Designing a ring should be joyful…and with the right jeweller and the appropriate amount of time ~ the experience is collaborative and exciting.