Denver Custom Jewelry Design With Kate Maller
There's a particular feeling that comes with wearing a piece of custom jewelry no one else has. Someone asks where you found it, and the honest answer is that it didn't exist until you dreamt it up and asked for it. That's what the custom jewelry design process looks like at the Kate Maller Denver, CO studio.
First Time Having Custom Jewelry Made By a Local Denver Shop?
Kate designs one piece, for one person, and hand crafts it at her bench. There's no mold to cast another from. When it's finished, there's only yours.
Many people who come to us have never had a piece of custom jewelry made before, and it's normal to feel a little unsure where to start. Kate will sit down with you, ask what you love, and sketch until it looks right to both of you.
Before anything is made in our Denver studio, you'll know what your custom jewelry costs, how long it takes, and what it's made of.
Our Promise When Designing Your Custom Jewelry
When it comes to designing custom jewelry at our Denver, CO studio, we hold ourselves to three key things, whether it's an engagement ring, wedding band, a necklace built around a family stone, or a pair of everyday earrings with that personalized, customized touch.
We'll collaborate with you to craft a piece of custom jewelry that's uniquely yours. It’ll be designed around your story, your style, and how you live.
You’ll be involved in the process of designing and approving your custom jewelry. Kate will work with you to refine your design until it matches your vision, and you approve it before we start crafting the piece.
You’ll walk away with something built to wear for every occasion. Our custom jewelry pieces are handmade in our Denver, CO studio, and they’re built to hold up to everyday life. We believe your custom jewelry should get worn, not saved for special occasions.
Why Trust Kate Maller Over Other Denver-Based Custom Jewelers?
When you work with our Denver studio for your custom jewelry piece, we don’t expect you to know everything about the custom design process. We'll walk you through each step, provide our expert guidance throughout, and give you all the time you need to land on a piece that feels like yours.
Kate worked in architecture for several years before she went all in on metalsmithing. She holds master's degrees in architecture + landscape architecture and completed more than 500 hours of full-time, hands-on training at Creative Side Jewelry Academy in Austin. You'll see that eye for proportion and structure in every piece of custom jewelry that leaves our Denver studio.
Every custom jewelry piece is hand-made in our Denver studio on W 32nd Ave. Even the jump rings, clasps, and ear wires are made here. Efficient? No. But it’s the standard of quality we hold ourselves to, and it's why your custom jewelry will feel like nothing else you own.
We care just as much about what goes into it. We work in recycled 22k, 18k, and 14k gold (including white, rose, and yellow), and recycled Argentium silver. All of our stones are ethically sourced, and our small accent diamonds are reclaimed. When our Denver studio supplies the metal + stones for your custom jewelry, we know exactly where they came from. And if you bring your own gold or stones, their history is something you’ll get to wear every day thereafter.
The Process Of Working With Our Denver Studio For Your Custom Jewelry Design
Here's what working with us looks like, from your first message to the day you pick up your custom jewelry at our Denver shop. Most projects take 8–10 weeks from start to finish, and some take longer.
Stage 1
Get In Touch With Us
Tell us what you're thinking, whether it's a custom engagement ring, a necklace and earring set, or anything in between. Fill out our inquiry form and tell us what you've been dreaming up. If something on our site caught your eye, send us the link. All of this information helps us determine how our Denver studio can help bring your custom jewelry piece to life.
Stage 2
Complimentary Call
Use our calendar to book a free quick call. Our Store Manager will reach out to learn what you're looking for and make sure our Denver studio is the right fit for your custom jewelry piece.
Stage 3
The Jewelry Design Process
Depending on the complexity and/or needs of your design, you’ll either meet with our Store Manager to work through your design, or Kate. We’ll discuss stones, metals, and all the details to bring your dream piece of custom jewelry to life. Please note that to meet with Kate we charge a $300 non-refundable deposit that goes toward the cost of your final piece, if you move forward. After the meeting, we'll send you a written quote.
Stage 4
Crafting Your Custom Jewelry
Once you approve the design and pay a deposit (note: we have financing options available), the production of your custom jewelry begins in our Denver studio. The remaining payment for your custom piece is due when it's finished. You’ll be able to pick up your custom jewelry in person at our Denver, Colorado shop, or we can ship it to you.
If you'd rather start with something finished, our One-of-a-Kind collection and the full KMJ catalog are full of pieces made by hand and ready to wear today. If one is close but not quite, it can be a good starting point for us to design a custom jewelry piece for you at our Denver studio.
Note: Given the highly personalized nature of this type of jewelry, sales are final. That's why we want to ensure you see and approve your custom jewelry design before we begin crafting your piece.
We’re Ready When You Are
Whether this is your first piece of custom jewelry or your fifth, we'd love to make it with you here in Denver. Start your custom piece, or stop by the shop and say hi. We look forward to working with you!
Still On The Fence? Visit Our Denver Jewelry Shop + Boutique
Come see us in sunny Denver. Our boutique is on W 32nd Ave, where you'll find Kate's work alongside pieces from the artists she curates. If you're comparing jewelry stores in Denver, Colorado before starting a custom piece, stop by, try a few things on, and see how our handmade jewelry feels in person.
Our store
3450 W 32nd Ave
Denver, Colorado 80211
Tue–Thu: 11:30 am–5 pm
Fri–Sat: 11 am–5:30 pm
Sun–Mon: Closed
303.433.5324
Common Questions Our Denver Studio Gets About Custom Jewelry Design
The cost of a custom jewelry piece depends on so many different factors, so it can be challenging to give an average number (or even range). These are the typical factors that impact the price of the custom jewelry we design at our Denver studio:
- Metal: Recycled Argentium silver or recycled 18k or 22k gold, and how much of it the design uses. Metal prices change daily, which is why quotes are good for 7 days.
- Stones: Type, size, cut, quality, how many, and how hard they are to find.
- What you bring: Your own stones can change the cost, depending on their condition and what the design needs. There’s a common misconception that bringing your own metal will lower the cost of a custom jewelry piece, but the process of melting down and reusing the metals can tend to cancel out the material savings.
- Design + detail: Hours at the bench, texture, stone settings, and how intricate the piece is.
- Size: A slim band takes less time and metal than a statement pendant. Thicker, more substantial bands inherently drive up the cost of a custom jewelry piece.
- Design time: The $300 design meeting, which is applied to your final balance.
- Finishing: Chains, clasps, backs, sizing, and engraving.
Share your budget range for your custom jewelry piece with us, and Kate will design with it in mind (and we can make recommendations that fit within that budget). We also offer financing through Affirm.
Who will make my piece? How many changes can I make to the custom jewelry design? What does the quote include? How do metal prices affect it? Can I use my own stones or gold? What happens if my custom jewelry piece needs a repair down the road? When is payment due? A good custom jeweler will walk you through each of these so you can choose the right fit without worrying about what’s next.
Bring whatever you have: photos of pieces you love (and a few you don't), a budget range, your ring size or preferred chain length, any stones or gold you'd like to use, how you'll wear the piece, and when you need it. Then come ready to talk. Kate will have plenty of questions, because every piece of custom jewelry we make at our Denver studio starts with getting to know the person who'll wear it.
Yes. You don't need to live in Denver to have your custom jewelry piece made with us. We ship finished pieces anywhere in the U.S. and internationally, with a signature required.
Most custom projects take 8–10 weeks from start to finish, and some take longer, depending on the detail in the design and how long stones take to source. Your lead time starts once we receive payment. If you have a proposal, wedding, or birthday coming up, reach out a few months ahead. For holiday delivery, custom jewelry orders are due at our Denver shop by November 7.
Family pieces are some of the most meaningful custom jewelry we design in our Denver studio. Bring your stones or gold to your design meeting, and Kate will look at their condition and whether they'll work in the design you have in mind.
We don't offer warranties, but we stand behind our work and hold ourselves to a high standard of craftsmanship. We'll repair any Kate Maller piece at any point in its life, and depending on the repair, a fee may apply. Just contact us before sending anything back so we can talk through what it needs. Custom rings also come with one free resizing in the first six months. The custom jewelry we make in our Denver studio is meant to be worn every day, and we're here to keep it that way.