Our Custom Process
Creating a custom piece at Serpentine is a considered, collaborative process—guided by expertise, clarity, and taste. While every project is unique, the experience unfolds in three clear phases.
The Process
Stone Sourcing
We begin by identifying stones that meet our standards for beauty, rarity, and value — often leveraging longstanding dealer relationships built over a decade.
Design Development
We explore proportion, orientation, and setting direction through detailed 2D renderings.
3D Modeling
A precise CAD model allows you to visualize scale and structure before production.
Resin Review
You receive a physical resin model to confirm presence and proportion.
Craftsmanship
Your piece is produced by master jewelers and finished by hand.
Understanding Your Starting Point
We begin by understanding the context and intent of what you want to create.. Some clients arrive with a fully formed vision; others come with a stone, an heirloom, or a milestone they want to mark.
In this first phase, we take the time to understand your starting point, preferences, and priorities—then help you decide what makes the most sense to explore next. We’ll educate you as much or as little as you’d like, explaining options clearly and sharing our expertise along the way.
Our role is to provide context, ask the right questions, and shape a clear path forward. You’ll leave this stage with alignment, clarity, and confidence around what comes next.
Design & Sourcing
Based on your project and preferences, we typically begin in one of two ways—or move between both simultaneously:
Stone‑First:
If your piece calls for starting with a gemstone, our gemology team curates a selection of exceptional stones for you to consider. Each is chosen for its character, quality, and value, and presented with clear guidance so you can compare meaningfully, not endlessly.
Design‑First:
If the design leads, we translate your ideas into custom sketches and renderings. You’ll see proportion, scale, and details evolve on paper and screen, with room to react, refine, and adjust until the design feels just right.
Throughout this phase, we guide you through decisions around stones, settings, materials, and construction—always balancing design, wearability, and value.
Craft & Completion
Once the design and materials are finalized, your piece is brought to life by our master jewelers who execute every detail with care and precision. We are a team of perfectionists, and every piece that comes from our workshop is exceptional. The result is a new-school heirloom, designed to evolve with you and carry meaning forward over time. We look forward to seeing the history you create with it!
Featured Custom Projects
Begin Your Serpentine Journey
Every relationship begins with a conversation. Connect with Ali and her team for a private appointment at our New York City studio or Greenwich atelier — or virtually from anywhere in the world.
FAQ
Can I visit you in person? Or is this only virtual?
We would be delighted to host you in our Greenwich, CT Townhouse, or our HQ in Midtown Manhattan. If you’d like assistance with logistics getting to either location, we’re happy to help. Additionally, we are always available for a call or virtual meeting.
How long does this take from beginning to end?
All Serpentine Jewels custom creations are truly works of art, crafted by a team of perfectionists. We will provide a concrete timeline based on the complexity of your design, however generally completely custom pieces take between 8 and 16 weeks.
What should I do if I'm too late for the holiday season?
If you would like to gift your loved one a custom piece of jewelry for the holidays but the timeline is not feasible, we are pleased to provide a sketch of the piece to put under the tree. Alternatively our signature gift certificate is anything but ordinary. This Serpentine Jewels charm is placed in our jewelry box along with a note that this is a gift certificate for her to redeem for the custom piece of her dreams. That way she has something special to open on Christmas morning, and the charm is hers to keep. Inquire to learn more about our [signature gift certificate].
Is there a minimum price for a Serpentine Jewels custom piece?
Yes, our custom jewelry generally starts at $10,000. Kindly note that a non-refundable deposit is required to begin the design process. This deposit is credited towards the final price of your piece.
I have some questions before I decide what I want to do - how do I get in touch with you?
Fill our the contact form below to get in touch - we’d be delighted to chat with you.