Friend!

Let me guess. You've been thinking about it for weeks. Maybe months. Maybe, if I know my Mainers, maybe even years.

You have an idea. A piece of jewelry you want to commission, or an heirloom you want to reimagine, or a proposal you want to plan. But the thought of walking into a fine jewelry store and saying the words "I'd like to design something custom" feels a little intimidating. What if you don't know enough about diamonds? What if you don't have a clear vision? What if it's going to be expensive? What if, what if, what if?

Take a deep breath. Pour yourself some coffee. And let me walk you through exactly what happens when you sit down with me at Ellsworth Jewelers, because I promise, it's the warmest, most welcoming hour of your week.

✦ Step One: We Just Talk ✦
That's it. That's the first step. You walk in, I bring you to one of our consultation areas, and we talk. About you. About the person the piece is for (if it's not for you). About your story. About what made you decide to come in today.

You do not need to know what cut of diamond you want. You do not need to know what metal you prefer. You do not need to have a Pinterest board (although if you have one, I will delight in scrolling through it with you).

All you need to bring is your story and your heart. I'll take it from there. 

✦ Step Two: We Dream Together ✦
Once I understand what you're trying to honor or celebrate, we start dreaming. I'll ask you questions you probably haven't thought about,  questions about who you are, where you've been, what your daily life looks like, what feels like you.

Why? Because the most beautiful custom pieces aren't designed for someone's hand. They're designed for someone's life.

A woman who works with her hands on a farm needs a different ring than a woman who plays piano professionally. A man who loves bold statement pieces needs a different chain than someone who prefers to layer subtle details. We design for real life.

"We design for real life. For the way you live. For the way you love." 

✦ Step Three: We Explore Stones & Materials ✦
This is the fun part. (Okay, every part is the fun part. But this part especially.)

We look at stones together. I'll show you the difference between cuts in person, because pictures don't do them justice. We'll talk about what you're drawn to, the icy fire of a brilliant diamond, the deep romance of a sapphire, the warm glow of a champagne stone, the soft mystery of a moonstone.

We talk about ethical sourcing (which matters deeply to us). We talk about gold versus platinum, yellow versus white versus rose, polished versus brushed.

And critically, we talk about budget. Openly. Honestly. With zero pressure and zero judgment.

I will help you design something stunning at whatever level feels right for you. There is sparkle at every price point, and I will never, ever pressure you to spend a penny more than feels good.

✦ Step Four: We Sketch the Dream ✦
I'll start sketching while we talk, sometimes by hand, sometimes pulling up examples of similar custom pieces we've made for other clients. By the end of our first consultation, you'll usually have a rough vision of what we're creating together.

From there, we'll move to detailed CAD renderings (those are the 3D digital previews) so you can see your piece from every angle before we ever cut a stone or shape a band.

You will approve every step. Nothing happens without your enthusiastic "yes!" 

✦ Step Five: We Bring It to Life ✦
Once the design is approved, our master jewelers begin the work. Depending on the piece, this typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. We'll keep you updated along the way, I'm a big believer in not leaving people hanging.

And then, the moment. The one I live for. You come in, we open the box together, and you see your piece for the first time.

Bring tissues. I always do.

✦ What It Doesn't Cost: Your First Consultation ✦
Your first custom design consultation at Ellsworth Jewelers is completely complimentary. No commitment. No pressure. No "well, now you have to buy something." Just a beautiful conversation about what's possible.

If you decide custom isn't for you after we chat? That's okay. Truly. I'd rather you leave knowing what's possible than never come in at all.

✦ Come See Me ✦
Pick up the phone. Stop in. Send us a message. Let's get a consultation on the calendar and start dreaming together.

Your sparkle is waiting. And so am I. ✨