Commissions come in many different forms, it could be something relatively simple such as taking one of my stock designs and making it in a specific size. Sometimes however, I may
be given an image of a piece of jewellery, perhaps with instructions to change some elements of the piece. Occasionally a client may have a piece of costume jewellery that they have become attached to but feel it is time to invest in a similar design in silver and real gems. The most challenging commissions are often those where the client has a clear picture in their minds of what they want but no picture or product for me to work from.
In my previous career I was a scientist working in Research and Development and so I like to approach problems in a logical way, to gather as much background information from the client as possible to help me understand the motivation behind the commission and so create the client’s dream.
When you understand why they aren’t simply going to the high street to buy a piece of jewellery, and what elements of the design are important to them you can begin to develop
ideas that may come close to that elusive design they have in their mind. Sometimes it is to replace a loved piece that has been lost or damaged beyond repair – here there may be photos that can help tremendously. Often they may simply want a unique item that no one else will have, or would like to incorporate a particular shape or gem that is special to them.
In the case of the commission for these earrings the lady wanted them to be big and bold to reflect her personality and she wanted them to be unique. By showing her some of my range of earrings I could determine her preferences. I could tell she was drawn to the circular items and liked the 3D aspect of many. She told me she loved shiny bright silver, didn’t like oxidised
or matt finishes but did like textured and planished effects. She also liked the contrast of mixed metals. I was beginning to build a picture of what was needed. Her final request was that due to arthritis in her fingers she needed easy to manipulate ear fittings but also secure so that she would not lose them. We discussed budget and we agreed based on this the metals would be
silver and copper and not the gold she had initially requested.
I have not been blessed with drawing skills but I do sit most evenings sketching and always have a book and pen nearby. My sketches are not accurate representations of finished pieces but they do remind me of my thoughts and ideas and help me focus my ideas. My next step is to mock up designs cutting out paper and shapes to see how they look.
After sharing 3 pictures of ideas I had created using paper shapes with copper elements placed on them my client chose the one she liked the best and I was ready to order materials and get cracking.
It was then down to working with the silver and copper to cut, pattern, shape and form it into the components and then assemble the earrings. I ensured that the ear wires were easy to insert into the ear but included a hook on the back of the earrings to give extra security.
It’s a very satisfying feeling as you complete the polishing process and reveal the full beauty of the silver.
Waiting for the customer’s response to their finished piece of jewellery is the hardest part of the whole process. Despite the early work you still ask yourself whether you understood their needs and have delivered against their expectations.
In the case of these earrings the first response was unrepeatable as it contained a little bad language.
“They are *******” she exclaimed, and clarified with “they are beautiful and just what I wanted”. Phew!! I can breathe again and get ready for my next challenge.
