Next in our series of Jewellery FAQs, Hong Kong jeweller Niyati Kapadia explains why getting a bespoke jewellery piece is more meaningful, individualistic—and might also be cheaper
Every month, Tatler speaks to Hong Kong-based jewellers to demystify the world of jewellery. This month, we decided to bust some myths surrounding bespoke jewellery. While it may have seemed daunting in the past, designing a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects your personal style and story is now an exciting opportunity.
Niyati Kapadia, founder of a boutique jewellery brand Niya K, is here to shed light on the process of creating bespoke jewellery and address some common misconceptions.
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Is my dream jewellery possible with my budget?
Yes, there is a lot of versatility in design and that is the beauty of working with a bespoke jeweller like us. We can also use a range of different materials and qualities in the jewellery universe: natural versus lab-grown diamonds, 18-karat gold versus 9-karat gold and precious versus semi-precious gems.
Can I use any stone?
We offer a wide range of gemstones to work with and we advise what looks good [on the customer] and is practical for the design. Also choosing the right quality that suits the customer’s preference is very important.
If one is not sure what they want the end product to look like, can you help?
With my background in fashion and art, this is where we can make a difference in designing a unique piece. It’s an interactive process, working together with [the customer’s] ideas and the large variety of pieces that we have designed, we can help guide them to make sure they get a piece they truly love. We start with initial sketches, do CAD [computer] drawings and only then go ahead to manufacture the piece.
How does one explain or describe the jewellery piece that they want designed?
It’s great to start with a few inspirational photos of pieces that catch your eye, maybe through Pinterest, Instagram or something you saw online. That way we can get an understanding of what you have in mind. It’s [also] great to have a budget in mind. We can also give you a range [of options] based on your initial ideas and budget. Once we have that, then we can draw up designs and send through quotes.
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