How to Commission Bespoke Jewellery

Thinking of commissioning a special piece of jewellery or have your old jewellery redesigned and remodelled?

Important Information for you…

Alongside our ‘off the shelf’ jewellery and silverware, we love to design and make specially commissioned pieces.

The first step is to book an appointment or to have an email correspondence with our designer Rebecca Smith who will guide you through the process. There is no charge for a design consultation or initial sketched ideas.

Before your consultation, think about your requirements. This might include:

• What metal colour would you like
• What stones would you like
• Ring size or other dimensions if the item is for a gift
• An idea of your budget
• Deadline if applicable
• Whether you have any old jewellery or precious metals that you would like to be reused for sentimental or economic reasons or for it to be scrapped to offset the cost of the new commission
• Your taste in jewellery: Have a look through the designs on our website and identify your favourites or take a look in google images
• After your consultation Rebecca will supply visuals or a silver mock-up of your design if required, the charge for this is refundable against your final order.
• Once the final design has been agreed and you decide to go ahead with the commission we take a 50% deposit. Once you have paid the deposit it means that you have agreed to our terms and conditions (see below). The balance of payment is due on collection.

If any changes to the design are required after this point, they must be sent in writing as early as possible.

We are in the world-famous village of Ditchling, Sussex, within five miles of Brighton, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill. A train station at Hassocks is 50 minutes from London and twenty minutes from London Gatwick Airport. We are happy to collect clients' appointments for the ten-minute drive to the workshops. Clients frequently visit from London and as far away as Texas, flying into London Gatwick and staying in the local traditional English pub and hotel: The Bull. Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft, Brighton, Glyndebourne and the beautiful Sussex Downs make Ditchling a popular and romantic weekend destination.

We look forward to creating a very special and unique piece for you.

Please note the following about delivery times and costs:
As we have many years of experience as a jeweller and many happy customers, we often have a full order book! Each bespoke item presents new design challenges, and every piece is made by hand to an exacting standard. These special items take time to create. Most commissions are completed within twelve weeks. This can be more at busy times or for complicated designs or large orders. If you require your jewellery for a special date, please make sure that you discuss this with a member of staff at the outset, it is possible to deliver more quickly on occasion.
We initially gave an estimated cost. Each commissioned piece is a one-off; the cost of metal and other raw materials and processes can fluctuate. We, therefore, are unable to calculate a final price until the deposit is paid or all aspects of the job have been agreed upon, whichever is the sooner.
Please see below for our full Terms and Conditions.
Terms and Conditions – Commissioned items

1. Agreement
These conditions govern all contracts of the sale of commissioned items between Pruden & Smith Ltd (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Company’) and any customer (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Customer’). These terms can only be varied with the written consent of the Company.

2. Orders
A confirmed order is made when the Customer has paid the deposit required. All orders for the supply of goods placed by the Customer with the Company are irrevocable unless otherwise expressly stated in writing. A confirmed order may only be cancelled or varied with the Company’s written consent. Such consent shall not in any way prejudice the Company’s right to recover from the Customer full compensation (including profit) for any loss or expense arising from such cancellation or variation of the original order. The Company is under no obligation to agree to vary an order.

3. Cancellations
Cancellation must be made in writing. The order is not cancelled until the Company has consented to the cancellation in writing to the Customer. The Company reserves the right to refuse acceptance of goods returned to the Company without permission.

4. Prices
The price provided by the Company at the time an order is made is an estimate. The customer accepts that the final balance may vary from their original estimate. Any variation, if it applies, reflects variation in the costs of raw materials and manufacturing processes.

5. Payment and Deposits
The Company requires a 50% deposit before work can commence on an order. The company reserves the right to require a larger deposit. Payment of the balance is due before dispatch or collection by the Customer. The Company reserves the right to refuse to dispatch goods to a customer whose payment is not made. A charge of £20 will be made for each instance of a returned or represented cheque.

6. Completion date
The completion date provided by the Company at the time an order is made is an estimate. The Company will use its best endeavour to deliver the goods on the estimated date for delivery or collection, but does not guarantee to do so. The Company shall, under no circumstances whatsoever, be liable to the Customer for any loss, damage or expenses, whether caused directly or indirectly, by or from any delay in the completion of an order.

7. Delivery
Delivery to the Customers own premises or to those of a nominated agent will be charged extra to the Customer. Where delivery is to be made by an independent carrier, delivery to or pickup by the carrier will be deemed delivery to the Customer. Claims for shortages or non-delivery must be supported by the carrier’s consignment or delivery note on which the goods have been signed and checked at the time of delivery. All claims for shortages or non-delivery must be made by telephone within 3 working days and in writing within 5 working days. Any loss or damage to the goods after delivery, whatever the cause, is the sole responsibility of the Customer.

8. Specification
Absolute consistency of sizes, materials, proportions, colours and shades are not guaranteed by the Company and are given as guidance only. On those occasions where repeat orders find that there is some variation from the previous order, Pruden & Smith Ltd cannot be held responsible for those changes.

9. Care of Jewellery
All items of jewellery must be cleaned in accordance with instructions given by a member of Pruden & Smith Ltd staff, or the item should be taken to an established jeweller for cleaning. Please refer to Pruden & Smith Ltd cleaning instructions. The Company is not liable for any damage caused due to the Customer not following these recommendations. Jewellery should be treated with reasonable care. Jewellery should not be worn in bed or in the shower or bath. Jewellery and rings should be removed before playing sports, swimming, clapping or washing up. The Company is not liable for any damage caused due to the Customer not following these recommendations. The Company is not liable for any costs associated with normal wear and tear during the lifespan of the commissioned jewellery.

10. Alterations and Repairs
We recommend that items made by the Company should be returned to the Company for repair and/or alteration. Any damage or costs caused by repairs or alterations made by a third party are the sole responsibility of the Customer. The Company will only carry out free-of-charge repairs on a commissioned piece of jewellery if it is faulty and returned to the Company within three months of the delivery date. Alterations, e.g. resizing of rings, are always chargeable.

11. Gold Plate
We use a high quality 18carat gold plate. Generally a layer two microns thick is used except for items which are likely to receive more wear – these are given three or more microns coverage. Gold plate has a limited life-span. We can only guarantee the life of gold plate up to three months from the date of purchase. After this period has expired the Customer is responsible for the cost of re-plating the item.

12. Claims against the Company
All claims in respect of goods alleged to be defective must be made in writing within 14 days from the date of delivery.

13. Set-off and Lien
No payments may be withheld nor may any counterclaims by the Customer be set-off against any payment due under this or any other contract. The Company shall have a general and particular lien on all money and property, which the Customer owns or is entitled to posses, which is in the possession of the Company or its agents, which it may sell as the Customers agent to reduce the Customers debt to the Company.

14. Force Majeure
The Company shall not be under any liability of any kind for non-performance in whole or in part of its obligations under the contract due to causes beyond the reasonable control of the Company or of the Companies suppliers or due to labour disputes.

15. Ownership of Goods
Property of any goods supplied to the Customer will not pass to the Customer until the Customer pays for the goods in full. Further, title to such goods shall not pass until payment to the Company of all amounts owing to it by the Customer on any account whatsoever. The Company has the right to recover from the Customer the cost of installation, removal, return transport and diminution in value of any such goods not paid for in full. If prior to making payment to the Company, the Customer contracts to sell the goods to a third party in substantially the same form in which they were delivered to the Customer, then the title to such goods and payment liability shall pass from the Company to such third party upon full payment to the Company.

16. Intellectual Property Rights
All industrial or intellectual material or property rights associated with the design or manufacturing processes of commissioned jewellery are the property of the Company and remain so after ownership of the commissioned jewellery passes to the Customer. The Company reserves the right to reproduce the designs and use images of designs. The Customer agrees to indemnify the Company from and against all costs, claims, liabilities and damages which we may suffer or incur as a result of you using, reproducing or exploiting any industrial or intellectual material or property rights without the consent of the proprietor.

17. Rectification of these Terms
If any of these terms, or any part of these terms, is unenforceable or void by law, it shall not affect the remainder of such terms or any other such term or otherwise affect the contract and shall be replaced by such valid term as is near as may be in effect to the original term.

18. Email marketing
Pruden & Smith Ltd will automatically add you to its mailing list as someone who has expressed an interest in the Company and its products. If you would like to unsubscribe from the list please click the ‘unsubscribe’ link or contact us by email or phone.

19. Jurisdiction
The laws of England shall govern all contracts between the Company and the Customers and any disputes arising there from shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts