FAQs
We know you have a lot of questions, and we are happy to answer. Let us know if you have any questions not listed here.
In a jewelry design journey, there are 4 main things to consider: 1-Budget: We always design around your budget fro the beginning. Typically, we can see an average cost of $3000 for most bridal customs, but it can variety depending on what you may want. 2-The Center Stone: Finding the perfect stone is the easy part. We work with a variety of different ethical representatives in the gem market. If you do not like what is out there, we can make one! If you already have a diamond, you've already completed this step. 2-The Mounting: Narrowing down the mounting for you stones is our favorite part. This is where the design phase comes in. If you have any references you are more than welcome to share. 3-The Materials - Choosing the material is just as important as the stone you pick. We offer a variety of different metal type and color. Physical work on your jewelry will commence once a final design approval has been issued with a 50% deposit. The 50% will go towards the purchase of the stones and materials. Deposits are considered design approvals. All sales are final.
What is a design journey?
The timeline for the project can be adapted according to your needs, typically the process takes 3-5 weeks from the time of final design approval. If you are nervous about design choices or need it quicker. We can mount the diamond in an elegent 4 prong 14K gold ring ready for you to pop the big question. Then, we welcome you and your special person back to the office for a design consultation. The $500 deposit for the presentation mounting will be credited towards the final design.
How long does it take? What if I am in a rush?
Yes! Lab Grown Diamonds are always disclosed on our quotes and electronic IGI paperwork is provided during the invoice. Most lab grown stones that are less than one carat are not IGI certified. (There are exceptions depending overall ratings). We love lab grown diamonds. They are budget friendly and environmentally friendly, as most of our partners are nearly 100% carbon neutral manufacturers working towards sustainability in our industry.
Do you work with lab diamonds?
As much as we would love to say yes, processing the gold is costly and the savings you would have from metal cost is often offset by the cost of labor in processing the gold.
Can I reuse my own gold?
Yes we do, and we love working with heirloom jewelry. Part of a redesign is honouring the original piece, its purpose and the special bond between family members and the piece. Jewelry is extremely personal, and often the only item we wear 100% of the time. Often when we think of the people we love we remember the jewelry they wore so its always good to make absolutely sure that you are ready for a change. The remodel project is a slightly longer process as all the stones need to inspected before we even begin to talk about design. We try not take the jewelry apart until the very last moment after production has began. (Some stones may need to be removed for precise measuring) For your peace of mind, the pricing of the redesign includes a valuation and a detailed description through an independent party before removing any stones from the heirloom piece and another valuation after the piece is completed. If you are ready to see us for a heirloom remodel we would love to welcome you to our office in the heart of downtown Denver and talk about your design direction.
Do you remodel heirloom jewelry?
We would say this is the #1 fear when it comes to custom jewelry design and as much as it is a possibility, it rarely happens. Subtle things you can do to make sure of choosing the right style direction: * Pinterest and Instagram is an amazing resource * Talking to their family and closest friend can also help you in defining the perfect ring style If you are confident of what the design should be- that is OK. This is a big decision. We can mount the diamond in a simple setting for your proposal then book you and your special person a design appointment so that you can design the perfect ring together. We are happy to help you on your journey to the perfect ring.
What if my partner doesn't like the ring?
Initial consultations are free. All deposits are as credited towards the final price of the project. The $500 goes towards the Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings and images which is the first design draft emailed to you. Along with the 3D printed resin version of the project which gets mailed to you for final approval prior to production.
Why do you charge a $500 nonrefundable deposit on custom consultations?
All our designs are manufactured by hand, therefore there are many variables to which the timeline of progression will change. We will give you an update when your ring is ready from approval. Any delivery dates provided are estimate. We understand there are important dates to be met, we will do our very best to meet those requests as long as they are in a reasonable time frame. Typically, production takes 2-3 weeks. If your design will take longer to produce (mounting styles, additional diamonds, stone cuttings... etc.), that will be discussed during the consultation.
I approved of my designs, when can I expect updates?
For liability and insurance reasons, we cannot allow non-employees outside of our organizations to be inside the work shops This is an artist space, and we protect our work. We do not publish any progressive pictures/bench photos without the direction and consent of the jewelers. Any approved progress photos sent to our clients are for private use only.
Why is the production shop private?
We do international shipping. Please contact us so we can give you a shipping quote.
International Shipping & Policy
Buying a diamond can be overwhelming - I remember my first day working at an intership for a diamond buyer at the Jewellery Quarter - (Birmingham, UK) I knew nothing, felt like a fish out of water and all the information I was given meant nothing to me. Here are a few helpful tips I learnt through my career: * Diamond cut is everything - this is what allows the gem to become a perfect light prism. * Not all inclusions are bad - there are very few diamonds on earth that are internally flawless (IF) and with the naked eye you will not be able to see inclusions in a diamond from IF through to VS2 grade. * Matching diamonds is not always easy so apart from Color, Clarity and Ct make sure your table % and Depth% matches closely. * You will not see the difference between D-E-F with the naked eye, without the proper light and color matching equipment its very difficult to see the difference. * Cheap diamonds are cheap for a reason - carefully read the description for any inclusions on the certificate, look out for inclusions called Indented Naturals (part of the original rough diamond’s surface that drops below the surface of the polished diamond) specially on the edge (girdle) of a diamond. This characteristic can become a potential hazard as this natural dip actually looks like a small chip on the diamond and is a weak point. *Lab Grown diamonds are amazing- their cost per ct makes a bigger look very affordable, they are carbon neutral made with sustainable resources, we can use it as the main center stone or as small as 0.8mm on the shank of your ring.
How to choose a diamond? What to look for?
We offer a 1-year warranty on the jewelry we manufacture. This covers any manufacturing issues. The warranty does not cover accidental damage or wear and tear. We recommend every client contact their insurance or set an insurance policy as soon as the purchase is made. Jewelers Mutual is a go to recommendation for many jewelers, if the limits on your home or renters insurance does not cover your new purchase. Jewelers Mutual are not affiliated with Guarascio Jewelers.
Warranty Policy
Yes we do. All in-house repairs are done at our headquarters located in Denver, Colorado. We rarely repair third-party pieces. As the quality and conditions of these items are typically unknown. If we are repairing an item that is not made by us, we will ask you the following questions: #Does the item have a warranty by the manufacturer or jeweler? (Always check with the original jewelers). #Do you know the repair history of the item? #When ad where was it last repaired? Quotes- you will be quoted the repair value before works takes place. Quotes needs to be approved in writting before the work takes place and paid in full at the time of collection. *Prices quoted are industry standard*