Ordering Commission Work

Ordering commissioned work can be a beautiful way of obtaining a special, meaningful piece of jewellery.
It is a way to have ‘one of a kind’ jewellery made especially for you, something that will pass down through the family or given as a precious gift.
Some friends find it meaningful to order work from me, because they trust my work and like my particular style.

Commission work, to the artist, may also mean a secured direct sale without the need to tie up large amounts of money in expensive metals and stones, then do the work, and wait, sometimes even for a few years, until a piece is sold. Commissions used to be the only way of livelihood for artists and crafts people throughout the centuries.

Most of my work used to be commissions, yet because of various reasons outlined farther along this page, I have in the last years taken on far less commission work.
Along with the many advantages of taking on commissions, there were often complications.
Estimating cost seems next to impossible, as this work is ‘one of a kind’, often done without even a drawing, and requiring an unknown amount of time to complete.
In addition, there are issues like meeting customer’s tastes…! And what happens if customer’s stone is damaged in the setting?
Every grey area not made clear in writing, before starting the work, could lead to difficulties.
After many past uncomfortable experiences, I now choose carefully before taking on commissioned work.
Often, I prefer to come up with the money for materials, do the work, and allow it to take as long as it takes until it is ready. Then I put it out, knowing clearly that making a sale (although not necessarily a quick thing, as some jewellery may take up to a few years to sell), is still one of my last difficulties in doing this work. Anyway in truth, selling is easy when the jewellery is beautiful, well made, and the price is fair.

Pricing is simple and real for independent work, customers are free to look, feel the work, and they need not wait for many months as they might have to with commissioned jewellery.

Having said all that, I still take on commissioned work, but under somewhat unusual terms. Terms, which may unfortunately deter some people, and that is also ok…
I have tried to design an arrangement, which allows for the share of risks, and maximum freedom for both parties!

Terms and suggestions for commission work
It is helpful if you the customer try to prepare draft drawings of your wishes and design ideas.
Think of any symbols you feel a need for or connection to, what colour of gold you like, which Gemstones. Check your ring size, how wide you like it to be, think of the size and shapes of the stones you wish to include in the jewellery.

Sitting together with me (or online) these elements and details will be considered. I respect and usually prefer when a customer knows what he/she wants, however I will not necessarily agree to do what you want! Together we’ll work through the ideas and come up with a draft design.

*There is certain a drawback here, which I hope to overcome in time…. As for now, my skills in drawing proper rendering of a complete design, are not good enough, furthermore much of the design in my work only happens during the actual process of working on the gold. Therefore, in the beginning many elements and details are still unknown.

These are my terms:

1) I maintain the final say on all matters of design in my work!

2) Both parties are free to pull out of the commission, up until the stage of just before setting the gemstones, about ¾ of the way to completion of the work.

3) Only around this stage will I give an estimate for the cost of the commissioned jewellery! Any number mentioned before that stage is only an educated guess, not necessarily reflecting the actual final cost.

4) Whenever possible, and unless the work is simple and straight forward, I prefer not to take an advance.

5) I would prefer to use my own gemstones, or buy in the proper stones needed for the work.
Any gemstones supplied by the customer, will remain entirely the customer’s responsibility at all times.
5a) I will do my utmost to take care of customer’s gemstones, but I will not in any way be responsible for loss, theft, or any damage to these gemstones during work and the period of time in which the stones are in my keeping.
Customers are advised to consider this especially where an expensive or sentimentally important stone is concerned.
5b) In case the customer decides to pull out of the Commission after work has begun, he/she will receive back their gemstones. But whenever these gemstones are of unusual properties or shape intrinsic to the design and the work that has already begun, in such a case, I may either offer to buy the stones from the customer, at wholesale price, or charge for the work already done, [I will determine the amount charged].

6) I respect, and will try to complete work in time to accommodate important occasions such as marriages etc. However, I will not commit to ANY deadlines for completion. Work may take anything from a week to 6 months and beyond.
(Sometimes it is best to let a half finished work sit aside for a while, allowing design and technical issues to mature in the background instead of pushing to complete a piece.)

7) Normally, there is no charge for consultation and design, the price charged is for the jewellery, and established by various factors. Some factors, such as cost of materials are easily calculable, while other elements like artistic beauty, accomplishment, or quality of work, are subject to my experienced opinion.
I do not charge by the hour but configure an approximate bulk of time into the calculation. Work time, is usually a large part of the price of my jewellery.

7a) Sometimes consultation and design can become (with certain customers) overly extended and demanding. In such situations, I may choose to add the cost of the time spent consulting to the price of the work (a normal practice within the trade). I will let the customer know if I feel that we are approaching this situation.

8) Mutual trust is intrinsic to Commissioned work.
I will only take work from people who trust my integrity and work, and whom I feel I can trust.
I may, in rare cases, choose to discontinue work whenever I feel distrust on my side, or from the customer!

With friends and previous customers, where we know each other over time, with trust and familiarity. Some of these above-mentioned terms may not apply, or may be of little relevance. Still I’d like to request that anyone who wishes to commission work from me read through these terms, and come forth with any suggestions or reservations that he/she may have.

With thanks,

Love and Light
Akash 2008