The Journey From Story to Sculpture

Here's exactly how the commission design process unfolds, end-to-end.

Initial Enquiry 

When you first reach out, I'll offer you a 30-minute call (via phone, Zoom, or FaceTime). I want to understand what you're hoping to create, whether your budget and timeframe align with what's possible, and most importantly, whether we click. Custom jewellery is an intimate process, and I only take on projects where I know I can do justice to your story.

If we're both excited to move forward, we'll book in your design consultation.

Your Design Consultation

This is where the real magic happens. We'll spend an hour together, either in my Sydney studio or via Zoom if you're interstate or international. I'm going to ask you a lot of questions. What milestone are we marking? What does this piece need to say? What colours, shapes, and metal tones speak to you? How will you wear it, every day or special occasions? Whether you're creating something from scratch, remodeling inherited pieces, or marking a major life transition (engagement, divorce, career milestone), I want to hear the whole story.

Most clients come in uncertain about what they want. They have a feeling, a story, maybe a Pinterest board that doesn't quite capture it. That's exactly where I love to begin. My job is to take all those abstract thoughts and emotions and help you see a clear design direction.

Sourcing 

Once I understand what we're creating, I start the treasure hunt. I source gemstones from my Australian and international gem merchants, and from my own Nicole Winkler Jewellery Gem Vault. I'll advise you on what stones will suit your lifestyle, what symbolism they carry, and what fits your aesthetic and budget.

Remodels: If you're doing a remodel with sentimental or inherited stones, I'll inspect every stone carefully for durability, cut quality, and how it'll work in the new design. These projects are often the most emotionally loaded and technically challenging, and I treat them with care.

Design Development

After you’ve paid your deposit, the design unfolds in multiple rounds:

  • Freehand brainstorming sketches where we explore different concepts to uncover what resonates with you.
  • Technical one-to-one scale drawings with precise measurements and specifications for fabrication.
  • Painted elevation drawings showing exactly how light, proportion, and colour work together. Your final design illustration becomes a keepsake, delivered alongside your finished jewellery.

I offer up to three Zoom consultations during this phase so we can refine the design together.

Approval, Appraisal & Insurance

Once you've approved the design and we're both thrilled with where we've landed, I'll prepare a final quote and itemized appraisal through Q Report for insurance purposes. You can take out insurance before the piece is even made, which gives you peace of mind from day one.

Crafting Your Piece

All Nicole Winkler originals are made in my studio in Sydney by my team of master jewellers, gem setters and cutters.

Whichever way your piece is made I will oversee every element and make sure that the final piece is beautiful from every angle and a pleasure to wear.

Presentation & Delivery

Most pieces take 6-8 weeks to complete, though it varies depending on complexity and stone availability. When your commission is finished, it arrives beautifully presented alongside:

  • A signature, ecologically sourced Nicole Winkler Jewellery box
  • The framed and signed artwork of your original design
  • A private valuation certificate

If you're local to Sydney, I love to present your piece personally with a glass of champagne. If you're elsewhere in Australia, I'll send it via complimentary insured courier delivery. 

Aftercare & Future Commissions

Our relationship doesn't end when you collect your piece. I encourage you to come back for complimentary cleaning and check-ups whenever you need them. And when the next milestone arrives (because life keeps unfolding), I'm here to create the next piece in your collection.

Ready to Start Your Commission?

What Clients Say

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve ever wanted a piece of jewellery that feels deeply personal or something you can’t find in a store, a bespoke commission is ideal. Whether it’s to mark a milestone or honour a loved one, together we’ll work to create something meaningful and enduring.

Not at all. Many of my clients begin with a feeling or a Pinterest board rather than a clear design. My role is to interpret that and translate it into form through sketches, renders and sometimes even 3D printing until we discover the piece that feels right.

Absolutely. You’ll receive hand-drawn sketches and painted elevation drawings that show how light, proportion, and colour work together. For some designs, I will also produce CAD drawings and / or 3D printed models you can try on in advance. You’ll also have up to three Zoom consultations to refine the design before we begin crafting.

If you suspect your partner would love to be part of the creative process, I offer a thoughtful alternative - the Gem in a Box experience.
Rather than designing the ring yourself, you can select a beautiful, ethically sourced gemstone presented in an elegant gift box. It’s the perfect way to propose while ensuring that they play a key role in the design process. Visit the >>Gem in a Box page for more information.

Re-imagining heirloom pieces is one of my greatest joys, though it’s not without its own set of specific challenges. Whilst we are happy to work with heirloom jewellery, we do not work with gems purchased elsewhere. We pride ourselves on sourcing the most beautiful rare gems for our clients and can only vouch for stones purchased through our trusted network gem merchants. Before I agree to a remodel, I’ll assess your existing stones for condition and suitability before incorporating them into a new design that honours their history while giving them new life. Visit the >>‘Remodels’ page for more information.

Beauty takes time! All my pieces are made in my Sydney workshop by my team of master jewellers and setters. Each piece is made to order and will take between 4-6 weeks to complete once the final design is confirmed. In certain circumstances, or if you require your order urgently, please let me know, and I’ll do my best to have your order made in time!

Bespoke Nicole Winkler Jewellery pieces are all custom-made to be the perfect piece for you and no one else. Bespoke pieces cannot be exchanged or returned for change of mind.

I will, however, work closely with you either in person or via email to show you selections of gemstones, diamonds, or photographs and video clips of stones. I will then draw you a detailed to scale drawing of your piece with several elevations so that you will know exactly what your finished piece will look like.

All my diamonds are sourced from suppliers in Sydney, Australia. Diamonds from Australian suppliers are covered under the Kimberly Process. This international agreement was established in 2003 in an effort to prevent “conflict diamonds” from entering the mainstream rough diamond market. With most diamonds it is very hard to track exactly where the rough material was originally sourced. Exceptions to this rule are larger diamonds from Australia and Canada.

I only use natural gemstones and diamonds. I cannot guarantee that the colour you see matches the colour of the piece, as the display of colour depends often on the type of monitor or device being used.

Nicole Winkler Jewellery will happily repair any manufacturing fault at no cost within 6 months of your finished purchase date.

Please note manufacturing faults do not include:

– General wear and tear

– Plating that has worn off

– Damage from negligence and improper care

– Work undertaken by other jewellers, including re-sizing

– Broken chains

– Broken / bent claws or prongs

– Bent or misshapen rings

– Chipped, cracked or broken gemstones

I recommend that you have your finger sized professionally before you purchase a ring – I’m happy to do that in my studio, or you can have a local jeweller in your area do this for you. Let me know if you would like me to send you a disposable ring sizer in the mail if this is easier for you. I work with Australian standard sizing but can help to convert sizing for you if need be. One ring size is included in any Nicole Winkler bespoke piece, but we need to size it further then there may be a fee for this.

Store each piece separately in the jewellery box your jewels came in. Never wear your jewellery whilst doing heavy work such as cleaning, gardening or renovating. Ideally, it’s best to remove all your precious jewellery when you get home and keep it in a secure place. Take extra care with pearls as their luster can be affected by perfumes, detergents and chlorine.

All gemstones need to be treated with care. Even diamonds, the hardest of nature’s creations, possess planes of weakness within their internal structure. Any stone, when struck at the wrong angle, can part or “cleave”. This is a rarity, though possible.

18ct Gold and Platinum are both malleable metals and will dent if hit on surfaces harder than themselves. Settings may become loose if knocked. It is recommended that all white gold pieces are polished annually to keep them looking as beautiful as the day your piece was purchased.