For the team at Cirencester's Walter Bull & Son, there's no better feeling than crafting a family heirloom from scratch.
SoGlos finds out more about the process of creating these very special pieces of jewellery to pass down the generations, so first-time buyers know exactly what to expect.
What are some of the occasions that bespoke jewellery is perfect for?
Bespoke jewellery is perfect for life’s most meaningful milestones like engagements, weddings, big anniversaries, milestone birthdays, graduations and new arrivals in the family.
We also create many pieces to mark personal achievements or to remodel inherited jewellery into something wearable and modern.
It’s ideal when someone wants to capture a memory, celebrate a relationship or bring new life to something sentimental.
What kinds of bespoke jewellery do you design?
Our bespoke work ranges from engagement rings and wedding bands to signet rings, pendants, earrings and completely one-off creations.
We specialise in remodels, taking inherited or unworn jewellery and transforming it into something that suits the wearer’s style, while preserving its sentiment.
Our workshop can design everything from classic diamond solitaires to bold contemporary pieces, gemstone cluster rings, hand-engraved signet rings and full redesigns using a client’s own stones or metal.
Every design is sketched, computer aided design modelled if needed and made by hand in our in-house workshop.
How quickly can your team deliver something special?
Most bespoke pieces take six to eight weeks from consultation to completion, depending on the complexity of the design and the time of year.
Remodels can often be completed sooner. If a client has a specific date in mind, such as a proposal or anniversary, we do our best to accommodate it.
Our in-house workshop gives us full control over the process, which helps keep turnaround times reliable.
Have you created any particularly unique or memorable pieces that stand out for you?
Some of our most memorable pieces are remodels that carry deep family stories – for example, transforming a grandmother’s engagement ring into a modern trilogy ring or creating a pendant that incorporates stones from several inherited pieces.
We’ve designed bespoke signet rings with hand-engraving inspired by family crests and loved one’s handwriting, earrings made to complement heirloom necklaces and engagement rings built entirely around a client’s idea sketched on a notepad.
The most rewarding projects are the ones that allow us to preserve someone’s history while creating something completely new.
What kind of feedback do you get from clients once they’ve received their bespoke jewellery?
Clients often tell us how special it feels to wear something created just for them.
For remodels in particular, the feedback is incredibly emotional and many say it’s like having a loved one with them in a new way.
People appreciate being part of the design journey and seeing their ideas come to life.
We frequently hear that the piece gets noticed and complimented, which is always lovely to pass on to our workshop team.
What makes bespoke jewellery stand apart from picking an existing piece that catches your eye?
Bespoke jewellery allows clients to be fully involved in the creative process.
Rather than choosing from existing designs, they help shape every detail – the stones, the metal, the proportions, the overall look and feel.
It results in a piece that reflects their personality and their story.
For many people, the journey is just as meaningful as the finished piece and it’s something you simply don’t get from an off-the-shelf purchase.
Why should anyone considering bespoke jewellery design choose Walter Bull & Son?
A big part of what sets us apart is that everything is done in-house in our Cirencester workshop.
Clients can talk directly to the jewellers crafting their piece, see sketches, try on prototypes and be involved at every stage.
It’s a very personal process rooted in traditional craftsmanship and it’s something Walter Bull & Son has been trusted with for years.
