How do you describe what you do?

This is a great question and one it took me years to be able to articulate. Essentially, it is sort of a mix of therapy (the good kind) and jewelry. In essence, my goal is to make you feel seen and heard in the direction we head. I kind of hate to say it, but the goal is tears.

When you sit with me and tell me your stories, I take your vulnerability VERY seriously. The things that you verbalize stay with me until we agree that they can be shared. You may have feelings outside of a marriage that make you realize you are missing a spark. You may be working through an outdated story of yourself. You may be mourning someone or something close to you.

I hold these bits of your life sacred, it’s here where we start the process, together.

How do I get started on a custom piece?

I usually like to schedule some face time with you so we can get a feel for one another. Depending on our schedules, we can Zoom or, if we are close and scheduled allow, even meet for coffee. I’ve found that this allows us to go a little deeper into your story and what you are hoping to create. Email me at Kate@arcatusjewelry.com to get started.

I have no idea what I want, can you help?

Of course, this is part of what I specialize in! Just because you don’t have an idea of what you want at the start of a meeting, doesn’t mean that we won’t still be lost at the end. Often times, as you share your story with me, there are little threads that stand out. It’s my job to gently pull on those threads to gain a deeper understanding of you and your goals. There’s a reason you are here, let me help bring your stories into the tangible world.

What is a typical timeline?

It really depends on the piece(s) but once I have some idea of what direction we are headed in, I can give you a better idea. CAD will have a different timeline than something hand carved, and of course, it depends whats in line before we speak. I do my very best to accommodate even the most rushed timeline. That said, we both save a little sanity when we plan ahead. Typically timelines are 4-6 weeks.

Can you melt down my gold to make new jewelry?

While it sounds like it would be easy, this is often more complicated than you’d think. Occasionally, we can get creative with the work you may have hiding in your jewelry box but typically, the best avenue is to get you credit for your precious metals and create with new materials. I can do better than most pawn shops so don’t even think of going there first! Solder or other impurities from previous work can create weak spots or porocity in new work so it’s best to be avoided.

Where do you source your stones?

Much of the work that we do utilizes stones that our customers come to us with. That’s right, the inherited stuff sitting in your jewelry box or that middle school promise ring. We love the stories here and the fact that these things actually gain a new life. We also LOVE working with new stones and can easily help you source the perfect piece. We have suppliers for conflict free diamonds, lab created stones, montana sapphires, and a variety of other ethically sourced stones. We can help guide you in any direction.

What materials do you work with?

For fine jewelry, we prefer to work with a variety of gold alloys as well as platinum and palladium. These include white, yellow, rose, even green. Occasionally though, there is a place for other alloys like silver, brass bronze, heck, even meteorite. For gifting and legacy pieces we understand that metals like brass and bronze sometimes make the most sense. We do not inlay.

When do I pay for my jewelry?

After our first meeting, if you decide that you’d like to proceed, you will pay a $500 design fee. This ensures that we are both taking each others time seriously. Then, once we decide on a direction you will play 50% deposit. Finally, upon delivery, the remainder is due.