Bespoke Atelier · Est. 1994
One ring. Yours alone.
A private four-step journey — sketched, sourced and set by a single master jeweller in Cape Town.
A quiet kind of luxury
The most personal thing you will ever wear should be made for no one else.
For thirty years we have translated love stories, family histories and private milestones into jewellery. Every bespoke commission begins with a single blank page and one careful question: who is this for?
The Process
Four steps, eight to twelve weeks.
Every stage is documented and shared with you. Nothing moves forward without your approval.
01
60–90 minutes
The Consultation
A private, unhurried conversation.
In person at our Cape Town atelier or by video from anywhere in the world. We listen — to the story, the wearer, the occasion — and translate it into a design brief.
02
7–10 days
The Sketch
Hand-drawn, then rendered in 3D.
Our head designer returns with two or three pencil sketches within a week. Once a direction is chosen we produce a photorealistic 3D render and a wax model you can try on.
03
2–3 weeks
The Stone
Sourced to your exact specification.
We hand-select GIA-certified diamonds from Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, presented side-by-side under the loupe. You choose the stone — never the reverse.
04
4–6 weeks
The Craft
Set by a single master jeweller.
From first solder to final polish, your piece is made by one pair of hands. It leaves the atelier with a GIA certificate, our signature, and a lifetime service guarantee.
From page to finger
Every line is drawn twice - once in pencil, once in gold.
Our head designer, Elise van der Merwe, has hand-sketched over 1,400 commissions in her twenty-two years at the atelier. Every design begins on paper before it ever touches a screen.
1,400+
Bespoke rings crafted
30 yrs
In Cape Town
100%
GIA certified
The Investment
Transparent from the first sketch.
Starting from
Solitaire
R25,000
—1 GIA-certified diamond
—18k gold or platinum band
—Hand-sketched design
—6 rendered iterations
Most requested
Halo & Trilogy
R48,000
—Centre stone + accent diamonds
—Choice of metal & finish
—3D wax try-on
—Complimentary sizing for life
Starting from
Heirloom Rework
R18,000
—Existing stones re-set
—Full design consultation
—Original piece documented
—Optional pavé additions
All commissions include a lifetime polish and service guarantee, insured worldwide shipping, and a signed provenance card from the atelier.
From our clients
“Elise took a picture of my grandmother’s hand and returned two weeks later with a ring that felt like it had always existed. I have never felt so heard.”
Naledi & Thomas
Cape Town, 2025
Questions
Before you begin
How much does a bespoke piece cost?
Bespoke commissions start at R25,000 for a solitaire and scale with the diamond you choose. We work transparently to your budget from the first conversation — no surprise line items.
How long does the full process take?
From first consultation to final polish, most bespoke rings take eight to twelve weeks. Complex settings or larger stone searches may take longer; we will always give you a firm date at sketch approval.
Can you redesign an heirloom?
Yes — reworking an inherited ring is one of our most requested commissions. We can retain the original stone, band or both, and integrate them into a new design.
Do you ship internationally?
We ship fully insured, worldwide. International clients are welcome to complete the entire process by video and courier; we have delivered bespoke commissions to London, Dubai, Sydney and New York.
Begin your design
Tell us the story.
Share a few details and we’ll book a private consultation — in the atelier, or by video from wherever you are.
Prefer to speak? Call the atelier on +27 21 418 0000 · Mon–Sat, 9am–5pm SAST