Our passion is designing and creating jewelry, we'd love to share that passion and excitement with you!
Follow our accredited jewelers as they take our custom DG designs from paper to masterpiece!

1 - Traditionally, pencil drawings on a drafting table have been used to begin the creative process. Now, many times the process begins at a computer using a CAD program to create the original visual.

2 - The next step is creating a wax model of the design. The old-school method is to hand carve the design out of wax.  Additionally, technology allows use of a computer-controlled mill. In the David Gardner's Design Studio, we select the technique best for the original design.

3 - Once the wax model is complete, it is then placed into a flask that is filled with a plaster like substance that jewelers call investment.

4 - After the investment dries, the flask is put into a kiln which is heated to over 1350 degrees- a process called "burnout". "Burnout" does two things a) it melts the wax out of the plaster, leaving a void identical to the wax, and b) it hardens the plaster.

5 - Casting is the next step in producing a gold or platinum version of the design.  The flask is placed next to a crucible which through centrifugal force forces liquefied precious metal into the void in the plaster. The melting point for platinum is 3300º, 18 karat gold is 1900º and 14 karat gold is 1750º.

6 - The flask is temperature-shocked, breaking the plaster, revealing the design in either gold or platinum.

7 - Now, the design is refined by our goldsmiths - by filing, polishing and stone setting the piece of jewelry is brought to life.