Personalised jewelry at a sensible price is on the way thanks to a deal between PieceMaker and Paul Michael Design.
Bespoke jewelry has always been desirable, but the simple cost puts it out of the reach of most ordinary people. Big name jewellers can charge tens of thousands for a bespoke piece and rappers and sports stars, in particular, are famous for spending vast fortunes on a single item.
Bespoke service at a budget price
That will no longer be the case and you’ll be able to realise your vision for an engagement ring, necklace or a pendant at a reasonable price. The jeweller works with gold, white gold, silver and stainless steel and prices start at just $45 for a charm, $150 for a pendant and $180 for a ring.
Paul Michael Design has produced bespoke jewellery for a global client base for years, using website tools to help its customers create a piece that truly reflects their personality. It opened a flagship store in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh in 2015 and now this deal with PieceMaker should bring personalised pieces to the masses from a physical location.
A fast turnaround, relatively
Once the new owner has agreed the design of their bespoke piece, it will be delivered to their home in three weeks or less.
PieceMaker has always concentrated on creating automated systems for personalised products in retail locations, focusing on toys, fashion accessories and collectibles. It has machines all over the US, from the local mall to Pittsburgh Zoo, where it prints a variety of personalised animal keyrings.
There’s a gulf in class between simple collectibles and high-end jewelry, but this speaks volumes for the progression in the industry. Just a few years ago you simply could not get the fit and finish required for this level of service from a standard 3D printer. But now the equipment has developed to such an extent that the partnership is 100% confident in the finished product.
The future could be instant jewellery
Of course the actual printing will not happen in store, yet, but this is clearly a business move waiting for technology to catch up. In the future, there is no reason why designs could not be agreed upon and printed out on the spot.
As it is, this is a brave new step into the personalised jewellery market and both parties are excited to bring an exclusive service to the mass market.
“I believe that people want a hand in the creation of their most cherished items. My studio has made its life’s work removing the barriers of creation,” said Paul Bierker, founder of Paul Michael Design. “Sharing the process and being transparent allows a more intimate connection to their jewelry, thus increasing ‘value’ and the emotional connection to a person’s own artifacts.
“We create something special every time. I believe it is what the world wants. This partnership with PieceMaker is only going to increase these feelings in our clients and let them have more of a hand in the process.”
A dream becomes a reality
Arden Rosenblatt, CEO of PieceMaker said: “This is an incredibly special partnership for us. This launch is PieceMaker’s first concrete step towards changing the jewelry industry for the better. This is an industry where products have so much meaning and are so special to the people who own them. The future is to let people create their perfect piece themselves. This weekend, thanks to Paul Michael and PieceMaker’s whole network of partner companies, the dream will become a reality.”
It’s an interesting step and shows just how 3D printing could change the retail space to produce more bespoke items in the future.
We’re excited to see how this technology can change the one-size fits all approach of mass production, that’s for sure.
