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Bespoke, guided by the gallery

Your Vision, Our Expertise

For over twenty years Pieces of Eight has worked as the conduit between clients and the artists we represent, creating engagement and wedding rings, pieces that mark a milestone, and jewels of personal significance. Thirty artists means thirty distinct ways of working with metal and stone, and our role is to help you find the one that is right for you, then to stand beside you until the piece is on your hand.

You do not need to arrive with a design. Most of our clients begin with an occasion, a feeling, or a stone that has been in the family for generations. The process is the same in every case, and it is simpler than most people expect.

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"Some of the most beautiful pieces to have left this gallery began as a conversation with someone who was certain they did not know what they wanted. Our job is to listen well, to ask the right questions, and to put the right artist in front of you." 

Melanie Katsalidis - Gallery Director

How it works

1. Start a conversation

Book a 45 minute consultation at the gallery in Russell Place or by video. Come as you are: no design, no budget worked out, no knowledge of gemstones required. If you have a clearer direction in mind, tell us beforehand what you are hoping to see, and we will have the relevant stones and pieces ready when you arrive.

 2. Find the design and the artist 

We talk about how the piece will be worn, what occasion this is for and what it should feel like. Then we match you with the artist whose practice suits the brief, whether that is a maker known for sculptural gold, or one who works with unusual stone cuts. Most designs settle in one or two conversations, with sketches or references along the way. We talk about budget early and openly, so that every decision after that is made with it in mind.

 3. Choose the stone 

Each of our artists sources stones through their own established relationships with cutters and dealers, built over years of practice, so the stones you are shown reflect that artist's eye. You see options in person at the gallery, or by high-resolution video if you are interstate or overseas, with the price of each stone confirmed before you decide. If you have heirloom stones or metal, this is where the artist plans how to give them a new life.

 4. Confirm and commence.  

You receive a written quote and, where it helps, a drawing or render from the artist. A 50 percent deposit confirms the commission and secures your gemstone or gemstones. The balance is due when the piece is finished, before delivery or at collection.

5. Making.

Your piece is made by the artist in their studio and takes approximately six to eight weeks from deposit, depending on complexity. We confirm the timeline at the outset and keep you informed as it progresses. In some cases we can work to a tighter timeline; please ask.

6. Collection or delivery. 

Every piece is made to your measurements. If it ever needs adjusting, just ask and we’ll confirm any cost with you first. We can arrange an independent insurance valuation, and every piece we send travels fully insured with a signature on delivery. Cleaning, future resizing and repairs come back to the gallery and to the artist who made the piece.

Why commission through a gallery

A gallery commission gives you two things a single studio cannot. The first is choice: thirty artists with different sensibilities, so the piece can be as quiet or as expressive as you are. The second is care: the gallery handles the quote, the timeline, the sizing, the insurance and the aftercare, and stands behind the work whichever artist made it. You deal with one team from the first conversation to the final polish.

Heirloom pieces

Reworking a piece you already own is one of the things we love most. Our artists can reset stones, recover and/or reuse gold, and design around what the original meant to you. Bring it to your consultation and we will discuss honestly what is possible and what is not.

Interstate and overseas

Most of the process can happen by video and post. We send a free ring sizer anywhere in the world, share stones and progress by high-resolution video, and deliver fully insured. If you would rather be in the room, commissions from $5,000 attract a travel credit of up to $500 toward flights to Melbourne, and commissions from $10,000 up to $1,000. Details are on our Interstate Clients page.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take? 

Usually one or two consultations to settle a design, then approximately six to eight weeks to make.

Do I choose the artist, or do you?

Either. Some clients arrive knowing exactly whose work they love; others ask us to suggest two or three artists whose practice suits the brief. We will always tell you who we think is the right fit and why.

What if I do not know my ring size? 

We will size you at the gallery, or post you a free sizer. If it ever needs adjusting, just ask and we’ll confirm any cost with you first.

Can I use my own stones or gold?

Yes. We assess them at your first consultation and tell you what will and will not work.

Can bespoke pieces be returned?

Bespoke and custom pieces are made for you and cannot be exchanged or returned. We take our time at the design stage so that this is never a worry.

Do you make wedding bands to match? 

Yes, and we recommend designing them alongside the engagement ring so that they sit properly together. Our wedding band guide in the Journal explains the options.

Book a consultation

Book a consultation. At the gallery or by video, 45 minutes, no obligation.

Prefer to write first? Tell us a little about the piece you have in mind and we will come back to you within one business day.

 Start a conversation 

Tell us a little about the piece you have in mind and we will come back to you within one business day.