Frequently Asked Questions

Four steps. We talk first, in person in Santa Monica or over video, about the pieces, what you'd actually wear, and a realistic budget. Then I sketch two or three directions and build the one you choose in CAD so you approve the exact piece before any metal is cut. Once you sign off, I make it, using your original stones and gold wherever it makes sense. Then you pick it up or I ship it to you, fully insured.

Four to six weeks from the day you approve the design. Straight resets can be faster; fully custom engagement rings that need a stone sourced can run eight to ten. If you have a date in mind, tell me at the consultation and I'll tell you honestly whether it's realistic.

You see it before it exists. After we talk, you get sketches, then a CAD rendering of the piece you chose. Nothing is cast until you've approved it, and revisions at that stage are part of the process, not an extra.

Yes. Most people come in with a drawer of pieces and no plan, and that's fine. My job is to ask the right questions: whose it was, what you'd wear every day, what you'd never put on. The direction usually becomes obvious once we've looked at the pieces together.

Yes, and it's one of my favorite kinds of project. A grandmother's brooch, a mother's cocktail ring, and a pair of mismatched earrings can become one necklace or a stacking set. Nothing is wasted: stones that don't fit the main piece can go into a second one, or come back to you.

Every project begins at $2,500, and most heirloom redesigns land between $2,500 and $5,000. Moving your stone into one of my existing designs starts at $2,500, and custom engagement rings typically start around $3,000. Larger projects, like several pieces combined into one, go higher. You already own the expensive part; you're paying for design, metal, any stones we add, and bench time. You'll get a firm written quote after we've looked at the pieces together, and the quote is the price.

Sometimes. An old stone can have chips at the girdle that limit which settings are safe, and thin or brittle antique metal often can't be reused. I look at everything under the loupe before I quote and tell you what I see, including when the answer is "leave that setting alone" because it's the heirloom.

Every piece I make carries a 60-day craftsmanship warranty covering manufacturing defects. If something isn't right after that, reach out anyway. I'd rather fix it than have you stop wearing it.

They're yours. I can return them to you, melt the gold into the new piece, or credit it against your quote by weight. Whatever you prefer.

Custom work can't be returned, which is exactly why you approve the sketch and the CAD rendering before I take the 50% deposit and start production. If something is wrong with the finished piece, get in touch and I'll make it right.

Book a free consultation. It's 45 minutes, free, with no obligation, in person in Santa Monica or by video from anywhere in the U.S. Bring the pieces or a few photos and tell me the story. If you'd rather ask something first, call or text 213-973-2804 or email kate@katerosefinejewelry.com.

14k gold, 18k gold, and platinum. Each has trade-offs (14k is harder-wearing, 18k is richer in color, platinum is the heaviest and costs the most), and I'll walk you through which one fits the piece and the budget.

Yes. I work with a small group of trusted suppliers who follow strict ethical standards, and every stone I source is conflict-free. And of course, the most sustainable stone is the one already sitting in your drawer.

Yes. Most of my ready-to-wear designs can be made in a different metal, with a different stone, or with an engraving. If you'd like something changed, book a free consultation or send me a note and I'll tell you what's possible.

Start with my ring size guide. If you're between sizes or unsure, tell me and I'll help you get it right before anything is made. For custom rings we usually confirm size at the consultation.

Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft brush handle most of it. The full instructions, including what to avoid, are in my jewelry care guide.

Tell me who it's for and what they wear every day, and I'll point you to a few pieces or suggest something custom. Send me a note and I'll get back to you quickly.

Yes. Roughly four in ten of my clients never set foot in the studio. Every package is insured for its full replacement value, and heirloom pieces coming to me travel the same way. Here's how the mail-in redesign process works.

Free. Every U.S. order ships insured at no charge.

UPS for domestic orders. Everything goes out insured, and I'll send you the tracking number the day it ships.

About three days for orders under $5,000. Orders over $5,000 ship overnight.

Yes. Every shipment is insured for its full value, so your piece is covered from my hands to yours.

Yes. An adult (21+) has to sign for the package. It's a small inconvenience that keeps a valuable piece from sitting on a porch.

International orders ship FedEx International Priority, insured.

Usually three to five business days, depending on customs.

Yes. Duties, taxes, and customs charges are the buyer's responsibility. Once the package reaches your country, FedEx or your local customs office will contact you to settle them.

Ready-to-wear pieces can be returned or exchanged within 7 days of delivery. Custom and redesigned pieces are made specifically for you, so they can't be returned unless there's a manufacturing defect or a mistake on my end, in which case I'll fix it.

No, custom work isn't returnable. That's why you approve the design before I start, and why every piece carries a 60-day craftsmanship warranty. If anything concerns you, tell me and we'll sort it out.