Custom Jeweler in Santa Monica
One designer, by appointment, in downtown Santa Monica.
I'm Kate. I design custom fine jewelry and redesign inherited pieces, and I'm the only person you'll deal with from the first conversation to the finished piece. There's no showroom and no sales floor. We meet by appointment at the Proper Hotel on Wilshire, sit down with your pieces or your ideas, and figure out what's worth making.
Book a free consultation
45 minutes. No commitment. Virtual appointments too.
★★★★★ 5.0 on Yelp · 24 reviews
What I do
Heirloom redesign. A grandmother's ring, a drawer of mismatched pieces, gold from a safe-deposit box. Turned into something you'd wear this week.
Diamond resetting. Keep the stone, replace the setting. Solitaire resets from $1,500, three to five weeks.
Engagement ring redesign. After a divorce, for an anniversary upgrade, or for a ring that was never quite you.
Custom design from scratch. Engagement rings, wedding bands, and everyday pieces built around your stone or mine. Sketches first, then a CAD rendering you approve before anything is made.
Visiting the studio
Where. Santa Monica Proper Hotel, 700 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401. I'll meet you in the main lobby. Text me when you arrive: 213-973-2804.
When. By appointment only, so I can give you my full attention. Book online or email kate@katerosefinejewelry.com if you don't see a time that works. Most first meetings are on weekday mornings; evenings and weekends by arrangement.
Getting there. Valet at the hotel, metered street parking on Wilshire and 7th, and public parking structures a few blocks west in downtown Santa Monica. The Expo Line's Downtown Santa Monica station is about a ten-minute walk.
What to bring. Every piece you're considering, including the ones you think are hopeless. Any paperwork you have (appraisals, GIA reports, receipts). Inspiration photos if you have them; it's fine if you don't. Here's the full list.
Who I work with
Most of my in-person clients come from Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Venice, Mar Vista, Culver City, West LA, and Beverly Hills, and some drive in from Malibu or the Valley. About four in ten of my clients never visit at all; they work with me by video and insured mail from wherever they are. Here's how that works.
What an appointment is like
You talk first. I want to know who the piece belonged to, what you actually wear, and what you'd never wear. Then I look at the stones and metal under the loupe and tell you what I see, including when the news isn't what you hoped. You leave with a direction or two, a realistic price range, and a timeline. No deposit, no pressure to decide that day. When you're ready, I sketch, you choose, I build it in CAD, and you approve the exact piece before it's made.
“Kate listened to my vision, knew the right questions to ask, and walked me through her process from start to finish.”
Amy R., Yelp
Questions people ask
Do you have a store I can walk into?
No. I keep the studio appointment-only so every conversation gets my full attention. Why I work this way.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. Forty-five minutes, no charge, no obligation. You'll get a firm written quote if you decide to go ahead, and the quote is the price.
Can you look at my pieces before I book?
Yes. Email photos to kate@katerosefinejewelry.com and I'll give you a quick read.
Do you do repairs and resizing?
Yes, for pieces I've made and for many I haven't. Resizing costs and exceptions.
How long do projects take?
Two to five weeks for resets and simple redesigns, six to ten for fully custom pieces. Tell me at the consultation if there's a date.
Ready?
Kate Rose Fine Jewelry · Santa Monica Proper Hotel, 700 Wilshire Blvd · By appointment only