BESPOKE JEWELRY
Your Story in Gold
Over the years, Julie has come to understand that at the heart of her practice is a devotion to storytelling. She is drawn to the small details that tell a story and to translating these fragments into something tangible that can be worn, kept, and passed on.
A memory, an awakening, a symbol, a relationship, a place.
Today, alongside her collections, Julie creates one-of-a-kind and bespoke pieces in gold, handcrafted by her signature organic language and made through the meditative process of carving into wax.
Whether you're dreaming of an engagement ring, a wedding band, or a one-of-a-kind creation, the process begins with understanding what matters to you.
Let’s delve into your ideas and craft something truly special together.
Signature Style
Julie’s signature style is rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi — finding beauty in imperfection, natural forms and the marks left by the hand.
Each piece is sculpted by hand in wax, allowing subtle irregularities and organic textures to become part of the final jewel. The result is jewelry that feels tactile, sculptural and beautifully individual.
What We Can Create
Meaningful, one-of-a-kind pieces, hand-sculpted in wax and crafted in our Shanghai studio with an organic, sculptural approach that celebrates natural forms, textures, and imperfections.
Our Process
1. Inquiry
Complete the inquiry form with as much detail as you can about what you’re looking to create, including your inspiration, preferred materials, timeline and budget. This will give me a first understanding of your project before we meet.
2. Discovery
Once I’ve reviewed your enquiry, we’ll schedule a discovery meeting online or in person, to explore your idea in more depth. We’ll discuss the story behind the piece, your inspiration references, aesthetic, materials, practical considerations and anything you’d like the jewelry to express or represent.
3. Concept & Quote
Using everything we’ve discussed, I’ll develop the concept for your bespoke piece and establish the direction for its design. Once the concept is agreed upon, you’ll receive a detailed quote outlining the investment and what’s included.
A 50% deposit is then required to secure your project and begin the design and making process.
Design Research
During this stage, I take time to study your story, your references images, and the intention behind the piece. I look at proportions, symbolism and wearability. From this research, I prepare one thoughtful design proposal. This includes a clear visual direction, sketches, mood references, and suggested materials so you can fully understand the aesthetic and feeling of the piece.
You may request up to two revisions at this stage. These refinements allow us to adjust proportions, details, or elements before moving forward into development.
Gemstones Sourcing
If your piece includes a gemstone, this is when I begin sourcing. I carefully look for stones that match the agreed size, quality, tone, and budget. Once selected, I will share options with you for approval.
4. The Making
Your piece is created using the lost-wax casting technique, beginning as a hand-sculpted wax model. Once complete and approved by you, the piece is cast in your chosen metal and carefully finished through metalwork, texturing and polishing. Stone setting is then completed, if applicable, with each stone carefully placed to finish the piece.
I work using the traditional Lost Wax Casting technique. Your design is first created in wax, either hand-carved or developed with the support of 3D renderings, depending on its complexity. I will share photos of the wax piece so you can see how it is taking shape. At this point, you may request up to two revisions before we move forward.
Once you are happy and love the wax model, the remaining 50% balance is due. The piece is then carefully cast into precious metal.
5. Final Checks & Delivery
Once your piece is complete, it goes through a final check to make sure every detail is as intended. The piece is then packaged in the studio in a velvet box. Once ready, you may come pick up your jewelry in person, or it is shipped via SF or DHL Express. Your piece is then on its way to you. Ready to be worn, gifted, and carried for years to come.
Explore some of the pieces we have created for our lovely customers,
each one shaped by a story of its own
Our Techniques & Materials
Lost-Wax Casting
The lost-wax casting technique is at the heart of how many of Okra’s bespoke pieces are created. Each design begins as a wax sculpture, carefully shaped by hand to explore the form, proportions and intricate details of the jewellery. Once the wax model is complete, it is encased in a casting material and heated until the wax melts away, leaving behind a precise mould of the original sculpture. Molten metal is then poured into this mould, transforming the hand-sculpted design into its final form. After casting, the piece is carefully refined through filing, texturing and polishing, preserving the character of the original handmade design while bringing it to its finished state.
The Materials
We work with a considered selection of precious metals, each with its own colour, character, durability and feel. Depending on your piece, you can choose from:
Sterling Silver — 92.5% pure silver
9K Gold — 37.5% pure gold
14K Gold — 58.5% pure gold
14K White Gold — 58.5% pure gold
18K Gold — 75% pure gold
18K White Gold — 75% pure gold
Platinum 950 — 95% pure platinum
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, created in a controlled laboratory environment using technology that replicates the natural conditions in which diamonds form. They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure and physical properties as mined diamonds, and can be equally beautiful and durable.
The difference lies in their origin: rather than being extracted from the earth, lab-grown diamonds are created above ground. I choose to work with lab-grown diamonds because they allow me to create beautiful, high-quality pieces while offering an alternative to traditionally mined stones.
Ready to Inquire?
Frequently Asked Questions
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Every piece is different, so the price depends on the design, metal, gemstones, size, and complexity.
Fully bespoke pieces generally begin from USD 1200.
Once we have spoken about what you would like to create, you will receive a clear quotation before we begin.
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Yes, absolutely.
We ask for a 50% deposit to confirm your commission and begin designing and creating your piece.
The remaining 50% is paid before your piece is cast in its final metal.
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Not at all.
You can come to me with a story, a feeling, a photograph, a stone, a symbol, or simply the beginning of an idea. Part of the bespoke process is discovering what feels meaningful to you and finding a way to translate it into form.
We will shape the piece together.
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No worries at all.
The most accurate option is to have your finger measured by a local jeweler before we begin. You can also use our Ring Size Guide to help you find your size.
If the ring is a surprise, we can also help you estimate the size using an existing ring or a few other clues.
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Most bespoke pieces take around 6-8 weeks once the design has been confirmed.
Some pieces may take a little longer depending on the design, gemstones, or complexity involved.
If you are creating something for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, or another special date, please let us know at the beginning so we can plan around it.
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Yes.
You will have the opportunity to see and approve the design before your piece is cast in its final metal.
Depending on the piece, this may be through a sketch, wax model, or 3D visualization.
We want you to feel part of the process and connected to the piece as it slowly comes to life and make sure you are 100% happy with it before casting into metal.
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Yes, we do.
Engagement and wedding rings are a very special part of our bespoke work.
We can create something simple and organic, or something more personal incorporating diamonds, gemstones, fingerprints, engravings, or elements from your story.
The most important thing is that the ring feels like yours.
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Often, yes.
If you have an heirloom stone or a gemstone that already carries meaning for you, we would be very happy to explore incorporating it into your piece.
We will first need to look at the stone to make sure its condition, hardness, and shape are suitable for the design and setting.
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In most cases, we prefer to work with gold from our trusted suppliers so that we can be certain of its composition and quality.
Older or heirloom gold can sometimes behave unpredictably during casting, which can affect the strength and finish of the final piece.
If your gold holds special meaning for you, please get in touch. We can talk through what may be possible and explore the best way to honour it.
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For now, we are not offering ashes jewelry.
It is something we may explore in the future, but at the moment we prefer to only offer techniques and processes we feel completely confident in.
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We mainly work with sterling silver, 9K gold, 14K gold, and 18K gold.
Each gold has a slightly different colour, feel, durability and price point.
9K gold — 37.5% pure gold
A softer, paler gold tone and the most accessible option. It is durable and well suited to pieces you plan to wear every day.
14K gold — 58.5% pure gold
Warmer and richer in colour, while still being very durable. It is a beautiful balance between gold content, strength and price.
18K gold — 75% pure gold
The richest and warmest gold tone of the three. It contains more pure gold and has a beautiful depth and weight, making it a lovely choice for special or heirloom pieces.
There is no right or wrong choice it really comes down to the colour you love, how you plan to wear your piece, and your budget. If you are unsure, we are always happy to guide you.
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Yes, we do.
We ship our pieces worldwide from our Shanghai studio with tracked shipping, usually by DHL.
Depending on your country, customs duties or import taxes may apply when your piece arrives.
Ready to Inquire?
“I can deeply feel that we created a gift of love together and this process has already transcended design itself; it carries love and blessings with it.”
“Without hesitation I knew I wanted to work with Julie on the creations of our wedding rings. Her attentiveness and openness to hear our story made the experience flow seamlessly. She communicated with us every step of the way taking us on the journey of creation with her. I am so grateful to have worked with Julie and look forward to working with her again in the near future.”
“The rings she created for us are absolutely gorgeous. Their unique wabi-sabi form serves as a reminder that beauty is found in the imperfect. The delicate engravings of a moon (for me), and a sun (for him), represent the beautiful balancing nature of marriage.
For us, they are not just rings, they are a serendipitous story about how our golden love, and our golden rings, came to be.
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Many of our clients came to us without knowing exactly what their piece should look like. They only knew what they wanted it to mean. Read their stories and discover how those memories and ideas were transformed into jewelry they can hold onto, wear every day, and one day pass on.