Carl Blackburn Custom Jewelry
Carl Blackburn specializes in many types of custom designed jewelry, but he is especially well-known for his vintage-inspired designs, which feature classic motifs from Art Deco, Belle Epoque, and other popular periods of fine jewelry making.
He can design for you a unique diamond engagement ring, a bridal jewelry ensemble, or fine jewelry to celebrate any personal milestone. He can begin his design work from photographs that you bring to your free consultation, or start entirely from scratch after discussing with you the kind of jewelry you would like designed.
The custom jewelry design process proceeds from free-hand drawings, to CAD designed technical drawings, to model making, to the final manufactured piece. Get started now by contacting C. Blackburn Jewelers in La Jolla, CA. Tell Carl about the custom made ring or fine jewelry you’ve been dreaming about and let him turn that dream into a reality.
Carl Blackburn Jewelry Desiger
From 2000-2010 Carl Blackburn designed and manufactured 100s of vintage-inspired fine jewelry. During this period, his jewelry garnered attention in jewelry industry magazines such as Basel, Modern Jeweler, and IDEX, as well as fashion magazines, including a vintage inspired bridal ring that was featured on the cover of the WEDDINGS issue of Better Homes and Gardens. These jewelry designs were eventually bought and became the best-selling Beverley K Collection.
He is a Graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Jewelry Design Program, and studied Product Design at the Accademia Italiana Design School based in Florence, Italy.
Today, Carl Blackburn works exclusively as a custom jewelry designer, creating one-of-a-kind engagement rings, wedding bands, and other fine jewelry for his San Diego clients.
Design Philosophy
“My ultimate goal when starting a new jewelry project is that the finished piece be exquisite in every way. This requires a patient and committed approach, from the initial jewelry illustrations, to the final finished work of art. I feel an innate need to respect not only the rarity and value of the materials I’m working with, but also the emotional and financial investment of the client. When all of these elements come together, the resulting creation is a truly fine piece of custom made jewelry. One that is exquisite in every detail.” – Carl Blackburn
Read more in our post about San Diego jewelry designers and the art of fine jewelry craftsmanship.
Design Your Own Jewelry in San Diego
How to Design Your Own Jewelry
At C. Blackburn Jewelers we make the process of designing your own jewelry simple, fun, and creatively exciting. Whether you are designing a ring, bracelet, earrings, or necklace, these are the steps that we will take together.
1. Consultation: The first step in designing and making your custom jewelry is to have a consultation with jewelry designer Carl Blackburn.
During a typical consultation, Carl will show you a variety of finished pieces from his store inventory. Using these pieces as a starting point (along with pictures you may have saved on your phone) you and Carl will come up with the initial design together.
2. CAD Rendering: With the final design selected, a digital 3D model of the piece is created using CAD software. This allows you to see a realistic representation of the jewelry and make any necessary changes before a resin model is made.
3. Resin Model: Once you have approved the CAD design, a resin model of your piece is created, which Carl will give to you for approval. At this point you are able to hold the piece and study it from every angle. If it is a ring, you’ll be able to try it on and see how it looks and feels on your hand.
4. Selection of Materials: After the resin model is approved, you will make a final decision regarding the precious metal(s) to be used, such as 18k gold, platinum, or silver, as well as the gemstones to be used in your jewelry. Carl will assist you in carefully choosing the stones to ensure that they complement the design and meet your requirements.
5. Wax Model: A wax model will be created from the finalized 3D CAD file. This is done using a 3D Wax Printer that produces a perfect wax model of the digital CAD design.
6. Casting: This wax model is then cast into gold, silver, or platinum using the lost wax casting method to create the final piece of jewelry.
7. Stone Setting: The gemstones you have chosen are set into the piece, using the stone setting techniques appropriate to the design, such as pave setting, prong setting, or bezel setting.
8. Polishing and Finishing: After the stones are set, the piece is cleaned and polished to give it the desired finish. This may include adding additional details or engraving as necessary.
9. Quality Control: Before your custom jewelry is delivered, it goes through rigorous quality control checks to ensure that it meets all of Carl’s and your requirements.
San Diego Jewelry Designer - Articles
San Diego Jewelry Designers
Learn about some of the handcrafted elements (engraving, milgraining, and filigree) that San Diego jewelry designers like Carl Blackburn use when designing diamond and gemstone rings.
La Jolla Eternity Ring Designer
Carl Blackburn eternity rings are often used as a dazzling alternative to the traditional gold wedding band. Other times they are worn as anniversary rings. Learn more about the eternity ring.
San Diego Cocktail Ring Designer
The cocktail ring has had a fascinating history and one of the fashion rings that San Diego jewelry designer Carl Blackburn loves to design. Learn about cocktail rings in this article.
Art Deco Jewelry Designer
The Art Deco period is a classic jewelry making era from which vintage inspired jewelry designer Carl Blackburn often takes inspiration. Learn more about Art Deco jewelry in this article.