Frequently Asked
Questions

Get to Know Dianna Rae Jewelry

Frequently Asked Questions

Have some questions about custom design, or how we work? Read through the frequently asked questions below, and feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have.

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Dianna Rae answers some common questions on custom jewelry design, such as:

The custom design experience is aimed to be accessible to everyone. Because we can control the process from start to finish, you have an opportunity to select the gems, metal, and overall design. You’ll be able to stay within your set budget by choosing the areas of design that are most important to you.

Usually, your custom piece can be produced within 4 to 6 weeks after all of the details have been finalized. We’ll work at your pace during the design process until you tell us it’s perfect. After you’ve approved the design, you’ll have the option to have a 3D model made — this can be done within a week. Once you’ve approved all areas of design, we’ll manufacture your piece.

If you have a specific date or deadline you are hoping to make, we’ll do our best to have your piece of jewelry done in time. Smaller jobs may even take as little as 2 to 3 weeks.

Custom design is not necessarily more expensive than buying a piece of jewelry out of the case; however, the process is different. The price of a custom piece depends on many factors — the type of metal chosen, the gemstones or diamonds selected, the overall design, and the amount of labor spent. The easiest way to get an accurate estimate on your piece is to set up a free design consultation with us. With a better idea of what you’re looking for, we can provide you with an estimate fairly quickly.

Yes, our design consultations are always free! Our jewelry designers will create realistic renders for you to see and perfect before you ever make a payment. We request a deposit of $150 prior to producing a 3D prototype of your design. This deposit is applied to the overall price of your piece. Tweaks and adjustments can still be made at this stage to ensure that your piece is absolutely perfect!

In most cases, yes! Whether you have a family heirloom, a loose gemstone, or jewelry that’s just no longer your style, we’ll help you reimagine these pieces to create something you’ll love. Book your free design consultation and bring in your existing jewelry or gemstones. We can assess your jewelry while you tell us how you imagine your new piece.

You’ll be able to see the design from start to finish, actively participating in the design process. Computerized renders allow you to see a realistic depiction of what your design will look like, and 3D printing allows you to try on a prototype sample before your final piece is actually made. You’ll have the ability to make tweaks and changes throughout the process. If you’re not in love with any aspect of your final piece of jewelry, we will work with you to resolve the issue at no charge. We won’t begin making your jewelry until we get your approval of all design details. Your project can be canceled at no charge during the design process.

In many cases, we can. We have made simple bands and even new mountings using customer’s gold; however, some metal can’t be re-cast with 100% success due to the type of alloys in the metal. If you’d like us to remove the gemstones from your mounting, we’ll figure out what your best options are for retaining the metal. And if you would like to only use the gemstone(s) to create your new piece, we’ll be happy to give you trade-in credit for the metal.

We are located in Lafayette, Louisiana and create the majority of our jewelry right here in our workshop located in the back of our store. We have an in-house jewelry design and fabrication team that will work on your project each step of the way. Expert jewelry designers will work with you to design your jewelry, then our in-house jeweler meticulously sets each gemstone and diamond with expert care.

Yes, we’ll happily ship anywhere in the continental United States.

If you need to return any item that was purchased from our in-stock selection, and it’s in its original condition, simply bring it back within 30 days for a refund or exchange. A partial refund may apply if the item is not in its original condition, was a special order, or has received any customization. Learn more.

Yes, we offer a 1-year warranty on workmanship and materials. This means that within the first year, if any issues occur outside of normal wear as a direct result of original workmanship or material quality that is below Dianna Rae Jewelry standards, we will replace or repair all faulty components at no cost to you. Learn more.

Yes, Dianna Rae Jewelry offers repair and replacement insurance through Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group. We can also provide you with an expert appraisal of your jewelry, establishing the retail replacement value should you ever need to replace it. Stop by any time for complimentary updates to your appraisal value. This will ensure that you’re properly covered for the life of your jewelry. Learn more.

Yes, we do! A lab-created gem can be a great alternative to mined stones — both as a budget decision and for those who prefer to have no connection to the mining process. We’re happy to show you both mined and lab-created gemstones and talk you through both options so you can make an informed decision.

Scheduling an appointment is easy! You can call our store at 337-706-7316 to set up your appointment, or feel free to schedule it on your own through the calendar on our website.

Yes, you can still schedule an appointment if you live outside of the Lafayette area. We’d be happy to meet with you over the phone to discuss your project needs. Texting and email make it easy to send images and renders back and forth. We have created many custom pieces for clients outside of Lafayette.

While we do keep a selection of loose gemstones in stock, we often source each stone individually based on the specific needs of the project and the customer. We work with various gemstone and diamond suppliers who share the same ethics and standards that we do. As with the rest of our custom design experience, our team will guide you through the gemstone selection process. We’ll first figure out what’s important to you in selecting a diamond or gemstone — whether that’s budget, color, size, or type of stone. With that in mind, we’ll source a selection of stones for you to choose from. We understand that purchasing diamonds and gemstones can be a big financial decision, and we work hard to provide you with all the information necessary for you to make a confident decision.

Yes, our primary diamond supplier is a member of Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America. The mission of DMIA is to promote the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism in the American marketplace. The DMIA remains at the forefront in addressing domestic and world diamond industry issues. It acts as a representative for the American diamond industry together with other industry organizations, governmental bodies, and the diamond consuming public.

All rough and polished diamonds through this supplier comply with the Kimberley Process which ensures that rough diamonds are:
Exported and imported with a government validated Kimberly Process certificate stating the diamonds are conflict-free.
Transported between signatory countries in a sealed and tamper-proof container.
Sold with a statement from the seller (known as a warranty) on all invoices guaranteeing that the diamonds being sold are conflict-free.