The concept of designing a piece of jewelry may seem like something that can only be done by people who have an excess of both time and money. However changes in technology as well as a renaissance of people dedicated to hand crafted arts has helped custom jewelry design become something that everyone can afford.   Amidon Jewelers Custom Settings   The use and wearing of jewelry may be as old as civilization itself, but it is something that is very modern which has helped revolutionize the industry. Much like they have done for almost every other element of our lives, computers are making custom jewelry design stupendously easier. Using design programs that allow the jewelers to create three dimensional models on the computer means that time and materials do not have to be wasted creating a mock up. In just a few minutes’ time, the jeweler and the client can see exactly what the piece of jewelry will look like. They can determine if it will work structurally and it gives them the opportunity to immediately make any changes on the spot so they can see exactly what they are getting.   Once the technology is done, it is then time for the artisan to take over. Like any other business, the jewelry industry sees itself go through cycles. For many years throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s people associated jewelry stores with the sterile palaces of national chains located inside of malls. At the time it made sense: malls were replacing traditional downtown shopping areas as the place to go for everything, including fine jewelry, and a population that was more on the move than ever before wanted to know they could find the same objects no matter where they were in the country.   Today the pendulum has shifted back and people, instead of looking for conformity are now more interested in self-expression. Combining this with a “return to roots” as people extol the virtues of shopping locally and supporting the businesses of the community have created a demand for professionally trained craftspeople who can help people create custom design jewelry.   The next time there is a need for a piece of fine jewelry, anything from diamond engagement rings to birthday presents, take the time to talk with the jeweler about their custom design possibilities. There is no piece of jewelry more beautiful than the one that is unlike anything else in the world.