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Last week, while sipping tea in my cluttered little studio, I overheard a customer at a nearby café gushing about a necklace she’d just received. Her voice cracked with emotion as she described how the engraved initials—her nan’s—felt like carrying a piece of her heart. That moment hit me like a lightning bolt. It’s why we do this at The Name Necklace. Every piece we craft isn’t just metal and stone; it’s a story, a memory, a tiny monument to someone’s love or loss or triumph.
Our designs start with these moments—snippets of life that beg to be captured. Whether it’s a name, a date, or a secret phrase, we’re obsessed with turning fleeting feelings into something you can wear. The sketches pile up, coffee cups stack higher, and suddenly, a new design emerges, born from that spark of human connection.
It’s not about churning out shiny baubles. It’s about listening to what makes your heart tick and translating that into something tangible. That’s where the magic begins, and trust me, it’s a wild ride from there.
Let’s talk about the less glamorous side of jewellery—the supply chain. Sounds dull, right? But it’s like a high-stakes dance, and we’ve got to nail every step. I’ve seen reviews on our site where customers grumble about delays or imperfections, and it stings. But let me pull back the curtain: getting a single necklace from a raw gem to your doorstep is a logistical beast.
We start with sourcing. Our metals—sterling silver, gold, rose gold—come from suppliers we’ve vetted like they’re applying for a job at MI5. They must be ethical, transparent, and ideally, use recycled materials. One of our key suppliers, tucked away in a quiet corner of Birmingham, melts down old jewellery to give it new life. It’s like reincarnation for silver, and I’m here for it.
Gemstones are trickier. We work with partners who adhere to the Kimberley Process for diamonds and source other stones from small, responsible mines. But the chain doesn’t end there. From miners to cutters to our workshop, every hand that touches a stone adds complexity. A delay in Thailand’s rainy season can hold up a shipment of sapphires. A customs hiccup in Europe can leave us twiddling our thumbs. We’ve learned to plan for chaos, but when it works, it’s poetry in motion.
Managing this beast means constant communication. Our team’s on the phone daily, chasing shipments, double-checking certifications, and ensuring no one’s cutting corners. It’s exhausting, but it’s worth it to know your necklace wasn’t born from someone’s suffering.
Every piece from The Name Necklace is a tiny love letter you wear. Our necklaces aren’t just accessories; they’re anchors for memories. Take our classic name necklace—simple, elegant, but heavy with meaning. The weight of the pendant, the way it catches the light, the feel of the engraving under your fingertip—it’s designed to remind you of someone or something every time you touch it.
We use 925 sterling silver for durability, plated with 18k gold or rose gold for that warm glow. Our chains are crafted to withstand daily wear, because life’s too short for jewellery that falls apart. Want to keep it sparkling? A quick dip in warm soapy water and a soft cloth will do the trick. Avoid harsh chemicals—your necklace deserves better than a swim in bleach.
What sets us apart is the personalisation. Engraving isn’t just slapping letters on metal; it’s etching a moment into something permanent. Customers tell us these pieces mark births, weddings, or even quiet victories like surviving a tough year. That’s the real value—not the price tag, but the story it carries.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff: how we make these treasures. It all starts with a sketch. I’ll be honest—my desk looks like a paper explosion most days. Ideas come from everywhere: a customer’s story, a curve in a leaf, or even a late-night Netflix binge. We scribble, erase, and scribble again until the design feels right.
Once we’ve got a concept, we turn to CAD—computer-aided design. It’s like Photoshop for jewellery, letting us tweak every angle and curve. But don’t let the tech fool you; it’s still a human pouring their soul into those digital lines. A recent design for a double-name pendant took three rounds of CAD tweaks to get the spacing just right. Perfectionism? Guilty as charged.
From CAD, we create a wax model using 3D printing. Holding that first wax prototype is like meeting a new friend—exciting, but you’re still figuring out if it’s quite right. We inspect every detail, sometimes carving by hand to refine the shape. It’s fiddly, but it’s where the piece starts to feel alive.
Casting is where things get hot—literally. The wax model is encased in plaster, then melted away in a process called lost-wax casting. Molten metal—silver or gold—pours into the mould, taking its place. I still get goosebumps watching that glowing liquid transform into something solid. It’s alchemy, plain and simple.
Once cooled, the rough casting emerges. It’s not pretty yet—think of it as a diamond in the rough, emphasis on rough. Our craftsmen file and sand away imperfections, shaping the piece with tools so precise they could make a surgeon jealous. This stage is all about patience. Rush it, and you’ll see it in the final product.
We’ve had customers complain about slight blemishes in the past, and I get it—no one wants a flawed keepsake. That’s why we’ve doubled down on quality checks. Every piece gets scrutinised under a magnifying glass, because we’re not here to cut corners.
If casting is the bones of the process, setting stones is the soul. Our gem setters are like artists with nerves of steel. They use tiny tools to nestle stones—diamonds, sapphires, or birthstones—into their settings. One wrong move, and a stone could chip. I’ve watched our setter, Emma, work for hours on a single pendant, her hands steady as a rock. It’s mesmerising.
Engraving is where the personalisation happens. We use laser engraving for precision, but it’s not as simple as pressing a button. The depth, font, and placement have to be perfect. A customer once asked for her dog’s name in a cursive font so tiny we had to recalibrate the machine. Worth it? Absolutely, when she sent us a photo of her beaming with the necklace.
Every engraving tells a story. We’ve etched everything from wedding vows to GPS coordinates of a first kiss. It’s humbling to know we’re part of those moments.
Polishing is where the piece goes from “nice” to “wow.” Our team uses a series of buffs and compounds to bring out the metal’s shine. It’s noisy, dusty work, but the result is a mirror-like finish that catches every glint of light. I once spent an hour polishing a single pendant because I couldn’t stop chasing that perfect gleam.
Finishing touches include plating for gold or rose gold pieces. We use 18k for durability and that rich, warm hue. The plating bath is a science experiment in itself—too long, and the colour’s off; too short, and it won’t last. We’ve fine-tuned it over years, learning from every batch.
Before shipping, every piece gets a final once-over. We check for scratches, loose stones, or engraving errors. If it’s not perfect, it doesn’t leave the workshop. That’s our promise to you.
So, there you have it—a peek behind the curtain at The Name Necklace. From the spark of an idea to the moment you open the box, every step is a labour of love. We’re not just making jewellery; we’re crafting stories you can wear. Thanks for joining us on this journey—stick around for more tales from the workshop!
