Is Eli Speaks Jewellery right for me?

Eli Speaks is a one-person woman-owned jewellery studio in Melbourne's CBD. Every piece is designed and made by hand by Kate Higgins, a goldsmith and platinumsmith with nearly two decades of experience. No salespeople, no showroom, no catalogue: you work directly with Kate from your first conversation to the moment your piece is finished. Kate builds by hand from raw metal, sawn, filed, formed and soldered at her own bench. That's how 95% of pieces are made. Occasionally, if a design or budget calls for it, she'll use casting or CAD, but it's never the default. She takes great pride in a history of zero returns for manufacturing faults in 15+ years.

This might be right for you if:

You want something one-of-a-kind, a piece no one else will ever own.
You have an idea (even a vague one) and want help bringing it to life
You have heirloom jewellery sitting unworn that deserves reimagining.
You'd rather work with the person making your piece than a consultant .

This might not be right for you if:

You need something in under 4 weeks.
You want an exact replica of someone else’s design. Kate doesn't make copies .
Your design preference is very different to what you can see in Kate’s website portfolio.
Your budget is under $2000 in all-new materials. Heirloom remodels using your own gold may come in under this figure.

What will it cost?

This is the question most people are afraid to ask. Let’s just answer it.

Three main things move the price:

The metal: gold prices have more than doubled in recent years, jewellers have had to move with that. Platinum and 18ct gold (yellow, white, rose) sit at the top cost, 9ct is more accessible. At current prices platinum is often close to or cheaper than 18ct golds, and it’s a fantastic metal.

The stone: this is usually where the biggest variation lives. Size, rarity, quality, and whether it's natural or lab-grown affect price.

The design: a simple bezel-set solitaire takes less time than a detailed multi-stone design. More detailed work means more labour, and that's reflected in the quote. Kate is always upfront about this before anything is confirmed.

What you can expect to pay:

These prices are a guide only and every design is quoted individually.

Ready-to-wear (from the shop) — $300 to $6,000

Minimal designs & wedding rings — $1,500 to $3,500

Mid-range custom engagement ring — $3,500 to $8,000

Complex bespoke custom piece — $6,000 to $15,000+

Heirloom remodel — varies, starts with a $250 melt fee.

If you're bringing in your own gold and gemstones, the cost works differently. Kate assesses what can be melted, reused, or traded in, and the cash return on old gold can go towards your new piece. Custom is often surprisingly close to retail, sometimes cheaper for the level of quality you get. You're not paying for a showroom or a sales team.

You're paying for something made just for you, made well, by hand, with someone who'll answer every question along the way.

The process step by step

Step 1 — You reach out.

No clear brief needed. Most people start with a feeling: a reference photo, a stone a grandmother wore, a rough sense of what they want; some impiration images. Fill out the enquiry form and tell Kate what you're thinking.

Step 2 — The consultation.

An obligation-free chat, about an hour, in the studio or by video call. No charge. Kate asks about your style, lifestyle, budget and the story behind the piece. Bring reference photos or heirloom pieces if you have them, or just come as you are. Ballpark costs, possibly an accurate quote given.

Step 3 — The design.

Kate draws your design by hand, to scale, so you see exactly what you're getting before anything is made. Final quote provided. Nothing moves forward until you love it. A 50% deposit begins the project.

Step 4 — The making.

Kate makes your piece by hand in her Melbourne CBD studio, forming every element herself. Allow 4 to 8 weeks from deposit to finished piece. Budget around two months in total time, from first contact to collection.

Step 5 — The moment you see it.

All the feels! All the smiles! The remaining 50% is due on completion, before collection.

Then it's yours forever.

Choosing your gem

Diamonds are the traditional choice, but definitely not the only one. Price comes down to carat, cut, colour and clarity.

Kate loves to use Australian Argyle sourced natural diamonds where possible. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to natural ones and cost significantly less, and plenty of clients choose these too.

Coloured gemstones (sapphires, rubies, emeralds, garnets and more) are really having a moment at Eli Speaks. They can be just as meaningful, often more personal. Australian sapphires are a particular favourite: locally mined and cut, unique colours, a truly small scale, sustainable option.

Kate sources carefully from Australian and international suppliers she trusts. If provenance matters to you, ask her directly. She loves supporting Australian miners and gem cutters.

What you’ll receive

When you collect your finished piece, you'll leave with:

Your exquisite jewellery, made to the agreed design
A luxury presentation box, care instructions and a home cleaning kit
A retail valuation for insurance if requested (available for pieces over $3,000)
Insurance cover from the moment you step out, if you have opted in for that
Complimentary lifetime clean and checks, and 1 x free resize after purchase
10 year warranty for manufacturing faults, if 2 yearly inspections are maintained

Remodelling an heirloom

There's a particular kind of client who comes to Eli Speaks with a box of inherited jewellery: a mother's wedding ring, a grandmother's brooch, a necklace that hasn't been worn in years. It has meaning, it just doesn't fit the life they're living now.

Remodelling takes what's already precious and gives it a new form.

Kate has turned rings into pendants, melted multiple pieces into one new design, reset old stones into new settings. Bring everything you have, even if you're not sure it's usable. She'll assess metal and stone quality, and what can be melted, reset, or traded in.

There's a non-refundable $250 melting fee, covering the labour to clean, assess and prepare your metal for reuse.

Reused stones are assessed for quality too, and used at your risk: pre-existing flaws aren't covered under warranty, so insure anything valuable before work begins.

For many clients, this turns out to be the most personal thing they've ever commissioned.

Many beautiful stories can be found on Instagram @elispeaksjewellery

How the melting works

The best metals to melt down are yellow golds — 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct.

Rose golds are usually workable. White golds and platinum can be more difficult due to varying alloy recipes, but parts can sometimes be incorporated without melting. Silver generally isn't worth remelting for a handmade piece.

Occasionally gold won't co-operate in remelting — in that case, the choice to use fresh metal (and cash in your old gold separately) will be discussed with you before anything continues.

Your questions answered:

Do I have to come in person?

No. It is preferred, but plenty of clients work entirely remotely, interstate and overseas. If you're in Melbourne, you're always welcome to visit the studio. Consultations can also be a video call and everything can be handled online.

What if I change my mind partway through?

Changes during the design stages are common and expected. Significant changes after making has started may affect the timeline or cost, but Kate will always tell you before proceeding.

What happens to my heirloom piece while it's being remodelled?

It stays in Kate's care in the studio safe, from the moment you hand it over, and everything is documented when you bring it in. Anything unused (that you provided), such as extra gems, gold, will be returned to you.

Is Kate qualified?

Kate is a member of the Gold and Silversmiths Guild of Australia, peer reviewed for acceptance, with nearly two decades of experience hand fabricating jewellery. Every piece is made by Kate herself, from a vast skill set.

What if the recipient doesn't love it?

Bespoke items are not returnable. However, in nearly twenty years, it's happened twice that the recipient didn’t totally love it. Both times, Kate worked with the client until they were completely happy.