Business Details
45 Years
experience
Custom Jewelry Design & Repurposing Services
Yanke Designs has been crafting custom jewelry since 1981, founded by Frank and Kim Yanke after their apprenticeship under master goldsmith Alexander Bongiorno. Originally established in Franklin Village, the business relocated to Traverse City, Michigan, where it continues to specialize in personalized jewelry creation using heirloom stones and new materials. The studio offers a collaborative design process involving private consultations, stone selection, and custom setting creation.Each piece is handcrafted with attention to detail, combining technical expertise with artistic vision. Clients receive certificates of originality and appraisals for their finished works. The business emphasizes transparency, education, and emotional connection through jewelry that tells personal stories. With decades of experience, Yanke Designs maintains a commitment to quality craftsmanship and client-centered service.
Services
Custom Jewelry Design
Heirloom Repurposing
Bridal Jewelry
Colored Stone Rings
Bespoke Bracelets
Details
- Year established: 1981
Highlights and features
- We offer personalized 1-on-1 design consultations with master jewelers
- Our team has over 40 years of combined experience in custom jewelry creation
- We specialize in repurposing heirloom stones into modern designs
- Each piece receives a certificate of originality and professional appraisal
- We maintain direct client involvement throughout the entire design process
Services
Custom Jewelry Design
Yanke Designs transforms client visions into unique wearable art through collaborative design consultations. Clients participate in every stage from concept sketches to final polishing. The process includes material selection, 3D wax modeling, and lost wax casting techniques to create one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect personal stories and style.
Heirloom Repurposing
The studio specializes in revitalizing inherited jewelry through careful stone extraction and setting redesign. Clients can transform family heirlooms into contemporary pieces while preserving sentimental value. Services include prong re-tipping, milgrain restoration, and creative integration of multiple generations' jewelry into cohesive new designs.
Bridal Jewelry
Yanke Designs creates custom engagement rings and wedding bands using precious metals and ethically sourced gemstones. The studio offers complete bridal sets with matching bands, featuring intricate detailing like braided rope patterns and personalized engravings that reflect couples' unique relationships and shared histories.
Colored Stone Rings
The studio crafts rings featuring vibrant colored gemstones including tanzanite, sapphire, and tourmaline. Clients can select from various cuts and settings to showcase unique stones. Each design emphasizes stone characteristics through complementary metal choices and custom setting techniques.
Bespoke Bracelets
Handcrafted bracelets are created using gold, silver, and precious stones through traditional metalworking techniques. The process involves prototype development, wax carving, and meticulous polishing to achieve wearable art pieces. Clients can choose from various styles including link designs and gemstone-encrusted patterns.
Questions
How does the custom jewelry design process work?
Our process begins with a private consultation to discuss your vision. We then create design sketches, select materials, and develop wax models before final production. Clients receive regular updates throughout the creation process.
Can you work with heirloom stones?
Yes, we specialize in repurposing heirloom stones into new designs. Our experts carefully extract stones from existing settings and incorporate them into modern, wearable jewelry pieces.
What metals do you use in your jewelry?
We work with 14kt and 18kt gold (white, yellow, rose), platinum, and sterling silver. Each metal is selected for its quality and suitability to the specific design requirements.
Do you offer jewelry repair services?
While our primary focus is custom creation, we provide limited repair services for existing Yanke Designs pieces. This includes prong re-tipping, resizing, and restoration work.
How long does custom jewelry creation take?
The typical timeline ranges from 4-8 weeks depending on design complexity. Simpler pieces may be completed faster, while intricate custom designs with multiple stones require additional time.
Do you provide appraisals for finished pieces?
Yes, every custom piece receives a professional appraisal for insurance purposes. We also provide certificates of originality documenting the unique design and creation process.
