It's All About the Ring

J. Shea Jewelers provides customized rings with new machine

By Blanca Cantu / cantub@reporternews.com
April 27, 2006

Tammy Newman didn't have any luck on the Web finding the perfect wedding ring for her husband-to-be.

She looked on the Internet for a design that would match her engagement ring. Nothing matched the image she had in mind, so she sketched the ring on paper and took it to her friend and long-time jeweler J. Shea Leech, owner of J. Shea Jewelers, 3246 S. 27th St.

Using the Revo 540, a machine which mills a piece of jewelry out of wax based on a 3-D design, Leech's wife, Courtney, was able to convert the sketch into a 14-carat gold ring with nine baguette stones.

''We hit fast-forward into the technology age,'' J. Shea Leech said of the new machine, which is boosting his business.

The machine Leech owns is one of about 450 in the country and the only one in the Big Country, said Chris Glacer, account development manager for Gemvision, the company that makes the Revo 540.

''Independent retail jewelers use our system to combat a lot of the mass merchandisers,'' Glaser said.

Leech said other industries, such as architecture and auto-makers, have been using Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing technology for years. But, CAD/CAM is fairly new to the jewelry industry.

Rich Youmans, director of communications for Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, said the technology has been around since the early- to mid-90s for the jewelry industry, but now it's really coming full force.

Traditionally, some independent jewelers would hand carve custom designs - a tedious process involving several hours of craftsmanship. But, the machine offers more precision with designs.

''Most people don't want a cookie-cutter ring,'' Leech said. ''This has made it a lot nicer.''

Customers have come into his store with sketches and ideas. One customer, Leech said, came in with a 3-D paper model of the ring he wanted for his girlfriend. Another brought in a photo of a family member. Leech was able to design a pendant with the image of that person's face on it.

''I can't tell you how many sketches I've seen on a cocktail napkin,'' he said.

The machine has expanded Leech's business, and he believes the possibilities are endless, he said.

Leech can e-mail customers designs and take orders without ever meeting them in person. He now has international customers.

Newman of Hawley saw a video demonstration of the jewelry-designing machine at the Bridal Extravaganza in February, just days after Leech set it up in his store.

''I didn't want something like any other guy's ring,'' Newman said.

Newman said Leech sent her copies of the ring design through e-mail. She was able to take part in the process by designing the ring, but she also saw the progression.

''It's incredible to watch them turn a black-and-white drawing into the actual ring,'' Newman said. ''It is just amazing.''

Newman said her fiance, John Tucker, hasn't seen the ring yet. They're getting married Saturday.

''There is not another one like it,'' Newman said. ''They made our dream come true by making the perfect ring for us.''

Leech said his next venture will be to design a line of jewelry called the J. Shea Collection.