Handmade silver saccharin dispenser hand-engraved to match customers engraved silver Zippo-lighter with T-slot and pin inside of top to open-close or remove cap. Side of cap had customers initials GR in script .
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
I was approved to be in the Custom Made network of makers in August 2012. and only work exclusively through them.
I have 48 years experience as a hand manufacturing at the bench Goldsmith and Jeweler making each of the pieces you can see in my 9 page portfolio of listings once by hand, with macro close up photos sent daily through the transcript provided by Custom Made.
Many pieces pictured there have 5 extra photos of the piece at 5 different stages of being made.
I've never had to cast any thing, nor bought manufactured cast parts to assemble, to then call that "custom" or "customized"
My unique Goldsmith skills were acquired at 19 years of age in Boston. I was taught to be a Silversmith in Maine, NH, and Cape Cod, with Fire-sign Silversmiths. I was later offered an apprenticeship with Platinum worker, John Mulligan, of Mulligan & Hone Jewelers of Charles Street in Boston. I then passed up on a scholarship to go to the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts…figuring I could make a better living as a Goldsmith than as a Watercolorist.
In 1978 I opened Signet Custom Jewelers in Harvard Square Cambridge and was written-up in the April 1987 Boston Sunday Globe by Mopsey Strange Kennedy.
I operated it for 10 years until due to sudden family deaths I returned home to Ohio in 1988 when I went to work as a special order jeweler for a Tiffany Trade Account store near Cleveland, Schreibman Jewelers for 9 years, then I worked 13 years for King's of New Castle….
This diversity of experience and training is part of why my work is unlike other makers in this country who are limited to doing only wax casting and Cad-cam wax carving that also gets cast..
I am offering my customers a chance to commission a custom handmade artwork using the unique self-taught Goldsmith skills of drilling and sawing, called saw-piercing, that I uniquely combined with 3-D hand carving which I do with traditional palm push gravers, producing pieces that are more detailed, are impossible to cast, and pieces unlike any seen elsewhere….
I only use rolling mill hardened precious metal sheets that I then attach a exact-size millimeter graph paper drawing to. Then I drill, saw, and 3-D hand-carve, or sometimes I've made multi-piece, multi-metal, multi-color gold assemblages, then carve…taking photos of each step.
Each piece is a signed, quality stamped, original artwork, with time-dated progress photos sent daily through the Custom Made transcript .
By allowing you to see your piece being made by my unique Goldsmith process from drawings to completion, you get exactly what you want and assurance that your piece is the only one like it anywhere.
In July 2012, MJSA Journal did a 2-page article on me doing a 5-piece assembled and carved handmade replica of a 1-carat diamond ring from 1900 using 16 pictures I wrote captions for explaining my process.
Now I work for myself, I'm 67, retired, and am a "Freelance" Goldsmith…still using my original West German jewelers tools from 1969…a purely independent Cottage Industry, still pursuing my Goldsmith art and striving for the level of workmanship of the 'Old-Timers'…I'm getting closer with each piece.
I love the customer's ideas and requests that I have fun figuring out how to create from scratch…
Each always different from the last.
Ashley Rigsby
For Crown Of Thorns RingI received the wedding band for my husband today. It is gorgeous! I absolutely love the work that Ken created. I know that when my husband gets home from work tonight, he is going to be excited. Thank you so much Ken for helping to create this custom ring for my husband.
Ryan Johnston
For Personalized Sterling Silver Money ClipsKen did an amazing job! He was great at documenting the process and I knew what I was getting was hand made. He made me a money clip that very few people could make for me. I will be having Ken make me more things in the future!
Tom Miller
For New ProjectKen was an absolute pleasure to work with. He was great at keeping me posted during the making of the ring, sent along progress photos, and was easy to talk to. The final work was gorgeous and I was thrilled to receive it. In today's world, it is rare to find such an impeccable craftsmen. I highly recommend him to anyone in need of high-quality and hand-crafted work.
Christy Sweet
For Wedding band to match ringKen was great to work with. He thoroughly communicated every step of the project's completion. The finished ring is beautiful and fits my wedding ring perfectly. I can't believe I have a custom made ring! Ken is an incredibly talented artist.
Ahmad keshk
For Men's Custom RingVery good communication. The product is of very high quality. The workmanship is excellent.
Ida Plaia
For Floral band ringI received my ring exactly when Ken said I would. Throughout the project he communicated with me about the process and progress of the work, but the best part was we got to know each other. Ken is an extremely talented gentleman and a total pleasure to work with and know. The finished product is unbelievable. It is a testament to true artistry- a work of art in goldsmith. His attention to detail and self discipline regarding his work is quite remarkable and I have a ring even more beautiful and beautifully wrought than I imagined. I asked for a very complicated product in four colors of gold and he certainly delivered. I would not hesitate to recommend Ken for any project you might have in mind. The value of the product is definitely there, but the true value lies in owning a hand made work of art. Thank you Ken!
Hillary Belnap
For Geometric Pattern RingWorking with ken spencer was such a enjoyable and memorable experience. He went above and beyond the call of duty. This experience will be such a cherished memory for me, which is how you would want it to be when you get something custom made. He has a passion for the.work that was easy to see through his communication. He was so through about every little detail so he could get just right and make sure it was satisfactory to me. I would definitely consider him in the future and spread the word to other people who want a custom made treasure. And the finished product on person was priceless.
J D
For Chinese Character JewelryI could not be more pleased with this project, from beginning to end. Ken was a pleasure to work with and the finished product exceeds my expectations. Beautiful work. Communication was clear, concise and timely. Ken gave me an expected delivery date at the beginning of the project and met it, which was very helpful. Everything was top-notch and professional. I will not hesitate to return to Ken for another project.
Alex Buscaglia
For Silver And Copper Claddagh RingI cannot say enough about Ken and how amazing both he and his work is! I came in with a vague idea of what I wanted, and from the first message, I knew Ken was the guy I wanted to work with. He is knowledgeable beyond measure on everything from types of metals and mixtures, to finishes and designs. He worked with me through the designing of the ring, changing types of metals, changing placement of stones, and changing layout. He fielded my questions with more information than I could've asked for and kept me calm during the whole process. His communication NEVER wavered, even through an incredible personal tragedy mid-proposal timeline. On top of that, he is a nice and genuine person. I can't thank him enough for making the perfect ring to propose to my partner. I would refer him to anyone and everyone. He is the best! Give him a chance, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Akailah Jenkins
For Black Zirconium Rose Gold Wedding BandWords truly cannot describe how incredible Ken is. He helped our vision come to life by working with pictures that we'd merely created in our heads and helping us find ways to put it into reality. Once the process began, he emailed us every day with updates and pictures with descriptions that consistently blew our minds. Words cannot explain how thrilled we are with the final result. It is beyond our dreams. His precision and attention to detail is unparalleled and it is undeniably a work of art. He got our ring done in record time, much more quickly than initially expected, and at a great value. We would recommend him to anyone and will be back in the future. Ken, you make dreams come true!
john karnes
For Sterling 50 Cent Size Celtic-Shield Sawed-Pierced Carved, EngravedI never leave reviews but must make an exception for the wonderful experience we had working with Ken Spencer who made a one-of-a-kind solid gold college pendant for our daughter's recent graduation. Ken made the proposal and design process easy and fun. His creativity turned our idea into a beautiful reality. We were totally confident of what we were getting and how much it would cost. Once the work began, Ken updated us daily, sometimes more often, and usually with wonderful pictures of the progress. At the conclusion of the project, Ken bundled all of the photos together into a keepsake CD showing every step in his creation. When the finished pennant finally arrived, it absolutely took our breath away. Pictures did not do it justice. It was perfect in every way and exactly as we had envisioned it. The artistry and craftsmanship are absolutely amazing, creating an heirloom that will be in the family for generations. I would highly recommend Ken Spencer to anyone considering a handmade piece of gold jewelry, And my wife and I are already making plans to consult with Ken on another project.
Jenn Lind
For Custom wedding ring.Ken was very nice, knowledgeable, experienced, professional, and flexible. My custom made wedding band is fantastic! Everything was as discussed, and very timely. Zero complaints. Highly recommended!
Jacob HIll
For 18 Karat 3-D Carved Roses,Buds,Leaves,And Stems BandKen is great, communicated with us the whole way through the project, and my fiancee loves the ring! Highly recommended
John Bova
For Handcarved Silver Laurel Wreath BandThis is my second time working with Ken on the same project (after the first ring he made for me was lost or stolen) and he even surpassed the first performance. Briefly, my top three reasons why I already chose to contract with Ken repeatedly (and would again) are as follows: The most important factor lies in the difference that still separates the best work of human masters in the field of metalsmithing from the results of computer assisted design. The latter is still rather cold and angular in 3-D. That aesthetic works well enough for certain pieces, but the classical design of my ring required the warmth, organicism, and slight irregularity of a human hand. It was intended to be, and is, a piece that deliberately hearkens back to our long human past. The distinguishability of the two forms of production is likely to persist for a few more years, I think, so if the sense of your design likewise depends on organic execution, I recommend that you go with Ken over the mechanized options currently available. The next important factor is that Ken’s updates are prompt and encyclopedic, giving the client a chance to weigh in or clarify their design preferences at nearly any point. Finally, the price is fair, given the years of expertise manifestly brought to bear.
Kelly Daniels
For necklace designI had a wonderful experience working with Ken. He did an amazing job with our request, and we couldn't be happier. We gave him a sketch of what we wanted and he did a beautiful job of turning it into a work of art. He was great to work with, was very flexible, receptive to all my questions and requests, and was reasonable priced. I would recommend him to all my friends and coworkers.
Andrea Mobley
For Andrea's Statement RingWhen coming to CustomMade, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn't even sure of what ring I wanted. I knew it needed to be as unique as the man I am marrying. When the offers came in, Ken's was the one that stood out the most. His profile displayed an amazing prowess in handcrafting that I didn't know existed. He provided a sketch of a trillion stone flanked by stunning hand sculpted Chimeras. The question remained: Could he pull it off? At every step of the process, Ken gave me detailed pictures and explanations to keep me abreast of how this ring would be born from strips and chunks of metal. It transformed before my eyes and, when the final pictures were sent, I cried. I fell completely apart because it was captured so beautifully. This ring is more than an engagement ring and more than a statement ring. It is an heirloom piece that can be passed down to from generation to generation as a piece unique to him and our love for each other. I don't have words to describe Ken's skill, his imagination and constant communication to ensure customer satisfaction. So easy to work with as well. The things he can bring to life are astounding in detail and something I will never forget. I will stare at this ring in awe for the rest of my life and be forever grateful that Ken, an amazing goldsmith, brought this vision to life. If you are on the fence about choosing Ken, I implore you to jump. Jump into an amazing set of skills that can bring your dreams to life. It was the best choice I could have made and I cannot express my gratitude or satisfaction enough.
Leilani Allen
For Leilani's JewelryMr. Spencer did an amazing job on my piece. I drew a rough draft of what I wanted and he went above and beyond what I ever expected. The details for such a tiny piece are phenomenal!! He was a pleasure to work with and was always willing to answer the many questions that I had for him. I will highly recommend him to anyone, especially if you want a piece that has great detail.
Annie O'Kain
For Annie's EarringsKen was such a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend him for any metal working / goldsmithing project you can dream up. He was extremely detail oriented, kept me updated through out the project. I absolutely love the custom earring he made for me. I will definitely be coming back to Ken for future projects of this type. He's a pro and even included a CD of all the pictures! Thank you, Ken!
earl stoner
For 14 Karat Handmade And 3-D Hand-Carved Leaves & FlowersI want to tell the folks of CustomMade about the beautiful project ring Ken Spencer made for me . I wanted something special, unique, one of a kind,original with meaning of my wife's favorite flower BIRD OF PARADISE. A dream I always wanted to full fill for her but did not know how to go about it. But Ken's 14 karat handmade and 3-D hand carved flower and leave design made the impossible possible. We are both happy, amazed and thrilled with it. Ken deserves an award for this one and a 5 star across the board review. Fantastic man to interact and work with. My best Regards to CustomMade and Ken Spencer and absolutely I would use Ken's expertise again if need be. THANK YOU! EARL
Brook Rose
For Custom Mountain Ring, Sterling SilverKen was really great to work with. He is very personable and responds to e-mails right away. He took an idea I had and ran with it, making it better than I had expected. I not only have the ring I wanted but a really beautiful piece of art! His turnaround time from concept to creation to shipping was fast. Love that he sends photos on a daily basis with his progress. It is neat to see the process from beginning to end- design to final polishing. I would definitely work with Ken again!
Ryan maliff
For custom braceletSo this was my first time doing something like this (having a custom piece of jewelry) done. Ken was very open to my idea an instantly caught on and was respectful in bouncing back his own creative ideas that I believe made for a truly timeless piece that I can’t wait to give to my girlfriend. The best part about working with Ken was his knowledge of his trade and keeping in touch every step of the way sending pictures of the progress being made. As a nursing student I typically don't have a lot of time and Ken was very understanding and made the entire experience enjoyable, so if I ever do another piece like this I would definitely work with Ken and recommend him to anyone who asked.
Cynthia Nubien
For Astar helicoper pendantMachines can make good work but it's never as amazing as the magic work that Ken delivers. This is the second pendant that he does for me and the details are wonderful!!! He is highly skilled, always open to the customer, on time on the project. You can see that he loves what he does just by looking at the product. If you want to make a product very meaningful to you because you want it to motivate you, to represent a new step of your life or something else, Ken Spencer will do this for you! I highly recommend him.
Paul Shufro
For Family Crest PendantKen was phenomenal to work with. These days it is difficult to find jewelers (especially in the United States) who are truly masters of their craft so Ken's existence was a surprise to me. Before finding Ken I was resigned to commissioning a casting which would have been lower quality and less durable that the hand-carved piece that Ken made me. Considering the superior quality of the end-product the slight premium Ken charged compared to the lower-quality alternatives was well worth it.
kavita partha
For kavita's RingKen is very professional accommodating and easy to work with. I got updates every single day with pictures and he knew exactly how my ring should be without even me having to go over fine details from the beginning. He was willing to work out a good deal for the cost and gave me many options with sketches right from when I started thinking about the project.. Every little detail was taken care of . He is a joy to work with.
Emma Burkey
For Emma's RingKen was amazing. He was quick, vocal and so professional. He made me feel so comfortable in his abilities and so very personable. When I received the package it was perfectly packaged, super safe and came with a cd of photographs of his progress. When I opened the ring I purchased for my future husband, tears came to my eyes because it perfectly matched the vintage ring we bought as my wedding band. If you ever want a meaning piece of jewelry made, please consider Ken. .
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