Do you offer rush orders, and what is the extra cost for expedited production?
Custom Jewelry Rush Orders: Timelines, Fees, and Limits
Some of life’s most significant moments come with a fixed timeline. A wedding, a proposal, an anniversary, or a special gift for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion cannot wait for flexibility in delivery. When Olertis customers inquire about a rush or expedited order for a customized engagement ring or other piece of fine jewelry, the urgency behind this inquiry is rarely just about time — it’s about commitment.
It’s about understanding what accelerating the process really means, the costs, and any limitations, so you can make an informed decision.
Rush Order Guide
What Rush and Expedited Orders Mean for U.S. Jewelry Clients
Customers typically differentiate between accelerating the production of bespoke jewelry and expediting delivery of the product by a certain date. Accelerating a custom jewelry piece is simply prioritizing your order in our workflow. Expediting delivery by a certain date involves factors beyond our control (e.g., weather, transportation, etc.). The typical reasons for expediting delivery include weddings, engagements, anniversaries, and similar events, as well as events planned many months in advance where original timelines changed. In practical terms, rushing an order does not eliminate design considerations or technical procedures; rather, it assigns a higher priority to the production schedule of the company and utilizes the same production process. A faster schedule never means cutting corners — the craftsmanship and quality standards remain exactly the same.
Olertis provides priority services only after completing a feasibility study and/or design review for each project. Customers frequently inquire about which types of projects are eligible for priority production. Projects involving simple jewelry pieces with little to no engraving or rare stones can be accelerated more significantly than those that involve more intricate and complex designs.
Custom Jewelry Rush Timelines and Factors That Affect Speed
While many U.S. customers would like to know how quickly the creation of custom jewelry can be accelerated, the actual savings in time depend on several factors. Typically, accelerated production reduces the original timeline by 1–2 weeks.
The key factors that impact accelerated production include:
- Complexity and revisions of CAD files
- Type and availability of metals
- Availability of gemstones and the type of stone setting used
- Necessary quality control measures
Regardless of the reason for the request, accelerated production does not result in the elimination of approvals, casting, setting, inspection, etc. For example, simple custom jewelry may take a minimum of 10-14 days to complete under a shortened timeline, while more complex bespoke jewelry may take a minimum of 2-3 weeks. Additionally, engravings or non-standard stones will typically require an additional 2-3 days.
Rush Order Fees, Pricing Structure, and Deadline Refunds
The pricing structure for production acceleration is an important consideration for U.S. clients. At Olertis, our rush order pricing is transparent and follows a clear format: 20% of the original quote price, with a minimum priority fee of $350. This rush fee represents the costs associated with reassigning labor resources, rescheduling operations, and providing the necessary operational priority. Rush fees do not represent a change in materials, craftsmanship, or design quality.
Another common question asked by clients is what happens if Olertis misses an agreed-upon deadline for a rush order. We will refund a proportionate amount of the rush fee for each day that the customer’s project was delayed until 100% of the rush fee is refunded if we cannot accelerate the original production timeframe. Refunds are only applicable if the delay is caused by Olertis’ production, not by carriers or customs.
Rush Order Limits and Legal Terms for Custom Jewelry Orders
As part of the contractual obligations and expectations outlined in the Terms of Service, all limitations on rush services should be clearly stated. As previously mentioned, accelerated production does not guarantee that the customer’s deadline will be met in cases where external factors, such as carrier delays, customs, etc., are involved.
Standard policies regarding quality control, exclusions related to the custom nature of the piece, remake conditions, and a one-year warranty apply to expedited requests as they do to standard orders. All final timelines will be documented and confirmed in writing after the project evaluation is complete. Domestic expedited shipping is included unless otherwise specified in writing.
