C. Blackburn Jewelers — Local services in San Diego

Carl was exactly the person we were hoping to work with and are lucky we found him! We wanted a custom ring, had some ideas in mind, but also wanted someone who would offer their own creativity, not just do what we say (we value collaboration and we are not jewelers or designers, so we felt it was important that the person was able to listen, but also offer their own creativity). We also wanted clear guidance, but not pushing. Before Carl, we flopped (getting pushed, not having clear guidance, lack of transparency, and honestly a seeming lack of genuine interest, beyond a sale/profit) with two other jewelers (Ethan Lord in Chicago and one in New Mexico). After that, we interviewed a handful of other folks, but everyone seemed too rigid/inflexible (especially concerning budget) or - the biggest issue - unable or uninterested in putting in the work to make the ring come together (We wanted a champagne/chocolate oval diamond - very specific on the color; and had a design in mind, but it wasn't finished and we did not know how to make it come together in terms of exploring design options). Carl was very dedicated to finding us the exact stone we were looking for, which can be difficult when you tart with the design of the ring instead of the stone; and can be hard when looking for a colored stone, as everyone perceives it differently. He was also readily and easily up to participating and collaborating on the design aspects - which is SO important! We are not designers and so this ability to step in and take the lead and offer creative solutions/options, was essential and highly valued.

In the end, despite feelings of defeat and confusion from working with others, Carl designed and produced exactly the ring we envisioned. It is darling, regal, charming, feminine, but striking and little bold and very unique. It's ornate while also being practical (i did not want a large mounted stone, but rather a double band ring that was flat).

And the budget - we told him our budget, where we could flex, etc. He made it happen within budget and provide many options - so it never felt like we were being upsold or pushed in a direction that was not mindful or our budget preferences.

Carl is immeasurable charming, sweet, and friendly. I think he really just loves his work and that makes a difference and it shows. His tore is also just about as welcoming and comfortable and charming as it can get. We loved the more personal, but still very professional feel of his place. It was wonderful to not have to walk into a larger store that can feel impersonal and inauthentic. The other folks we worked with before meeting Carl had a very typical jewlery store feeling; others even leaned into a boutique vibe, while trying to maintain a low-key no frills vibe; and it just felt like marketing. Carl is just a guy that loves his work, is dedicated, and is happy to be a part of...

I really can't say enough wonderful things about Carl. He totally saved my wife's ring!! We had a design in mind and we had searched for an entire year for someone who would work with us on it and everyone said yes at first and then backed out because we wouldn't let them push us into their standard ring collections instead of doing our custom job.

I was ready to give up, but she kept looking and somehow found Carl. It took like 5 days to go from "hello" to a perfect CAD, which was thrilling because no one else would do that for us and it was the first time we were really able to see the ring.

The CAD also exposed a few design flaws in the original idea, which Carl took it upon himself to help us work through. He made an initial proposal, which we nixed, then came back with an extremely creative second proposal which we loved.

From there, he did resin casts for fit, a rough silver cast for more fitting and for aesthetic checks, and then spent literally MONTHS searching for our perfect center stone (which was actually incredibly difficult to find, as it was a root beer diamond that had to be a very precise color).

Incredibly, he did all of this with us traveling constantly around the country, shipping diamonds and ring prototypes to wherever we were at the time. And despite all the shipping and prototyping (which he very transparently and clearly priced out along the way), HE STILL CAME IN FAR BELOW THE COMPETITION! it was absolute magic.

And to put the icing on the cake, he even engraved both our rings, which we didn't think was going to be possible for either ring because of their designs.

Honestly, I feel deeply indebted to Carl for his diligence, transparency, ethic and RESULTS. This man is incredible. You're in good hands!

(P.s., while we brought a custom design that he helped us with, he also shared some of his own designs, which were extremely beautiful. If you don't have a specific design in mind, he's also a great designer and can work with you on creating the ring of...

Carl is simply the finest jeweler in Southern California. I called him in a frenzy a few months before my proposal. I had just received some disappointing renders from a different jeweler regarding the design I had created for my partner’s engagement ring. I was in search of someone who could really create and honor a vintage design. Immediately, I was blown away by Carl’s knowledge, expertise, and confidence in being able to deliver exactly what I wanted to create. His demeanor calmed my nerves and got me excited about the process. Carl helped me along every step of the way. He was very communicative and responsive and demonstrated his years of experience at every turn. From sourcing and selecting the perfect vintage stone to refining the final design for the ring, every aspect of the process got me more and more excited about the final product. I couldn’t have been more thrilled with how the ring came out, and my partner loves looking at it every day. She couldn’t believe the amount of detail and craftsmanship that Carl was able to pack into a single piece. There’s no reason to go to anyone else. If you are looking for a great jeweler who can deliver a beautiful and authentic piece at a fair price, Carl...