Coronet Ordering
Instructions
In order to give you a quote for your coronet, there are a
number of pieces of information I will need:
1.
Base material
2. Shape & Style
3. Decorative elements
4. Desired size
5. Desired delivery date
Base Material
Typically,
the material used for the
coronet determines the
overall color of the coronet. It can also be one of the major factors
affecting
the cost, depending on the material chosen.
Gold
Colored Coronets
For
gold colored coronets, there are
two options:
- Brass/Bronze - nearly all of
my gold colored coronets are made
from a brass or bronze alloy. It is relatively easy to work,
and
allows for a wide range of decorative options.
- Gold Plated - gold plating
is available. It has both
benefits and drawbacks. It is bright, and is nearly tarnish
free.
The layer of gold is only a few millionths of an inch thick
so it
tends to scratch and wear easily. It also adds significantly to the
cost. Based on my experiences with maintaining the
Northshield
crowns, I no longer recommend gold plating for coronets, especially
given the current market price of gold. .
Silver
Colored Coronets
For
silver colored coronets, there are
a number of options:
- Nickel Silver(also known as
German Silver) – this
copper/zinc/nickel alloy is the most
popular choice for silver coronets. It
is a good replacement for sterling silver, which is far more expensive. This
material allows for a wide range of
decorative options and polishes to a very high shine.
If
you are allergic to nickel, I do not
recommend this material.
- Stainless Steel - Like
nickel silver, stainless steel can also be
polished to a high shine. It is a somewhat
more
difficult material to work with compared to nickel silver.
It has the advantage of being very
tarnish resistant. Some
decorative options may not be available
when choosing this material. In particular, anything requiring large
amounts of soldering(soldering on a decorative edge for example) is
very difficult on stainless. The cost is about the same as nickel
silver. I typically used alloy 430 for stainless coronets.
Stainless coronets are by far the strongest coronets I
normally
make. While I used to solder up the seams for stainless
coronets,
the seams are now welded, making them much stronger than
before.
- Sterling
Silver- Sterling silver much more expensive than
the previous options. Because of the cost, I
do not keep this material on hand. The
market price for sterling silver varies from day to day, and any
request for this material will take the current price into account.
Shape
& Style
Once the
base material is selected, the next thing you will need to decide on is
the basic shape and style of the coronet. Below you will find
images of some of the most common designs I have made over the years.
Other shapes and styles are available on
request. More examples are available here.
For those coronets with multiple points(such as the Equal
Height
Points image below) I will need to know if you want a point
in
the center front or the low area in the center front. This
will
help me bend the coronet into the appropriate shape so you don't have
to.
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| Plain
Band |
Embattled |
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| Equal
Height Points |
Points
with Different Heights |
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| Diadem(Open
back pictured) |
Hinged |
Edge
Decoration
One of the
most common ways of adding visual interest to a coronet is to add some
sort of
decoration at the bottom and/or top edge.
As you can see from the
images, there are a wide variety of
options
available.
The images below are a sample of the most common
requests.
Please ask if there is something else you would like.
For
all of the wire edge types, it is possible to either use a constrasting
color or the same color as the background material.
Some options may not be available
on the top edge for some styles of coronet:
- If your base material is stainless steel,
the
"wire" options below are generally not available.
- If your coronet is gold plated, the wire
edgings
will also be gold plated..
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| Rolled
Bottom Edge |
Twisted
Wire |
Double
Twisted Wire(extra cost) |
Flattened
Twisted Wire |
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| Half
Round Wire(extra cost) |
Double
Half Round Wire(extra
cost) |
Applied
Strip |
Decorative
Rivets |
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| Embossed |
Roped |
Pearls
If you
chose to have “pearls” that
stand above
the top edge of the coronet, there are a variety of options available.
The standard size is approximately 1/2"(12 mm) in diameter.
The options I typically have on hand are:
- Glass "pearls" -
white
- Glass "pearl" iridecent black
- Blue glass
- Purple dyed marble
- Black Onyx
There are many other options
available, including a variety of colors in glass(marbles) as well as a
wide selection of gemstones. The in-stock options above are
included with the base price of a coronet. Other options(such
as
gemstones) may increase the price of the coronet. If you
have something specific in mind, please let me know(either by color or
by specific
type) and I'll look into what is available and get back to you.
There are several ways to attach the pearls. Below are the
most
common options:
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| Cup Holder
- This
design is the most popular. It provides good suport for
the pearls which are glued into place. This design only works
for
pearls that are approximately 1/2" in diamater. |
Snap-In
- This design
allows you to rapidly change out your pearls. They
simply pop out and new ones can be snapped into place. This
allows you to change to a different color to match the rest of your
outfit. |
Post
- This method is
typically used for larger pearls or for hinged coronets. |
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| Cabochon on Point - You
can mount a cabochon directly on the point so it sticks above the body
of the coronet. |
Peak Inset
- If you
would like the pearls at the peak but not sticking above, this is
another option. |
Other
Decorations
There
are many ways to dress up your coronet such
as stones,
etchings, castings, enamels, etc. I’ll
explain a little bit about each option below with providing some
examples.
This
is a list of the most common elements
that I have used in the past and other options are available. Please
enquire
if you have something specific in mind. My basic coronets
have an
allowance for decorations based on both the cost of materials and the
time involved to make and/or attach them to the coronet.
Stones
–
There are a wide variety of different types of stones available,
everything
from glass to diamonds.
The only real
limit is how much money you want to spend.
Because of the huge variety
available, I do not keep a
significant stock of gemstones on hand. The table below gives
you
a
general idea of the types of stones that are avilable
for the
most common colors. It is by no means complete and other
types
are available. Please note that because most gemstones are a
natural product, there can be significant variation in the color and
patterns of the stones. If you have any specific questions,
please ask. I
am not able to post a price list
due to the changes in market
price for many types of stones.
Throughout history many
cultures have
developed beliefs about the powers of certain types of gemestones. If
you are interested in birthstones or zodiac stones, JewleryCentral.com
has a good summary. GemstoneMeanings.com
is a good reference and has images of many of the stones listed below.
| Red/Pink/Orange |
Green |
Blue/Purple |
Gold/Yellow |
Black |
White/Silver |
Other |
Red Lace Agate
Ruby
Carnelian
Coral
Garnet
Red Jasper
Rose Quartz
Glass
Citrine
Dyed Paua Shell |
Green Agate
Emerald
Jade
Green Adventurine
Malachite
Apple Green Chrysoprase
Peridot
Glass
Dyed Paua Shell |
Blue Lace Agate
Blue Agate
Lapis Lazuli
Denim Lapis
Turquoise
Blue Chalcedony
Sodalite
Dyed Howlite(Turquoise)
Dyed Howlite(Lapis)
Sapphire
Glass
Moonstone
Topaz
Iolite
Dyed Paua Shell(blue)
Dyed Paua Shell(purple)
Amethyst
Lavendar Amethyst |
Amber
Glass
Dyed Paua Shell |
Black Lace Agate
Pyrite
Black Onyx
Snowflake Obsidian
Hematite
Mahogany Obsidian
Glass |
Opal
Mother of Pearl
Glass
Moonstone
Howlite |
Agate
Dalmatian Jasper
Moonstone
Tigereye
Glass |
Stone Mountings
– There are a number of options for mounting stones.
My
standard method is to use plain cabochon bezels. There are
also
serrated and scalloped bezels available for some sized stones.
Finally, pronged bezels, bezels on mounting plates
and other
custom mounts may also be an option. Mounting plates are
available in nearly any shape you want and are an easy way to add
visual interest to your coronet. Here are pictures of some
of
the options:
| Plain Bezel |
Serrated Bezel |
Bezel With Mounting Plate |
Bezel With Mounting Plate |
Pronged Bezel |
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Image coming soon!
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Image coming soon! |
Enamels
– Custom enamels are another decorative option for
your
coronet. Due to the time involved to create a custom enamel
piece, cost are high, normally in excess of $100 per enamel.
Due
to the time required, I rarely accept commisions for enamel work.

Castings/Stampings–
It is possible to use a variety of castings and stampings
to decorate your coronet. I typically use commerically
available
castings and stampings so there is a large variety avaialable. Prices
vary widely, depending on material and availability.
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| Fluer de lys |
Compass Rose |
Strawberry Leaves |
Decorative Setting |
Etchings & other
applied
work
–
Etchings are a very popular option for coronets. I can create
a
custom etching or etchings that can be attached to the main part of the
coronet. For brass or nickel silver coronets, it is also possible to
etch directly onto the body of the coronet. As
you can see from some of the images,
etchings can be very detailed. If you have something in
particular you would like me to etch, I'll need an image to make sure
it is feasible. Other options such as laurel wreath cutouts
or
lettering are also available.
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| Panther |
Pelican |
Griffin |
Maple
Leaf |
Tudor
Rose |
Pierce-work
– One option is to remove areas of the body of the
coronet,
allowing light
through.
It is also possible to back
pierce-work with a contrasting color, often used for heraldic charges.
Desired
size
There are
two ways to specify how large around you want the coronet to be:
- Specify
the inside measurement of the coronet. This
option is typically used by people who already have a coronet and
want a new one the same size. If you do
not already have a coronet, an easy way to get this measurement is to
find some
cardboard or thick paper and cut out a long strip.
Wrap
the strip around your head and adjust it
so it is large enough to go over any padding you wish to use. Take
it off your head and measure it.
- Measure
your head using a flexible tape. Add
enough length to account for any padding you wish to
use(I typically add between 5/8" and 7/8").
When providing your measurement, please
let me know
which method you are using. Your final coronet size will be
within 1/8" of your
requested size.
In
addition to the circumference,
I’ll also need to know the height. There
may be certain limitations based on the design elements you have chosen. Many
of my customers leave the height up to
me(sometimes specifying a maximum height).. In
this case I will pick a height
that looks appropriate given the types of decoration and shape of the
coronet.
One warning, if you are
planning
on using the
coronet in a living history or other group, please let me know if there
are any
rules regarding height or other decorative elements that I may not be
aware of.
Padding
I
would be happy to provide padding with your
coronet if you would like. My standard method is to apply
self-adhesive Velcro to the inside of the coronet and to use polar
fleece for the padding. This provides a comfortable,
removable padding. The
additional cost for padding
is $15 per coronet
Delivery
Date
While it depends on my workload (and material availablity in certain
cases), I typically finish most coronets within 45 days of receiving
the initial
deposit. The expected delivery date will be set before I
accept
the work. If you need a coronet faster than this, additional
charges will apply. For rush orders, payment in full up
may be required in order to meet the desired delivery date.
Depending on my workload and schedule, I may or may not be
able
to accept a
rush order.
Cost
Cost varies depending on the materials selected as well as the amount
of time it will take to make the coronet. Once I have all the
information for your commision, I will quote a price and expected
delivery date. The images below should give you an idea of
what
price range your desired coronet may fall into, assuming
nickel
silver
as a base material..
Prices do not include shipping. I typically ship via UPS
ground,
insured. Shipping is typically around $18 for one coronet and
$24
for two if shipped at the same time. Requiring a signature is
an
extra $5. I am willing to make other arrangements on a
case-by-case basis.
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| Basic
Coronet - Starting at $275 |
Standard
Coronet - Starting at
$325
|
Coronet
With Custom Decorations -
Starting at $375 |
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| Highly
Customized -
Starting at $425 |
Hinged
Coronets - Starting
at $480+ |
Payment
My
standard terms are a deposit of 50% up front, with the remainder prior
to
delivery. Deposits are non-refundable once materials have
been ordered
and/or work has started. Some orders may require a larger
deposit if
material costs are very high. When I notify you that the coronet is
complete
and the final payment is due, I will e-mail photographs. Once
you have
been notified that the coronets are complete, final payment is due
within 30
days unless otherwise agreed upon.
In order to ensure that there are no
delays, rush orders must be paid
for in full up front.
I HIGHLY recomend sending payment using some sort of tracking or
delivery confirmation. This is available through most
shipping
services. Check or money order are the preferred methods of
payment. Please do not send payment until I have accepted
your
commission.