WHOSE STORY WOULD YOU TELL?
Whether you’re looking to carry a loved one with you everywhere you go, give a gift to be cherished for a lifetime, commemorate a milestone, preserve a legacy, or create a new heirloom to be passed down for generations to come, an X Lima hand engraved portrait offers an exclusive, timeless and deeply personal expression of who you hold dear.
In a world inundated with mass-produced replicas, a bespoke portrait stands out as a beacon of authenticity and exclusivity – a testament to your appreciation of craftsmanship and desire to surround yourself with meaningful objects.
Meticulously carved over hundreds of hours using traditional hand engraving techniques, Christian uses bas-relief sculpting, as well as light and texture to bring realism and three-dimensionality to portraits at as little as 0.5mm carved depth.
Taking time to learn as much about the subject as possible, and working with you to capture the essence of the subject through posing, each unique piece is designed to express not just the subject’s likeness, but their spirit.
We are each a result of the people that influence our story. Ultimately, a bespoke portrait serves as a daily reminder of the comfort, inspiration and positive impact a unique individual has had on your life.
THE COMMISSION PROCESS
STEP 1
INITIAL ENQUIRY
Whether you have any questions about commissioning a piece or are ready to start the process, the first step is to submit an enquiry using the form below, or email [email protected]. Once your enquiry has been received, we will be able to answer any questions you may have or provide you with further information on the next steps. The commission process consists of email communication and video calls, meaning it is possible to commission a piece from anywhere in the world.
STEP 2
DISCOVERY PROCESS
The purpose of the discovery process is to understand the goal of the project, listen to your ideas and learn as much as possible about the subject of the piece. In this stage, we will discuss whether you would like to supply an existing piece of jewellery or object to be engraved, or whether you would like to have something new created in conjunction with our highly-skilled jewellery maker partners. You will be asked a series of questions that will help ensure your finished piece captures not just the likeness, but the unique spirit of the subject. A deposit of £300 will be requested to secure your design slot, which will be deducted from the total cost of your commission once the design process is complete.
STEP 3
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Christian will work with the information gathered in the discovery process to develop several design concepts. Once these concepts have been reviewed by you, you will provide feedback on concepts you prefer, elements you like, and anything else. Design concepts will be further developed if necessary, and you will decide on which concept you would like to see brought to life. At this stage, you will be provided with a quote for your piece – pricing will depend on size, complexity of design and whether you decide to commission a new piece of jewellery to be engraved.
STEP 4
FINAL DESIGN
After you have decided on a concept, a detailed, final design will be produced for your review. This will be in the form of a pencil drawing, photographed in high resolution and shared with you via email. The final design may be tweaked at this stage if required. Once you confirm the final design for your piece, 50% of the total value of your commission will be requested before the creation of your piece begins (this will be reduced by £300 to account for your design deposit paid).
STEP 5
CREATION
If you choose to have an existing piece of jewellery or object of yours engraved, this will need to be supplied to us – we will work together to arrange a suitable and secure method of delivery, based on your location. If you opt to have a new piece of jewellery or object created to be engraved, this will go into production with our jewellery maker partners and be hallmarked by the Assay Office of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London. The engraving process will begin at the time of your reserved commission slot. Each piece will take anywhere from 100 to 400 hours or more of meticulous hand engraving, depending on the complexity and size of the design. As such, Christian will only produce a handful of pieces per year and commission slots must be booked in advance. You will be provided with updates on your commission at various stages throughout the process.
STEP 6
COMPLETION
Once your piece has been completed, it will be professionally photographed. You will receive copies of these and the remaining 50% of the total value of your commission will be requested. You will have the option of having your piece securely shipped to you, or arranging an in-person viewing and collection. You will be the owner of a new, unique treasure, individually crafted just for you.
Registered as a maker with the Goldsmiths’ Company, bespoke commissioned pieces created by X Lima Engraving come with a guarantee of precious metal purity using the 700-year-old practice of independent hallmarking at the London Assay Office.
MAKE AN ENQUIRY
If you have any questions regarding commissions or would like to enquire about booking a commission slot, please complete the contact form or email [email protected]
If you have a desired deadline for a commission, please provide details on this.
© X LIMA ENGRAVING 2024