Custom Kings
From CADs to carats, this California jewelry chain relies on Malakan's 35-year partnership to create hundreds of custom pieces each year.
When Jim Carroll talks about custom jewelry design partners, he speaks from experience. As Vice President of Merchandising for Rogers Jewelry Co., a seven-store operation based in Modesto, California, Carroll oversees hundreds of custom pieces annually. And for over 35 years, one name has remained constant in their custom design lineup: Malakan.
“They are one of the original custom design companies around,” Carroll says, noting that Malakan’s experience dates back to 1938 when founder Nazar Malakan first established the business. “They may be the largest custom design manufacturer in the U.S., but they make you feel like you are their only customer.”
That personal touch is by design. Malakan assigns dedicated teams to each retail partner, ensuring consistency and reliability from the first sketch to the final polish. With more than 190 CAD designers producing over 600 custom jewelry designs daily, they’ve developed a streamlined process that delivers both quality and speed. “They offer free CADs and revisions if necessary,” Carroll explains. “They’re very flexible. And they always go above and beyond.”
That flexibility extends to services many competitors won’t touch. While some manufacturers may balk at working with recycled jewelry, Malakan willingly incorporates customers’ existing pieces into new designs, creating both sentimental value and environmental sustainability.
Carroll has also observed the steady rise in demand for custom jewelry across Rogers’ locations. “Custom design is very much on the rise,” he confirms. “Customers want their own unique twist on jewelry. And consumers are starting to feel more comfortable about designing with someone who knows how to put it all together for them.”
The process begins with inspiration — sketches, reference images or even rough ideas — which are refined with specifications for metal, sizing and gemstones. Retail jewelers then send these elements to their personal Malakan representative, who brings the vision to life.
But what really sets Malakan apart, according to Carroll, is the company’s commitment to helping retailers close the sale. “They don’t just do CAD and design, but they help you make a sale. If you need to hit a price point, they will alter or suggest a tweak to the design to make it work for you. They simply can’t be beat.”
Today, Malakan creates more than 150,000 custom pieces annually, blending time-honored traditions with current technology. Their tagline — “Made Without Rules” — reflects their commitment to unconstrained creativity and exceptional craftsmanship.
“There is more access than in years past,” Carroll says about the custom jewelry landscape. “You no longer have to settle. You can have it all.” With Malakan’s expertise behind them, Rogers Jewelry continues to deliver on that promise, creating pieces that become family heirlooms, passed down through generations and valued far beyond their cost — exactly as Nazar Malakan envisioned more than 80 years ago.
For more information on Malakan’s exceptional custom design services, contact the company directly.
E: info@malakandiamond.com
P: (559) 431-1500 • (800) 953-9357
W: malakan.com
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