Measuring the piece and not the setting
A slot cut to the shank means the lid closes on the stone. Setting height is the measurement that decides lid clearance and it is the one most often left out.
Fixing both the interior and the exterior
Only one can be held tightly. A brief that specifies an exact interior fit and an exact exterior size is a brief that cannot be met, and it is usually discovered at sampling.
Specifying colour in words
Burgundy covers wine to oxblood. Blush, rose and dusty pink are three colours. A physical swatch, a Pantone number or an existing box settles it; a word does not.
Ordering the box, bag and card separately
Three materials taking the same colour will not match unless they are matched by eye in one run. Ordered separately, they come back close and wrong.
Assuming a logo method works on any material
A post will not go through leatherette, a foil will not hold on velvet, a deboss will not press into lacquer. The material rules out methods before taste does.
Approving from a photograph
Colour and construction both read differently in the hand. The approved sample is what the run is measured against, so it should be a sample you have held, under the light your shop actually uses.
Leaving the outer carton until the end
A box that is posted needs something around it, and sizing that afterwards produces either a loose parcel or a box that will not fit. It belongs in the same conversation as the box.
At a glance
| Mistake | Instead |
|---|---|
| Measuring the piece, not the setting | Measure setting height — it sets lid clearance |
| Fixing interior and exterior | Say which one matters |
| Colour in words | Send a swatch, a Pantone or an old box |
| Buying the set separately | One run, matched by eye |
| Assuming a logo method | Ask what the material allows |
| Approving from a photo | Approve a physical sample, in your shop light |
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most common error?
Measuring the piece and not the setting. The lid then closes on the stone.
Why will my box, bag and card not match?
Because they are three materials taking the same colour, and they were not matched by eye in one run.
Can I approve a sample from photographs?
We do not recommend it. Colour and construction both read differently in the hand.
When should I think about the shipping carton?
At the same time as the box. Sizing it afterwards gives you a loose parcel or a box that will not fit.
Tell us what you need
Tell us the piece, your brand and the quantity you have in mind. We’ll send photos of our work and one clear, all-in quote.