Alex Gulko Custom Jewelry

We have been long time customers of Mr. Gulko. I can tell you it all started almost a decade ago when we spontaneously stopped for lunch across the street at his small and quaint jewelry store. I feel in love with a particular ruby necklace, but that was the end of it- or so I thought! A few years later my husband surprised me with the most lovely and beautiful engagement ring that was crafted by Alex. I receive compliments on every single piece he has ever made for the both of us. Alex has great attention to detail, he is extremely professional and he is a true artist!

If you are looking for spectacular jewelry, this is the place. I have now worked with Alex on 2 different pieces and am in the process of developing a 3rd with him. He is such a great jeweler and clearly excels in this field. I couldn't imagine working with anyone else and it will be a sad day when he retires.

I visited many jewelers before coming to Alex and I always felt a little uneasy about what they would create. It always felt like they were trying to sell something than create something. I think that is where Alex really sets himself apart in that he wants to feel the same inspiration you do and then works with you to create your vision.

Each time I have worked with him, it has been extremely comfortable, and he takes the time to understand what you want. Each time I went through multiple iterations, changing small aspect each time and he was so patient in creating lots of different renderings for me.

When it came to picking out diamonds, he had a great selection and always seemed to find a perfect stone at a very affordable price. He clearly has a knack for identifying the right stones that will look far better than they are worth in the setting you are designing with him.

Lastly, I really appreciate how up front he is on the pricing and is very clear. It certainly always felt like I was getting a very good deal, and I can say after visiting many other jewelers, I could not get nearly as nice of a piece from anyone else for the price I paid.

Overall, it was just an absolutely pleasant experience and I am so happy with the pieces he has made. I cannot speak highly enough of Alex and how beautiful his pieces are. He is certainly someone I would travel across the country to work with but am lucky enough to have him here in Ann Arbor. It will certainly be a sad day when he retires so I will have to get as much in now as I can.

Pros: custom, up-front, high quality, affordable
Cons: he has his own style so make sure you like his past work, but otherwise, none!

I went to Alex for a resizing of my wedding ring, which I hadn't been able to wear for 15 years of my nearly 30-year marriage. It turned out that resizing it was impossible for a variety of factors. So instead, we turned to a custom design. Alex worked with us to create the perfect ring - white gold carved with art deco elements that evoked pieces of our relationship, an awesome (individually selected) purple sapphire, a perfect match to my tiny engagement ring diamond, and some really wonderful custom features. (For example - that flattened bottom, which I would recommend to anyone designing a wedding ring, as it's made it so comfortable when resting my hand on flat surfaces.) These photos are the computerized renderings he provided of the ring prior to making it. It's even more gorgeous in real life. I couldn't recommend Alex or his store more - it was a terrific experience! He's thoughtful, a great listener, and the final work is so impressive.

After having read MANY positive reviews, I decided to commission Mr. Gulko for an engagement ring piece. I'm glad to report that the reviews were spot on, Alex is an excellent craftsman who made the perfect piece. My fiancée absolutely loves it and I have Mr. Gulko to thank. I would absolutely recommend his work if you're looking for custom jewelry!

It's been about a year since I worked with Alex. I couldn't be happier with my decision to work with him on my fiance's engagement ring. The Project was a little different, I wanted to use just the stone from my mother's engagement ring and design a totally new ring. From the very start Alex understood and was able to translate my vision into a physical thing which was amazing I don't think anyone else could have succeeded in bringing to life what was in my head. absolutely recommend for any of your jewelry needs your later have had no problems with the ring at all.

Ten years ago my husband worked with Alex to design my engagement ring and we worked together on a wedding band as well. My husband recently partnered with Alex to surprise me with a gorgeous ring for my right hand. Alex listened to what my husband wanted and made recommendations to not only ensure the design checked all of his boxes but also maximized his budget. After I received the ring we needed to size it, and Alex emailed and FaceTimed with us before we decided to use sizing as an excuse to visit Ann Arbor. Alex made it so easy to get my ring sized and inscribed the band while we were there. I am SO happy with the ring and the entire experience . Thanks Alex!

I own several of Alex's gorgeous studio creations, but had never asked him to make me a ring. I knew little about how he worked with his clients, but I knew it was time to learn. I had been obsessing about having a high quality deep dark purple amethyst ring for years and I had some vague ideas for a design. I wanted something unique and special; a ring with the birthstones of my sister, mother and daughter. Alex found the perfect amethyst, ruby and diamond and patiently helped bring my rough design into form, inviting my questions and suggestions throughout. It was super to be included in the design process, seeing the ring evolve from sketches, to CAD drawings, to machined wax model to finished product. I even saw him making the ring via video, as I live 800 miles from Ann Arbor. I highly recommend Alex, whether you need a gift for a loved one or friend, or simply want to lift your own spirits with one of his masterpieces. (2020 has been a super tough year; you know you deserve this! Go for it.) There is nothing like Alex's jewelry to make you smile. I cannot say enough about how happy I am with my new ring. It fits perfectly, it is everything I imagined and someday my daughter will appreciate it, too. Thank you Alex! And, Go Blue!!

Alex designed and made our engagement ring, and it was a fantastic experience. He was in the process of changing locations, and even though he couldn't meet at a store front, he made himself available and communication was always easy. He was considerate of discretion although it wasn't necessary, and worked with us to design a beautiful ring that my fiancee is thrilled with. I will definitely consult with Alex on future jewelry purchases and alterations.

Alex was very easy to work with. We went through books of his designs and he asked me to choose the ones I liked. Based on this, he came up with a pendant design for a stone I had. He added some of his own stones as well, and the quality was very nice.

Custom jewelers usually work with high quality materials, and the prices are pretty good for the quality and workmanship. Alex Gulko is right up there in this regard.

Alex created the perfect custom engagement ring for my fiancé. She is very happy with the ring and constantly receives compliments with people asking where she found such a unique and beautiful ring. He went out of his way to make sure we completely loved the ring. When we tell people we got it from an independent jeweler in Ann Arbor, they are shocked. Throughout the process of designing the ring Alex was communicative and trustworthy, and we are both very happy we chose Alex and his incredible work over mass produced jewelry.

We decided to have two custom engagement rings made. We could have driven to Chicago which would have been closer and we even contemplated flying to New York, but after reading reviews for Alex we made an appointment. We have never been so right. We each had a different idea of how each ring should look. Alex took the time to carefully listen to each of us on what was important in terms of design details, fit and function. He offered knowledgeable suggestions and was able to quickly draw the initial sketch of each ring. We were able to choose the finest quality gemstones, and for the center diamond he worked with his select partners for a quality and cut of diamond that is comparable to none. Alex was able to capture what our visions were for the rings in only two renditions. The end result was far more beautiful that we could ever begin to describe. What Alex has designed is truly a work of art, his craftsmanship and attention to detail is unmatched. If you are looking for a unique one of a kind creation that you can treasure forever, Alex Gulko is the artist you need to contact.

The engagement ring that Alex created for my fiance and I is absolutely incredible and a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Alex provided a totally personalized experience for me from the first time I walked through the door, and collaborating with him on the design was an easy and fun process.

Throughout every follow-up meeting or email communication, Alex was very professional and clear about the process of the custom design. His price was very affordable and his jeweler's advice and expertise is completely priceless when it comes to the details that make a ring truly special.

I wanted to give an engagement ring which was a customized piece of art and unique reflection of my fiance's spirit and personality (i.e.: not a mass-produced & boring stone and setting.) This was extremely important to me when I knew that I wanted to propose to her, and after seeing some of what other jewelers (chains, smaller boutiques, other designers) had to offer and not being impressed, I was incredibly happy when I found Alex.

The first time I walked into the shop I had a consultation with him and he sketched out a rough design for the ring. I had a feeling that this was going to turn out perfect. After all it did, she said yes and absolutely loves the ring!

Thank you Alex!

My husband & I wanted to upgrade my wedding ring from 30 years ago and didn't know where to go. Upon reading the great reviews for Alex Gulko, we decided to meet with him. I was so impressed with the jewelry I saw in his shop, I knew instantly we went to the right person. I fell in love with a wedding ring he had on display and placed our order that day. I still wanted to do something with my existing wedding ring and saw the wonderful before/after rings he had created on his website, so several months later I met with Alex again to discuss creating a new design using my existing diamonds. Alex created the most beautiful unique gold ring with my diamonds and adding a blue zircon and had it done in time for our 30th wedding anniversary. Both experiences were great and I will definitely recommend Alex to my family & friends. I get so much pleasure looking at my new rings every day. Thank you Alex!

Alex made for me an absolutely stunning wedding band in antique style to match the ring I inherited. He advised me on the right style, designed the band and then matched it so perfectly, that it looks as the set was created at the same tine. Ales also surprised me with the speed of his work. He finished my ring much sooner than I expected and the quality of the work is superb. The price for this kind of work was very reasonable. In addition, Alex is very knowledgeable person, and it is fascinating to talk to him about stylistic differences and the development in the history of jewelry. Thank you. Alex!

I absolutely love my ring!! We chose Alex for my engagement/wedding ring because every time I walked by his shop, his beautiful custom pieces captured my eye and I had to stop and peek. I did not know exactly what I wanted in the ring at first, but Alex met with us to understand our style and personalities. He then showed us designs that really spoke to us and began piecing together details in sketches and a computer design. After the final design, Alex went to work to create a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind piece that is uniquely ours - and within our budget. I would recommend Alex to anyone who wants a unique piece of jewelry with high quality craftsmanship and artistry.

I just picked up my rings from Alex today, and I love them! He helped us figure out how to best use the diamonds we inherited to make my engagement ring and wedding band. He totally understood what I wanted, and delivered it way more quickly than I expected for custom jewelry. He was also extremely professional and replied promptly to emails. I highly recommend Alex!

My (now) wife and I walked into Alex Gulko’s establishment downtown while out on a date. I had fairly recently popped the question and we were looking for design ideas so we could come up with a ring that was representative of “Us”. Alex never treated us like just another customer, he took the time to sit down and get to know a little about us, our story and picked our brains about what we were looking for. The wedding ring design that Alex came up with after listening to us was absolutely stunning, we knew right then that we had to work with him. 4 years later I still catch my wife admiring her ring, in fact, we both do!
Our lives are a little different these days, we’ve got a 1 year old that runs us ragged and I thought my beautiful wife deserved a little spoiling, so I emailed Alex Gulko and after chatting back and forth a bit he came up with 3 absolutely brilliant earring designs that really incorporates the theme behind her ring. The hardest part of this entire process was trying to decide between the three design options because all of them were (per my wife) “perfect”! In the end we each selected our preference and, luckily, landed on the same option. Alex opened up his shop for us and took the time to show us our options in terms of stones, sizes and clasps. We walked away knowing he was about to bring her dreams to life. Two weeks later I met up with Alex again, this time to pick up his creation, and I tell ya what, we were not disappointed!
She LOVES her new earrings and how much they represent “Us”. She’s spent quite a bit of time in front of the mirror admiring them these last couple days.
Working with Alex Gulko is an absolute pleasure, he’s extremely knowledgeable and takes pride in his craft, he won’t create something he isn’t proud of and won’t use a stone unless it’s perfect. His prices are very fair too, in fact I was expecting to pay more for each of the projects we’ve worked together on. A friend of mine is thinking about popping the question to his girlfriend and asked for advice, there’s only one name I considered giving him, if you’ve read this far it’s obvious isn’t it!
Thank you again Alex!

I went to Alex for help with the design and creation of a ring, using an aquamarine and several diamonds taken from other pieces of jewelry. When I first met with Alex, I really had no idea what I wanted; I just had the stones and a few very basic concepts. Alex and I met on several occasions and he also developed sketches and computer renderings, to help me arrive at a final design plan. I was uneasy about committing to a design, but trusted Alex's judgement and am so grateful that I did! In just a few weeks, he created a piece of jewelry that is more lovely than anything I could have imagined. It is exactly what I wished for, even though I didn't even know what that was when we began the process. I love that my new ring is made from the stones that I brought to Alex (which have sentimental value) but the ring I now have is one thousand times more beautiful what I had anticipated. Alex's work really is incredible - both the understanding of the client's taste and goals; and the work itself. He is a master artisan!! I will would not go to any other jeweler for future projects. Highly recommend!

Alex was incredibly helpful and receptive in aiding me in constructing a beautiful engagement ring. I entered with a concept in mind, but having Alex walk me through the process while also providing his immense wealth of experience was what really stood out and made the entire process flow smoothly. For me and my fiance our custom designed engagement ring is exactly what we were looking for and would highly recommend Alex as a go to expert on both standard or any custom design jewelry ideas you may have.

Alex was very helpful in bringing my vision into reality. Not only was he a skilled craftsman, but he was also genuinely interested in his craft. Alex was very organized and detailed every step of the ring design/creation project. His work speaks for itself, but what cannot be shown through the physical product of the product he designed for me, I can attest to through my own experience. Kind, detailed, efficient, and personable are all ways I would describe Alex. I would recommend anybody to Alex for their custom jewelry wants and needs.