Terms of Use
Who we are
Westlake Goldsmiths is a one-goldsmith studio based in Austin, Texas. Master goldsmith Sam Tyson makes every piece by hand. The studio is at 807 The High Rd, Austin, TX 78746, reachable at (512) 766-7039 or howdy@westlakegoldsmiths.com, by appointment.
When these terms say "we," "us," or "the studio," that is who we mean.
Site purpose
This site is an inquiry site, not an e-commerce store. You cannot place an order for a ready-made piece or buy inventory from this website — there is no catalog or checkout for browsing the public marketing pages. Submitting the commission form is a way to start a conversation with the studio.
If you are an active client with a studio-issued quote, you can pay deposits and invoices from inside your client portal. Those payments are processed by Stripe on our behalf; card details are sent directly to Stripe and are never stored by us.
Prices visible anywhere on this site (if present) are for reference only. The numbers that matter are the ones in your signed quote.
The commission process
When you submit the inquiry form, you open a conversation. Sam reads every submission personally and replies within two business days. From there we typically meet — in person, by phone, or by video — to talk through the piece.
A binding commission begins only when both of these happen:
- You sign a written quote or commission agreement provided by the studio, and
- You pay the deposit specified in that quote.
Until those two things happen, nothing on this site or in our conversation creates a contract to make a piece. Sharing ideas, receiving sketches, or discussing price are not commitments.
Deposits & refunds
The specific payment terms of each commission are set in writing at quote time. They vary based on the complexity of the piece, the materials involved, and the timeline.
Deposits are typically non-refundable once design work begins. Design work — CAD rendering, wax carving, stone sourcing on your behalf — represents real time and material cost to the studio. The refund rules that apply to your commission are the ones written in your quote.
If anything in your quote is unclear, ask before you sign.
Intellectual property
Designs belong to Westlake Goldsmiths until final delivery. Sketches, CAD files, wax models, renderings, and progress photos remain the studio's property throughout the process. This protects the craft and the work.
The finished piece is yours. Once you have accepted delivery and final payment has cleared, the physical piece and the right to wear, sell, or bequeath it belong to you.
We may photograph completed work for our portfolio, website, and social channels. If you would prefer we don't publish images of your piece, request that in writing before delivery and we will honor it.
Materials & provenance
Sam sources stones and metals from established dealers. Provenance documentation — mine origin, treatment disclosure, lab grading reports — is available on request for significant pieces and is generally included by default for center stones over a certain value (we'll tell you which).
If provenance, ethical sourcing, or lab-grown alternatives matter to you, raise it early in the conversation and we will build the commission around those requirements.
Inspiration images
When you upload reference photographs through the commission form, you warrant that you have the right to share them with us — either because you took them, because they are freely licensed, or because you have permission from the rights-holder.
Uploads are used internally for reference only. We will not publish your inspiration images, post them to social media, or share them beyond the studio. They are filed against your commission record and deleted on request.
Site content
The photography, copy, layout, typography, and design of this site are the property of Westlake Goldsmiths. Please don't copy, republish, or reuse them without written permission. If you'd like to write about the studio or feature our work, email howdy@westlakegoldsmiths.com — we are generally happy to help.
No guarantees
This site is provided as a starting point for a conversation. We don't guarantee it is error-free, continuously available, or perfectly up to date. If a fact on this page is out of step with a fact in a conversation with the studio, the conversation is the authoritative source.
Prices, availability of specific stones, lead times, and studio hours all live in dialogue — not in site copy.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute arising from use of this site will be handled in the state or federal courts located in Travis County, Texas.
Contact
For any question about these terms, email howdy@westlakegoldsmiths.com or call (512) 766-7039.
Beta acknowledgment
Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continuing to use the site after an update means you accept the revised terms.