01What is the typical lead time for a bespoke chandelier?+
For most bespoke hospitality lighting projects, the end-to-end lead time is 8–14 weeks depending on size, finish, and material. Concept and shop drawings take 1–2 weeks; prototype 2–3 weeks; production 4–6 weeks; pre-hang test and ocean freight 2–3 weeks. We confirm a fixed milestone schedule in the quotation so you can plan your opening date backwards.
02What is your MOQ for custom fixtures?+
We treat every project individually. There is no fixed MOQ for a single bespoke design, but a typical first order ranges from 30 to 100 pieces per reference. Mix-and-match across references from the same material family is welcome. Repeat orders after the first sample sign-off have no minimum.
03Can you match a reference sample or photo I provide?+
Yes. Send us a reference, photo, or hand sketch and we will produce a 1:1 prototype for approval before mass production. This is standard procedure for our OEM / ODM clients and the fastest way to verify finish and proportion before tooling.
04Do you provide shop drawings for FF&E packages?+
Yes. Every project includes a complete FF&E lighting package: dimensioned CAD drawings, photometric files (IES), wiring diagrams, suspension point calculations, and a recommended installation sequence. All drawings are stamped by our in-house engineers and re-stamped by a third-party consultant when required by the hotel group.
05Which international certificates do you hold?+
We manufacture under the certificate umbrella of our audited partner factory: UL (E362995, active under factory follow-up service), ETL (240200052TPE-001), CE-LVD (EN 60598, model-tested), RoHS 2.0 (EU 2015/863, model-tested), FSC (CN20/30679, 2025→2030), and BSCI (26-0385758, 2026→2027). Original PDFs are released under NDA.
06Are your certificates issued to Metis Maison or the factory?+
Most production certificates are held by the audited manufacturing facility in the Pearl River Delta, and apply to Metis Maison shipments. As the commercial exporter, Metis Maison issues a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and a commercial invoice for every project, so customs and your procurement team have a single point of accountability.
07Can you share a sample test report for my specific model?+
Yes. Once we confirm a project, we provide the matching model-specific test report (UL, ETL, CE-LVD, RoHS) drawn from the live factory file. We do not share third-party reports for models you are not commissioning, to respect the chain of custody.
08Do you manufacture in-house or outsource?+
Both polishing and assembly are done in our own two facilities totalling 3,800 m² in Zhongshan. We do not outsource final assembly. A small share of metal casting is sourced from a long-term partner mill under our QC supervision; their certificate chain is on file.
09What materials and finishes can you work with?+
Stainless steel (SUS304 / SUS316), brass, bronze, aluminium, K9 / K5 crystal, hand-blown glass, alabaster, fabric shades, and acrylic. Finishes: hand-rubbed bronze, brushed brass, polished chrome, PVD, powder coat, and custom patinas. All plating is ROHS-compliant.
10Do you provide 1:1 prototypes before mass production?+
Yes. Every bespoke design goes through a 1:1 physical prototype for finish, proportion, and optics approval. For hospitality projects, we recommend a full-scale sample of the largest fixture in the package, signed off by the designer and owner, before any production tooling is released.
11Do you pre-hang fixtures before shipping?+
Yes. Every chandelier over 12 kg is pre-hung in the factory with the actual suspension hardware, balanced, and photographed for the client. This is the single biggest risk-reduction step on an overseas hotel project and is included in our standard quotation.
12What is the typical packaging for overseas shipment?+
Triple-wall corrugated crate, vacuum-formed foam cradle for the body, individual sleeves for glass / crystal parts, silica-gel desiccant, humidity indicator card, and an outer heat-treated wooden case compliant with ISPM-15. Container-loading photos and a packing list are sent before the vessel sails.
13Do you work with FF&E procurement companies?+
Yes. We are set up to work as a vendor-of-record for FF&E procurement companies and OS&E suppliers. We accept third-party purchase orders, milestone-based payments via L/C at sight, and can bill in USD / EUR / RMB. NDA, vendor code, and a per-project submittal package are standard.
14Which currencies and payment terms do you accept?+
USD, EUR, RMB, and HKD. Standard terms are 30% T/T deposit + 70% before shipment, or L/C at sight for projects above USD 80,000. Milestone payments are negotiable on multi-phase rollouts (e.g. tower-by-tower hotel delivery).
15Can you ship to multiple destinations on one project?+
Yes. We routinely consolidate a single quotation across multiple villas, towers, or cities, and split the shipment into per-site containers with per-site packing lists. This is common for resort groups and multi-property developments.
16What is the design process from sketch to installation?+
Six stages: (1) concept mood board, (2) CAD / shop drawings, (3) 1:1 prototype, (4) sample sign-off, (5) production with weekly photos, (6) pre-hang test, crating, and on-site installation support by our engineer. A single project manager is assigned from stages 1–6.
17How long do you take to quote a BOQ?+
For a clear BOQ or FF&E schedule with references, we return an itemised quote within 24 hours. For greenfield concepts we return a budget range within 48 hours and a firm quote within 5 working days after the prototype is approved.
18Do you provide on-site installation supervision?+
Yes. For overseas projects we send a senior engineer for the pre-hang and the first on-site installation, typically 5–10 days on site. Travel and accommodation are quoted separately; the engineer's daily rate is included in the quotation appendix.
19What warranty do you offer?+
5 years on the fixture body, plating, and LED modules; 2 years on drivers and electrical components. Wear-and-tear items (lamps under harsh use) are excluded. Warranty is honored worldwide through Metis Maison or a designated local agent.
20What happens if a fixture arrives damaged?+
Photograph the crate and the damaged part within 48 hours of arrival, send to your project manager. We either ship a replacement part from our next batch, or dispatch a local fabricator under our guidance. All crates are pre-photographed before sailing, so claims are settled within 7 days.
21Do you provide finish samples before ordering?+
Yes. We send finish chip sets (50×50 mm) and small material samples by DHL at cost. For larger architectural finishes we ship an A4 sample panel. Sample cost is refundable against a confirmed order above USD 5,000.
22Are your wood and packaging materials sustainably sourced?+
Yes. Our hardwood crates and any wooden luminaire parts come with FSC chain-of-custody certification (CN20/30679). Inner foam is recyclable EPE / EVA, not expanded polystyrene. All cardboard is FSC-recycled.
23What is your social compliance status?+
We are audited under BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), audit ID 26-0385758, valid 2026→2027. Audit report covers working hours, wages, health & safety, and freedom of association. The latest audit summary is shared under NDA.
24How do you protect our design IP?+
We sign a mutual NDA before any mood board, drawing, or supplier name is shared. Designer drawings, custom finishes, and the production partner's identity remain confidential even after the project ships, until publicly released by the client. Moulds and drawings are stored in a restricted-access project folder and are not shown to other clients.
25Will you show our project to other clients?+
Only with your written permission, and only after the hotel is open. Our default policy is: client logos and project photos are not used in our marketing unless you opt in. Project details shared with peer clients (e.g. for reference calls) are always anonymised.
26Which Incoterms do you support?+
EXW, FOB Shenzhen / Ningbo, CIF, DAP, and DDP for most countries. We have in-house export documentation and can arrange freight on your nominated forwarder or ours. Insurance is included in CIF/CIP quotes.
27How long is the ocean transit time?+
Typical door-to-door: 22–28 days to US West Coast, 28–34 days to US East Coast, 28–35 days to EU, 14–20 days to Middle East, 18–25 days to Southeast Asia. We book on Maersk / MSC / COSCO depending on destination and sailing schedule.
28Can you provide photometric data (IES files) for the design team?+
Yes. IES files for every reference are available on request, generated by our lighting-design partner using DIALux / Relux. For project-specific designs, we model the space in DIALux and provide a full luminaire layout + illumination report at no extra cost on orders above USD 30,000.
29Can you match a specific CCT / CRI?+
Yes. We tune LED modules to your specification across 2700K–4000K, CRI 80 / 90 / 95+, with 3-step MacAdam ellipses. Dimming protocols: 0–10V, DALI, phase-cut, and Casambi / Lutron wireless. Mock-ups with your selected CCT are sent for sign-off before production.
30Do you provide controls and smart-lighting integration?+
Yes. We integrate with most hospitality control systems: Lutron, Crestron, KNX, DALI-2, Casambi. Drivers and dimming modules are pre-wired in the factory to your control spec, tested, and labelled, so on-site commissioning is plug-and-play for the controls contractor.