diff --git a/core/field.js b/core/field.js
index 54554129a..b87a0129c 100644
--- a/core/field.js
+++ b/core/field.js
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ goog.provide('Blockly.Field');
 goog.require('Blockly.Events');
 goog.require('Blockly.Events.BlockChange');
 goog.require('Blockly.Gesture');
+goog.require('Blockly.utils');
 goog.require('Blockly.utils.dom');
 goog.require('Blockly.utils.Size');
 goog.require('Blockly.utils.userAgent');
@@ -44,15 +45,25 @@ goog.require('Blockly.utils.style');
  * @param {Function=} opt_validator  A function that is called to validate
  *    changes to the field's value. Takes in a value & returns a validated
  *    value, or null to abort the change.
+ * @param {Object=} opt_config A map of options used to configure the field. See
+ *    the individual field's documentation for a list of properties this
+ *    parameter supports.
  * @constructor
  */
-Blockly.Field = function(value, opt_validator) {
+Blockly.Field = function(value, opt_validator, opt_config) {
   /**
    * The size of the area rendered by the field.
    * @type {Blockly.utils.Size}
    */
   this.size_ = new Blockly.utils.Size(0, 0);
 
+  if (opt_config) {
+    var tooltip = Blockly.utils.replaceMessageReferences(opt_config['tooltip']);
+    tooltip && this.setTooltip(tooltip);
+
+    // TODO: Possibly eventually add configurations like cursor and css class.
+  }
+
   this.setValue(value);
   opt_validator && this.setValidator(opt_validator);
 };
diff --git a/core/field_registry.js b/core/field_registry.js
index 114b89f9f..26a8aa643 100644
--- a/core/field_registry.js
+++ b/core/field_registry.js
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@
 
 goog.provide('Blockly.fieldRegistry');
 
-goog.require('Blockly.utils');
-
 
 /**
  * The set of all registered fields, keyed by field type as used in the JSON
@@ -82,12 +80,5 @@ Blockly.fieldRegistry.fromJson = function(options) {
       ' being reached.');
     return null;
   }
-
-  var field = fieldClass.fromJson(options);
-  if (options['tooltip'] !== undefined) {
-    var rawValue = options['tooltip'];
-    var localizedText = Blockly.utils.replaceMessageReferences(rawValue);
-    field.setTooltip(localizedText);
-  }
-  return field;
+  return fieldClass.fromJson(options);
 };
diff --git a/tests/mocha/field_test.js b/tests/mocha/field_test.js
index 6d5454434..13c983d91 100644
--- a/tests/mocha/field_test.js
+++ b/tests/mocha/field_test.js
@@ -482,4 +482,50 @@ suite('Abstract Fields', function() {
       delete Blockly.Blocks['tooltip'];
     });
   });
+  suite('Customization', function() {
+    // All this field does is wrap the abstract field.
+    function CustomField(opt_config) {
+      CustomField.superClass_.constructor.call(
+          this, 'value', null, opt_config);
+    }
+    goog.inherits(CustomField, Blockly.Field);
+    CustomField.fromJson = function(options) {
+      return new CustomField(options);
+    };
+
+    suite('Tooltip', function() {
+      test('JS Constructor', function() {
+        var field = new Blockly.Field('value', null, {
+          tooltip: 'test tooltip',
+        });
+        chai.assert.equal(field.tooltip_, 'test tooltip');
+      });
+      test('JSON Definition', function() {
+        var field = CustomField.fromJson({
+          tooltip: "test tooltip"
+        });
+        chai.assert.equal(field.tooltip_, 'test tooltip');
+      });
+      suite('W/ Msg References', function() {
+        setup(function() {
+          Blockly.Msg['TOOLTIP'] = 'test tooltip';
+        });
+        teardown(function() {
+          delete Blockly.Msg['TOOLTIP'];
+        });
+        test('JS Constructor', function() {
+          var field = new Blockly.Field('value', null, {
+            tooltip: '%{BKY_TOOLTIP}',
+          });
+          chai.assert.equal(field.tooltip_, 'test tooltip');
+        });
+        test('JSON Definition', function() {
+          var field = CustomField.fromJson({
+            tooltip: "%{BKY_TOOLTIP}"
+          });
+          chai.assert.equal(field.tooltip_, 'test tooltip');
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });