What to Expect When Custom Designing an Engagement Ring
When it comes to something meant to be worn every day, like a wedding or engagement ring, it should sparkle and shine as bright as your personality and personal taste.
Sometimes the perfect ring may already be sitting in your jeweler’s case, but if not, then here’s what you need to know about custom designing your own perfect masterpiece.
- Find a Reputable Jeweler that Specializes in Custom Work
Check with family and friends for possible recommendations, or journey online and check reviews of other clients’ firsthand experiences. It’s important to find a jeweler that has experience in custom jewelry design. Also, be sure to have a set budget in mind and discuss a general price range before you commit to any custom work. This can keep you out of a potentially sticky financial situation.
- Schedule a Consultation
If you plan to go the custom route, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the specifications. Sitting down with your trusted jeweler and discussing the ins and outs of customization can give you an idea of how much time to plan for.
- Bring Pictures!
The most helpful thing you can do during your consultation is have pictures or sketches ready for inspiration. Knowing the general style that you’re looking for provides a starting point, and then from there the possibilities are endless!
- Select Your Base Metal
Most engagement rings are traditionally found to be made from yellow gold, white gold, or platinum. There are also some other popular options such as rose gold, palladium, or titanium. These types of precious metals tend to hold up well over time and also retain great secondary value, which means this could be a great piece to pass down as a family heirloom. When creating your own engagement ring, you can really choose any metal you prefer, but just be sure to discuss the pros and cons of other metal types before you make that decision.
- Carefully Select Your Ideal Stone
Traditionally, diamonds are the featured stone of an engagement ring, but that doesn’t mean that you are required to go that route. Some people choose to stray from tradition and instead of a white diamond they go with alternative center stones such as colored diamonds, colored sapphires, or even moissanite or morganite. Ideally, if you choose an alternative stone, you want to choose one that isn’t soft or easily scratched (this saves you on replacement costs down the road).
- Choose Your Special Cut
Once a type of stone is chosen then the decision on the cut comes next. There are a variety of options including round, cushion, princess, oval, emerald, pear, radiant, asscher, marquise, or even heart. You could even choose to leave the stone uncut, which means it is placed on a band exactly as it came from the earth, and instead of fitting the stone to the setting, the setting is made to fit the stone.
- Pick a Setting
If you thought there were a lot of choices when it comes to cuts, there are even more when it comes to settings. For example, you could choose between halo, cathedral, prong, bezel, bar, flush, suspension, tension style, channel, pavé, vintage, cluster, shank, three-stone settings, and more! You aren’t expected to know what each setting looks like, but this is why inspiration pictures are tremendously helpful when it comes to narrowing down to the preferred style.
- Keep Your Wedding Band in Consideration
If you want to save time and money, then designing the band at the same time as the ring will mean you can budget for the complete set, and you only have to go through the process once. In some cases, designing them both at the same time allows the jeweler to be able to offer special pricing.
- Find Out How Much Customization is Needed
Sometimes it’s possible to find a setting that is already close to what you’re looking for, and if that’s the case, then that setting can potentially be tweaked and customized with your own personal touch, meaning that all that’s left is setting the stone to complete your own unique, semi-custom engagement ring! This process may take at least a few weeks to complete if additional changes need to be made.
If you are looking for a completely unique one-of-a-kind design, then you would need to collaborate on a sketch and wax mold with your jeweler. A rendering (or sketch) would need to be approved by you before moving forward. This tends to be a pricier option and can also take the longest to build.
- Allow Time for Further Customization
Once the ring is complete and the stone is set then there may be a need for further customization, so just be prepared to plan accordingly and allow for extra time if needed. If there are any delicate changes that need to be done by hand, then oftentimes those changes are saved for last.
Once the ring is set, fully customized, and polished then it’s ready to be worn and shown off to the world!
