Suppose you’re excited by the idea of a custom engagement ring but don’t know where to start. In that case, we’ve compiled this simple list of steps to guide you through the process, from selecting a gemstone and mounting to finding the perfect jeweler to carry out your vision. Let’s take a closer look at why you should consider designing your own engagement ring.
Why You Should Consider a Custom
Engagement Ring
An engagement ring plays an astonishing role in the wearer’s life, unlike any other piece of jewelry in your collection. Your engagement ring is a sacred and enduring symbol of your love and commitment to another person. For this reason alone, choosing the design deserves special care and attention.
For most people, engagement rings are the one piece of jewelry they wear daily for life! You want a ring that you’re delighted with, looking at every day as a sparkling reminder of your special bond with your significant other.
Engagement rings also become keepsakes and/or family heirlooms. Engagement rings are often passed down through the years and remain a family treasure for generations. The more valuable the gemstone, the more likely it will be remounted and repurposed within your lineage for decades or even centuries.
Engagement rings are eternally engaging conversation pieces. A custom engagement ring with your personal touches and flair is an instant attention grabber and conversation starter. When people ask about your ring, you’ll have a unique story.
How to Design Your Engagement Ring
Once you decide to take the plunge and design your engagement ring, it’s time to start sorting through your options. Here are the steps you must take when designing your custom engagement ring.
Consider Your Budget
Engagement rings, even custom ones, are available in various options to suit different budgets. A simple custom ring design will be more affordable than an elaborate ring designed to be mass-produced and micro-adjusted for all.
Before starting the design process, knowing how much you’re willing to spend is essential. Conceptualizing your budget will help avoid any disappointment if it turns out that certain gemstones or styles won’t work with your budget. An experienced jeweler can help you decide what to prioritize in your ring design so that you can craft something beautiful that also fits your budget.
Determine a Style
The first step in creating a custom engagement ring is determining the style. Style refers to a ring’s overall look and feel and is influenced by the different stones, embellishments, and other materials used in its construction. For example, vintage and antique styles are hugely popular since they have timeless, classic, and nostalgic qualities.
To get an idea of the styles you and your partner like, look through magazines and social media to find rings you love. Bring these to show your jeweler so they can understand your taste and help you determine the right ring style. If you have an artistic side or are just feeling inspired, you may wish to sketch out your ideas for your ring design to help clarify your ideas.
Select a Mounting
(always referred to as a Semi-Mounting on our website)
Next, select your mounting. The mounting is just as crucial as the gemstone. It helps determine the overall look and visual impact of the ring. That’s why many people start with the mounting and go from there.
Solitaire, halo, pave, prong, three-stone, antique — there are dozens of ring mounting styles to choose from. If you and your partner are working together on the design, you can go to a jeweler together and try on several different types of rings to see what looks best. If you’re designing the ring as a surprise for your beloved, peek at their jewelry box to see what styles they prefer.
Select a Shape
With your mounting and style down, it’s time to look at gemstone shapes. No matter what type of gemstone you choose — be it a traditional diamond or something else — the setting can help guide your choice of shape since certain settings will show off specific shapes better than others.
The cut of your gemstone will help show off your centerpiece, bringing out the particular facets and angles of the gem to maximize the sparkle in your look. Options range from the classic round brilliant, princess cut, pear shape, oval brilliant, trillion, asscher cut, heart shape, and many more.
When choosing the shape of your gemstone, you’ll also want to consider any accent gems accompanying it. These gemstones support the ring’s “leading lady,” enhancing her beauty and charm. You might surround the central diamond with smaller diamonds that boost the sparkle factor. Another idea is to create contrast and visual intrigue by pairing your main gemstone with accents in contrasting colors. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and natural color diamonds are popular choices.
Choose a Precious Metal
The band for your custom engagement ring also requires careful consideration. Options range from classic yellow or white gold to platinum and rose gold. When making your decision, consider the potential wear and tear the ring might face. Suppose the wearer leads a particularly active lifestyle. In that case, you’ll want to steer clear of the softer metals and stick to harder ones that can stand up to regular bumps and jostles without losing their shape.
Review Diamond and Gemstone Options
In most people’s cases, the centerpiece is the most critical component. Suppose you decide that your center gem will be a diamond. In that case, you will want to understand the basics of assessing quality: cut, clarity, carat, and color. Again, an experienced jeweler can walk you through this, but brushing up on your own doesn’t hurt.
If you go the non-traditional route and choose a different gem, such as a ruby, emerald, or sapphire, familiarize yourself with the properties of your chosen mineral masterpiece to feel confident that you’re selecting a high-quality specimen.
Find A Jewelry Artist and Start the Design Process
The design and fabrication process can begin once you have a handle on the setting, style, shape, and stone for your custom engagement ring!
If you’re not an avid jewelry buyer, you might wonder where to get a custom-designed engagement ring. An experienced jeweler who specializes in engagement rings is your best bet. One place to start your search is to ask for a word-of-mouth recommendation from friends and family. You can also search social media for a jeweler in your area specializing in custom engagement rings.
Pro tip: You can reach out to the experts at Brinker’s Jewelers for advice on creating a unique ring that will look great for years by taking advantage of Brinker’s Jewelers custom jewelry design service. We offer a personalized experience from start to finish to help you bring the engagement ring of your dreams to life. It all starts with you. One of Brinker’s Jewelers professionals will sit down with you and get to know your love story, lifestyle, and preferences so they can start brainstorming ideas that will suit you and your significant other—taking detailed notes, sketches, and photographs to capture your vision as accurately as possible.
Once the design details are envisioned, Brinker’s will use computer modeling technology to create 3-D versions of your ring design for your review and approval. The 3-D model lets you see your ring from every angle to ensure it’s picture-perfect to your mind’s eye.
The next step is creating a wax model of the ring that you can touch and hold in your hands to get a sense of the finished design’s size, weight, and look. When you’re 100% satisfied with the details and dimensions, their trained staff will start crafting genuine articles from your selected precious metals and gemstones.
The final custom piece is carefully shaped and crafted by skilled artisans to your exact specifications and delivered to you in the little green box so that you can pop the question in style (and snap those all-important proposal photos).
Are you ready to get started designing your custom engagement ring? Contact Brinker’s Jewelers to schedule an appointment with one of our master jewelers.
