Whether you’re struggling to find the perfect engagement ring, or you’re wanting to create a one-of-a-kind ring for your loved one, custom engagement rings are a popular choice.
For many of us, we’re fighting against the clock when it comes to making an engagement ring in time for the proposal. For others, the wait for an engagement ring that you’ve designed with your spouse can be an exciting (and excruciating) wait.
If you’re looking to create a custom engagement ring, it’s important to understand the process, the timeline, and what you can expect to happen along the way. In this article, we’ll detail the process for designing, manufacturing, and taking final delivery of your custom engagement ring and how long you can expect to wait for each stage of the process.
If you’re thinking about a custom engagement ring for your loved one, you may be wondering how common it is to make a one-of-a-kind ring.
The truth is most engagement rings are custom made – to some extent at least. Whether that means choosing the diamond, the setting, the size, or any other factor, most diamond rings aren’t sitting in a cabinet waiting to be purchased.
Creating a custom engagement ring is much more common and much more affordable than most people think. When you’re buying an engagement ring, you’re buying a lifelong piece of jewellery. As such, it needs to be something that you love. Choosing the stone, the setting, and the size of your engagement ring to suit your hand are all essential pieces of the puzzle when it comes to finding a ring that is truly “you”.
The beauty of getting a custom engagement ring is that you can make things as simple or as personalised as you like. For some, custom simply refers to the size of the ring, while for others, it can refer to creating a one-of-a-kind setting with a stone that features your perfect cut and colour.
Choosing a custom engagement ring means creating a ring that is a unique statement of the relationship.
With so many different combinations and so many different settings on offer, a customised engagement ring allows you to design a ring that incorporates the things that matter most to you.
If you have a clear vision in mind of what you want, then a custom engagement ring lets you draw from that vision to create a ring. Whether that’s an amalgamation of different Pinterest boards that you’ve been keeping, or it’s something that’s been on your mind since the moment you met your partner, you can work with a jeweller to create your perfect, customised engagement ring.
So, how long does it take to make a custom engagement ring from start to finish?
In general, making a custom engagement ring can be broken down into two key stages – the design stage and the manufacturing stage.
As a rule of thumb, it takes approximately 4-8 weeks to design, create, and deliver a custom engagement ring from the moment that you place your order.
Below, we’ll look at the different factors that impact how long it will take to create your custom engagement ring and what you can expect along the way.
Design & consultation (1 week)
The initial design phase is the ‘highest touch’ between you and the jeweller. In this stage, you’ll work with the jeweller to turn your vision into a final design. Your jeweller will help you to understand the possibilities, the different settings, and the different stones that are available for your custom engagement ring. At the end of the design process, you’ll have a final design that is sent off to production.
Production phase (2-5 weeks)
Once your ring has been designed, it is then sent off for production. Depending on the complexity of your design, the seasonality (think: peak periods), and the availability of materials, the production phase can take anywhere from 2-5 weeks. During the initial design and consultation stage, your jeweller will be able to advise on the availability of different materials to create a more accurate forecast for your custom engagement ring production timeline.
Delivery (1-2 weeks)
Once your ring is complete, it then goes through quality control before being delivered to the store. Once it arrives in store, you’ll then get the exciting call to come and see your custom engagement ring. Your jeweller will ensure that it fits correctly and meets your exact design specifications before providing a final handover.
Total time: 4-8 weeks
Not all custom engagement rings are the same, which means that some can take longer than others to make. Some of the most common factors that impact the time that it takes to make a custom engagement ring, includes:
