Did you ever go out to dinner with a group of people and notice that everyone has almost the exact same engagement ring? If you are bored by the idea of wearing the same style engagement ring as the rest of the world then why not go for something bespoke? It is, after all, the most special piece of jewellery you’ll ever own. Below is a quick guide on what to expect and what to look out for when commissioning an engagement ring…
Want something designed – ask a designer!
First things first – choose a jeweller that specialises in design and bespoke jewellery. You wouldn’t go to a high street clothes shop to ask about having a wedding dress made for you – the same applies here. A jeweller that specialises in customised engagement rings will be able to ask you the right questions so that they can design the perfect ring for you.
Try, try, try!
Start by trying on lots of rings. There will be aspects of each ring that you like and don’t like and this information will be vital when deciding on the perfect design for you. Your jeweller will be able to guide you and ask the right questions to get a clear idea of what you would like.
A picture speaks a thousand words
Be sure you can visualise the end product. The designer should be able to illustrate all aspects of the design by showing you samples, drawings and pictures. A fantastic tool for this service is computer aided design – rings can be created in a design software programme and rendered so that you can see an exact image of how the ring will look from all angles before it is made.
Adding colour?
There is so much choice when it comes to coloured gemstones and it is a great way to add your style to your engagement ring. However, choose colour carefully – gemstones are natural and therefore no two are exactly the same. While diamonds are graded in every aspect (colour, cut, clarity, etc.), coloured stones are not always quantified in the same way. If you are choosing a coloured stone you should see the actual stone before it is set in the ring. Most jewellers will order 2 or 3 stones for you to choose from.
Wedding bells
Your engagement ring will only stand alone for so long; ultimately you will wear it with a wedding ring. Make sure that a wedding ring is designed at the same time as the engagement ring – you don’t have to order both straight away but you do have to like how they look together.
Be unique
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to be different. It is important that your engagement ring suits your style… maybe you don’t want a ring with a stone in it, maybe you prefer a matte finish, perhaps you want one ring to be your wedding ring and engagement ring combined. There are no rules! Don’t worry about what others think; at the end of the day it is you that will be wearing it for the rest of your life!
Better to be safe than sorry
The million dollar question… What if I don’t like it? Before ordering, discuss with your jeweller what the options are in the unlikely event that you don’t like the ring. Metal can be melted down and reworked and stones can be reset. If you have followed all of the above steps you hopefully will love the end product but the more comfortable you feel about the bespoke process the better. If you have reassurance that the ring can be remade for minimal cost it will make the process a lot less daunting.
Image via tarale
