5 Things to Consider When Designing a Custom Engagement Ring

What bride doesn’t want a ring that is all her own, depicts her personality perfectly, and was thoughtfully designed by her fiancé? Sounds like the dream, right?! We have always been fans of bespoke (truly one of a kind) engagement rings, and after laying eyes on Ada Diamonds‘ stunning creations, we fell even more in love with the concept! But, there are a few things to consider when designing a custom engagement ring. Seriously, we didn’t know how much goes into it (which makes it all the more special!). The team at Ada Diamonds says to keep these 5 things in mind…

1. Select Your Center Stone First!

Custom engagement rings look best when designed around the center stone. It’s important to select your center stone first, then choose a setting style that matches the diamond and your desired aesthetic. Do you love the sparkle of a classic Round Brilliant Diamond, or does the trendy Oval Cut Diamond or elegant Emerald Cut Diamond seem more your style? Don’t know where to start? Select a jeweler you trust to curate the perfect list of options for your price range, size range, and style.

2. Does your ring reflect your style?

When selecting a setting for your engagement ring, it’s important to consider your lifestyle and personal style!  Show off your timeless taste with a classic solitaire, or choose a glam setting with halos or diamond bands. If you’re the type who dares to be different, consider a fancy colored diamond as a center stone or accents.

It’s also important to ensure your ring can stand the test of time. Ultra thin pave set bands are very popular right now, but when paired with a larger center stone, these super thin bands often offer less integrity over a ring’s lifetime. It’s also important to take into account prong styles that match the look you are designing for, but also offer maximum security to protect your diamond! Finally, you might factor in profile height. For some people, who are very active or live in cold climates where gloves are a common accessory, a super high profile engagement ring may not be the best choice.

3. It doesn’t have to be overpriced!

Most people hear custom and they immediately think “expensive.” Thanks to advancements in computer aided design, 3D printing, and casting methods in the USA, custom designing and creating your perfect engagement ring is no longer out of reach. Efficient, Internet-based client service and low overhead allow for substantial savings to pass to the client. In fact, custom settings can be priced comparably to off-the-shelf, mass-produced, impersonal settings found at jewelers around the globe.

4. Be Ready To Use Your Imagination

Despite technology, much of jewelry is still a hand-crafted art. Renderings are able to show clients a facsimile of their end product, but some elements are impossible to “fake”; extended prongs, thick metal, gaps, funny coloring are all common parts of CAD. Once pieces go into fabrication, prongs are cut and bent, diamonds set, and metal polished by hand, leaving a beautiful contemporary ring with hand-crafted elements.

5. Bespoke Takes Time

Your love might have happened at first sight, but it takes several weeks to bring a custom engagement ring from concept to finished product. It typically takes an average of 4-6 weeks to build your perfect ring depending upon how quickly a center stone is selected and your design is approved.

The process of designing your dream ring around one of Ada Diamonds’ conflict-free, laboratory cultured diamonds is a dream in and of itself. The team offers high-end design, continued support, and state-of-the-art technology to turn your vision into a reality! Whether you think he’s about to pop-the-question or you are shopping for rings together, we hope these tips will answer your questions about designing a custom engagement ring and bring you one step closer to something sparkly :).

What style engagement ring is your favorite?