Why & How
Customizing the diamond engagement ring is the preferred option of those with strong individual tastes and specific requirements. Customizing means either modifying an existing model or inventing a new style.
Begin by choosing what you know best: if you already know the shape of the stone, you'll have to look for a setting that accomodates that shape, as not all shapes fit any setting.
After you have made a pretty close idea of what you want, think of the place you want your ring ordered:
Online Jewelry Stores
They offer a service called “create your own diamond engagement ring”. You get to make an online selection of styles, choosing the stone you like (the preferred 4c grades, the shape), then the metal for the band and the setting model. This is a convenient option, although quite restraining.
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Meet a Designer
An option that offers a theoretically boundless range of choices is going to see a diamond engagement rings designer in person and discuss your requirements with him.
It is better than going to a jewelry store (although they do offer this option) as not many stores afford to have their in house designers and have to send the order out to get it done. Thus you cannot control all stages of the making and the result might not be the expected one.
Going to see a designer in person is the best strategy. Work together with the designer, bring your own ideas but let him/her the space to be creative. Really special results might come out.
Designer Diamond Engagement Rings: Stages of Execution
Consultation and Design
You come with your specific requirements of how you want your ring made. You might want to bring sketches, pictures to give the designer the idea of your style. You will also bring gems or metal you want incorporated.
Sketching
After getting the general idea, variants of sketches from different angles will be made taking into account size and weight. In the end you can choose, or you may prefer parts of some sketches and parts of others.
What's Next?
This stage completed, you have two options: to order a ring cast from a carved wax or to have it done by hand. Hand forging is more expensive because it takes a lot more time.
- If you decide to have it cast, a wax sample will be presented to you for approval (it is usually about 10% bigger than the final ring). The final cast must be cleaned up and polished until it shines. Then the stones are placed. After setting the stones, texture is added, and usually the ring is given a final polish and it is ultrasonically cleaned.
- If you decide to order a hand forged ring, no wax or test model will be done, so you cannot have a preview of the ring until finished. The problem is that the only way to correct something is to melt the ring and do it again. All the procedures are made by hand, taking a lot of time and the work of very skilled and talented craftsmen.
The most desirable way to customize the ring is with the help of a jewelry designer but if you cannot afford it, the most economical way is to get a ready-made cast setting that sells at half the price of a custom-made one. Anyway, if considering buying a loose stone you might save up to 50%.
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