First of all, whether you are thinking of creating a unique custom engagement ring for your future fiancé, or a one-of-a-kind, right-hand ring to treat yourself, congratulations for thinking outside the box and considering a custom made piece!
You may have already done some research or know someone who went bespoke and chances are, they are raving about it.
Custom ring design can be a longer process than popping down to your local jewellery store or clicking the “add to cart” button on your computer, but the personalised,
one-on-one experience truly is priceless.
After spending over a decade in the gemstone and jewellery business, I know that one of the first thoughts that comes to mind when hearing the word “custom” is:
it sounds expensive! I am not going to tell you that it is not.
Today, I will not be telling you that you can create the ring of your dreams
“on a budget”. But if we work together, we can create a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of high quality jewellery, that is worth every penny and you or your significant other will be proud to wear and show off.
If you are currently searching for: “cheap engagement rings” online, the question is, do you want the ring to be, look and feel cheap? If that is the case, no judgement, but I am not the private jeweller you are looking for.
A piece of custom jewellery is an investment. An investment you are making in yourself.
Irina, can you just give me a number?
Right now? Honestly, no.
But I can tell you the four things that will affect the cost of your custom ring:
centre stone (e.g. diamond vs. gemstone, size, weight, shape and quality)
accent or side stones (e.g. diamond halo, large side stones, diamonds on the shoulders)
metal type (e.g. platinum vs. white, yellow or rose gold)
complexity of design (e.g. a solitaire vs. intricate details)
What does custom-made mean exactly?
A custom or a bespoke piece of jewellery is made from scratch and can take 6-8 weeks to complete.
Imagine an experience where:
you tell me about your vision for a dream ring, necklace or earrings
you share your likes and your dislikes
you share what is important to you
you are guided through a gemstone selection process by a certified gemologist
you do not spend hours of your precious time doing research
you are presented with a selection of ethically sourced gemstones tailored to your taste
you make an informed decision without feeling like you are “being sold to”
you are presented with a 3D CAD design which can be altered according to your preference (e.g. adding diamonds, changing the thickness of the band)
you you give the "go ahead!"
you only work with one person, me
you have my full attention through the whole process
you receive you your stunning ring, necklace, earrings, beautifully wrapped up and it is everything you wished for
you say: “Yes! That is exactly what I was dreaming of!” or..
“She is going to love it!”
you receive an independent, third party appraisal, for your piece of mind
you are ready to go!
But that’s no all!
you are excited and proud to wear your one-of-a-kind custom piece or…
you and your fiancé are both over the moon with the creation of a new heirloom
you are constantly complemented on your unique jewellery
you can’t stop smiling and you never want to take it off
The cost of creating a bespoke piece of jewellery reflects this unique, personalised experience.
What is the difference between custom and customised?
Customising means creating a new piece based on an existing design.
For example, if you see a ring (or another piece of jewellery) in my Gallery of previous projects, on my Instagram page or from the Ready-to-Wear collection that you like but you would prefer to choose a different centre stone or metal colour, that is possible! (e.g. a sapphire instead of an emerald)
I will be happy to work with you on using an existing design and presenting you with a selection of gemstones to choose from, tailored to your taste. Depending on the modifications you would like to make, the final outcome can cost more or less than the original piece.
Who else is involved in the process?
I am honoured to work with very talented craftsmen and women who hold years of experience and passion, which shows in every ring, necklace and earring that is created. I trust every CAD designer, jeweller, setter, polisher, gemstone supplier and fellow gemologist that is involved in the process.
As the majority of them do not work directly with the public, I act as the liaison, working with each one individually to create the jewellery piece of your dreams.
Good news!
You will only be working with one person - me! I will be your shortcut to the world of possibilities, where the sky is the limit.
Thanks to modern technology, I am available at your service no matter where you are, just an email, a phone call or video call away.
How do I begin my journey?
Step One is to schedule a complementary, 1:1 connection call with me here
During your initial, 30 minute connection call, we will discuss your ideas and what is on your wish list. I would love to get to know you, what you are looking for and what you would like to achieve on your personalised journey.
During this call, I will share an experience of what it would actually be like to work together to make your jewellery dreams come true.
Once we decide to work together, we will set up a separate call to dive into creating your perfect, custom ring, necklace or earrings!
Get to know me better by checking out my previous Q&A blog posts:
Should I come prepared?
If you already have a mood board or ideas prepared, I would love to hear about them.
If you do not know where to start, do not worry,
I will guide you through my unique custom design and gemstone selection process so that you do not have to spend hours on doing research.
Here are some things to think about prior to our call:
What do I like?
What do I not like?
What are my proprieties?
What are my must haves?
What do I want “the star of the show” be? (The stone or the setting?)
What is my deadline? (Do I have a set date for a proposal or milestone celebration?)
What if my dream does not align with my budget?
I promise to focus on helping you find the best way to make your dream piece of jewellery come to life while staying as close as possible to your budget.
If this cannot be achieved, I will walk you through other incredible options that are available. Stay positive and do not feel discouraged! Often, it is a matter of making slight changes or tweaks.
I do ask for you to keep an open mind and trust the process!
Are you ready to have say:
“I designed this ring myself! I picked out the stone and everything!” ?
Then Schedule a complementary 1:1 connection call with me here
Curious to find out more? Check out my previous blog post: 5 Reasons to go Custom
Are you on a tight schedule?
Visit my Ready-to-Wear collection for rings that are available for purchase right now!
For unique engagement ring ideas and jewellery inspiration, visit my Instagram page