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Say I love you with the creation of a custom diamond engagement ring!

5 Easy Steps to Designing a Custom Diamond Engagement Ring

If you and your partner are ready to say, “I’ll love you forever,” custom diamond engagement rings are a beautifully heartfelt symbol of your love. Couples are increasingly choosing these ultra-personal keepsakes because they help you begin crafting the marriage story of your dreams. Think you need to be a designer to pull it off? Not so. Regardless of your creative inclinations, designing custom diamond engagement rings is easier, more fun – and more affordable – than you might think.

Just follow these five easy steps:

  1. Choose your diamond
  2. Choose your metal
  3. Create a design concept
  4. Review & approve drawings and wax replica
  5. Pick up your ring (and propose!)

Continue reading to learn more about these five easy steps for designing custom diamond engagement rings as unique as the bond you share.

Step 1: Choose Your Diamond

What do snowflakes, love, and diamonds have in common? No two are alike. Designing custom diamond engagement rings starts with selecting a unique diamond for your preferences and budget. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA)’s 4 Cs of diamond quality can make this process easier:

  1. Color – The natural tint inherent in a diamond, from nearly colorless to yellow or brown
  2. Clarity – The purity and rarity of the stone as reflected in its inclusions or blemishes
  3. Cut – The brilliance and fire generated when stone’s facets interact with the light
  4. Carat weight – The stone’s weight, such as 1 carat or .5 carat

Beyond knowing these 4Cs, designing custom diamond engagement rings may also involve choosing between lab-grown and earth-mined diamonds. Check out our article on lab-grown diamonds to discover their surprising cost and environmental benefits.

Step 2: Choose Your Metal

What metal do you envision for your custom diamond engagement ring? According to a recent survey, 14K white gold was the most popular choice in 2020. Other beautiful metal options include rose gold, platinum, 14K yellow gold, and sterling silver. The selection here will depend on your tastes and budget. For instance, if you love the look of platinum but not its price tag, 14K white gold can give you a similar look for less.

Step 3: Create A Design Concept

A wedding survey found that 80% of brides admit to dropping hints about their ring preferences. Did you catch them? Even if you didn’t, the design phase helps pull different ideas together. Bring photos or browse examples to give your jeweler a better idea of your preferred diamond cut, mounting style, and other design elements. Your jeweler will share their suggestions, too. This part of designing custom diamond engagement rings is fun and interactive – let the creative juices flow!

Step 4: Approve the Design Drawings and Wax Replica

Now, it’s time for your jeweler to get to work. They’ll use your design concept to create computer-aided design (CAD) drawings. After you approve those digital files, you’ll receive a wax replica of the ring that you can hold in your hand. It’s starting to come to life! Upon your approval of the drawings and replica, the jeweler will cast, set, and finish the custom diamond engagement ring.

Step 5: Pick up Your Ring (and propose!)

Voila! It’s time to pick up the finished ring and propose to your sweetheart. Need some hints on pulling off an unforgettable proposal? Head to our blog for inspiration.

We love designing custom engagement rings that dazzle! With 20 years of experience, award-winning customer service, and affordable prices, we’ll make your dreams come true. Contact or visit our family-owned shop to learn more.