The custom engagement ring design process.
Custom jewelry is not a mystery — it's a sequence. Below is exactly how a piece travels from a first conversation to a finished, hand-set ring, and what you approve at every stage.
- 01
The Consultation
Day 1Everything begins with a conversation. We talk through the wearer's style, how they use their hands day to day, what they've admired before and what budget the piece needs to live inside. If you already have a shape in mind, bring photos. If you don't, we start from silhouettes — solitaire, halo, three-stone — and narrow from there.
- 02
Stone Selection
Day 1–3We source lab-grown diamonds exclusively, which means your budget buys noticeably more carat, cut quality and clarity than a mined equivalent. We present a short list of certified stones matched to your shape and target carat, and compare them side by side so you can see how cut grade — not just size — changes the way a diamond behaves in light.
- 03
CAD Design
Week 1Your chosen design is modelled in 3D CAD to exact millimeter tolerances: band width, prong height, gallery detailing, basket depth and finger size. You receive rendered views from every angle and can request revisions before a single gram of metal is committed. Nothing moves forward until the render is what you want on the hand.
- 04
3D Printing & Wax Proof
Week 2The approved CAD file is printed in high-resolution resin so the piece exists physically before it exists in gold. This is where proportion gets confirmed — how tall the setting sits, how the band tapers, whether a wedding band will sit flush against it. Adjustments at this stage cost nothing but a reprint.
- 05
Casting in Solid Metal
Week 2–3The proof is cast in your selected metal — 10k, 14k or 18k gold in yellow, white or rose, or platinum. Gold pricing tracks the live daily spot rate by weight, so heavier pieces such as cuban links are quoted honestly against the market on the day you order rather than against a stale list price.
- 06
Hand-Setting & Finishing
Week 3–4A bench jeweler sets each stone by hand under magnification, then files, pre-polishes, and finishes the piece to a mirror or matte surface. Final quality control checks prong security, stone alignment and interior stamping before the ring is photographed and delivered in its presentation box.
Common questions
How long does custom jewelry take?
Most engagement rings are complete in three to four weeks from design approval. Heavier pieces such as cuban links or fully iced tennis chains can run five to six weeks depending on stone volume.
Can I see the design before it's made?
Yes. You approve a 3D render and, on most pieces, a physical resin proof before anything is cast. Revisions at those stages are free.
What happens on pieces over $5,000?
Larger commissions are reserved with a 20% deposit and settled by wire, cash or in person. You'll receive a written quote either way, and the balance is due before the piece ships.
Do you only work with lab-grown diamonds?
Yes — every stone we set is lab-grown. They are chemically and optically identical to mined diamonds, fully certified, and let your budget reach a materially better piece.