Every couple is different when it comes to picking out a ring: some brides-to-be want to be completely surprised with a ring chosen by their partner. Some drop hints of the style they like knowing that the proposal is happening anytime soon, while others one day just have a serious talk and decide it’s time to get married. So off they schedule a day to go shopping together for the perfect ring. No matter what your story is, you’re finally here at this point, hunting for the perfect ring.
So now, where do you get started? What should you keep in mind? Here at Moi Moi, we tell our customers that their rings should shine bright and make them super happy. Based on our own experience of helping out thousands of couples. Here are some tips for creating a custom ring for your engagement and wedding!
1. Determine your budget
The thought of a customised ring can seem intimidating. But if from the get-go, you are upfront about how much you would like to spend, then a reliable jeweller should be able to advise you about the best decisions to keep within your budget. It also helps that there are so many other reasonably-priced alternatives to diamonds. Moissanite is one of the best options out there. It has the reputation of having more brilliance, fire and lustre than any other jewel in the world; it’s extremely durable and 100% conflict-free–all that for a fraction of the cost of a diamond. Our clients are totally in love with this stone, and we have a feeling you would be, too!
2. Have inspiring images on hand
Visual inspiration is your starting point for creating a custom ring. A quick browse through the web and you’ll find thousands of ring inspirations to your liking. Maybe you like the band on this ring, the setting on that ring, and the colour of the stone on yet another ring. When you’re creating your very own design, you can borrow ideas from these inspirations.
At Moi Moi, that’s most often how we get started with a customised ring. Our clients show us images of what they like, and from there, we work together to develop a very exclusive design.
3. Choosing the specifics
First, you’ll need to select the perfect cut. Traditional ring cuts include round, cushion, princess, oval, emerald, pear, radiant, Asscher, marquise, or heart. If those options excite you, you’ll be surprised to know that there are even more settings than stone cuts! These include the halo, cathedral, prong, Tiffany, bezel, bar, flush, suspension, tension style, channel, pavé, vintage, cluster, shank, and three-stone settings.
As for the metal, engagement rings and wedding bands are traditionally made from yellow gold, white gold, silver, or platinum—although in recent years rose gold has emerged as a fresh, modern alternative. Some metals scratch easier than others, so be sure to consider lifestyle and budget before deciding. Consider how important the factor metals are to the final decision.
Here at Moi Moi, we combine the specifications of your dream ring with the use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology to create images that will help you visualise what the results will be.
4. Consider how your engagement ring will look with your wedding band
While it is easy to get caught up shopping for the perfect diamond, the engagement ring is only one-half of the equation. It’s important to think about what style of wedding band would go with your ring. It can save a lot of time and money if you design a wedding band at the same time as you’re designing a custom engagement ring. Some engagement rings don’t allow a band to fit flush against them, so it’s a must to consider the full package of prong versus pavé and channel-set stones before committing to an engagement ring style.
We’ve had many clients come to us with their engagement rings, wondering how they could have a wedding band that suits them well with it. So we also help them with designing wedding bands that are a match made for their existing engagement ring. As a bonus, we offer them free service of cleaning and polishing their engagement ring, so it looks as good as new.
5. Decide between Made To Order or Modified to Order
There are lots of different routes to a custom-made engagement ring and your budget will often guide your decision. What we do here at MoiMoi is let our customers choose between commissioning fully custom-made rings or customising one of our existing designs to make it uniquely theirs. If you would like a ring design from scratch, we ask for the details of what you want, create a detailed quote or instant on-the-spot pricing while you’re at the store, and then we draw up a CAD and begin crafting the ring.
On the other hand, you can also choose a design from our range. Then make some minor changes to it like the shape and size of the centre stone. You can change the setting style of the band and the shape of the prongs or the metal choice. Once everything is decided, we provide them with a detailed quotation and specifications of their custom ring. And then finally, we begin crafting it according to plan.
Need more advice about customising engagement and wedding rings? Talk to us today!