Engagement rings mark an essential milestone in your journey as a couple. This tiny piece of metal can communicate love in all its shades. While many would opt for a store-made ring without a flinch, custom-made engagement rings have gained a lot of attention over the past few years, and now, all anyone can talk about is custom engagement rings. But why and how should you choose a custom engagement ring? This blog answers precisely that and more. From the basic principles of custom design to the maintenance and care of your ring, we have included everything in this guide.
Why Choose a Custom Engagement Ring?
Of all the never-wrecking questions in the world, asking someone to marry you is at the top of the list. While this question will keep haunting you until you have blurted it out loud, you can at least find solace in building her the perfect ring. Custom-made engagement rings have an air of uniqueness to them.
A custom-made engagement ring is like planning your OOTD (outfit of the day), where you pick all your favorite clothes and create a beautiful outfit. In the case of an engagement ring, the clothes items are simply replaced with different diamonds and metals that you want placed together in one single ring. Here are a few more reasons why you should choose a custom-made ring instead of an off-the-shelf option.
Personalization
Custom rings come with full liberty for personalization. Everything from something as big as the center stone to something as small as the engraving on the ring happens under your watchful eyes. You can either recreate a design you like by simply altering the stone or ask your jeweler to create something from scratch with elements that otherwise do not go well together.
Unique Designs
With mass-produced rings, it is hard to find a design that instantly strikes a chord in your heart. That is why you have custom-made rings. You do not have to scan collection after collection to find the perfect ring; you can create one. From a rare diamond shape to a rare design, custom engagement rings are perfect for everyone who thinks out of the box.
Quality Control
Custom engagement rings ensure that you don't compromise on the quality of your ring. Every part of your custom ring can be accommodated to your standards: the carat weight and clarity of the diamonds, the metal type, and even the precise details; everything can be laid out to meet your standards.
The Custom Design Process
Step 1: Finding the Right Custom Jeweler in Houston
The first step in your custom design journey is to find reliable and experienced custom jewelers in Houston. A jewelry store with vast experience dealing with different styles of custom engagement rings, a jeweler you can trust even with the most complex designs.
The fastest way to find a jewelry store is through referrals. Coordinate with friends and families to see if anybody recently got their rings custom-made or if they know a jeweler who specializes in them. Also, look for reviews online before finally visiting the jewelry store.
At Jianna Jewelers, we meet a lot of customers who visit us based on the reviews they see online or when their acquaintances have recommended our name, and we truly appreciate it. With over three decades in the industry, we have successfully mastered the skill of jewelry making, and custom design jewelry is one of our fortes. So, if you have a custom design in mind for your engagement ring, we will be happy to bring it to life.
Step 2: Designing Your Custom Engagement Ring
Once you have found your dream jewelry store, you need to move to the designing process immediately, but only once you have established a budget for the ring and are clear on your style preferences.
Establishing Your Budget and Style
Setting Budget
Your budget for your ring will determine how much experimentation you can do. Even though there is only a thin line between the cost of a custom-made ring and a store-made ring, you can achieve much more with a proper budget.
Style Preferences
Share your Pinterest board or your ideas in general with your partner or friends and family ( if you want to keep it a secret) before you finally share them with the jeweler. Consider their style so that the ring does not feel out of place. See whether they are into classic designs or prefer contemporary designs.
Choosing the Perfect Diamond or Gemstone
Consider The 4C's -Apart from choosing a diamond shape, it becomes essential to consider the 4Cs ( Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight) when designing an engagement ring. Say you are choosing a round diamond of 1ct with a D grade; it will be far more expensive than a radiant-cut diamond of the same clarity and cut grade. Plus, a radiant-cut diamond will appear far longer than other diamonds of the same carat weight.
Lab Diamonds Or Natural Diamonds / Gemstones
You can choose anything from ethical diamonds in Houston, a.k.a lab-grown diamonds, to natural diamonds or gemstones based on your budget. The most important things are the other elements on your ring ( if you have already decided). If you have opted to pick a diamond before you jump to the rest of the setting, in that case, you can freely choose any stone for your diamond ring until it matches your design inspiration and can be easily set in the ring you want without any imminent threat to the stone.
At Jianna Jewelers, we offer a wide range of natural and lab-diamond engagement rings to ensure you can create one of the finest Houston custom engagement rings.
Finalizing the Design
When you visit a jewelry store requesting a custom engagement ring, they will initially create a CAD design ( a 3D model of the ring); this method helps develop and adapt jewelry design work and also aids in reproducing your work precisely. The CAD design gives you a glimpse into the outcome of the ring—the symmetry, the structure—which makes it easier for the jeweler to put your design into play, creating the perfect custom-made ring.
Sketches and CAD
When you visit a jewelry store requesting a custom engagement ring, they will initially create a CAD design ( a 3D model of the ring); this method helps develop and adapt jewelry design work and also aids in reproducing your work precisely. The CAD design gives you a glimpse into the outcome of the ring—the symmetry, the structure—which makes it easier for the jeweler to put your design into play, creating the perfect custom-made ring.
Approvals and Adjustments
During the CAD design process, you can review the ring for any alterations or adjustments before starting the design process. Your jeweler will use this time for approvals and refinement.
Step 3: The Production Process
From Design to Reality
Once you approve the CAD design, the design process comes into play. Our Houston jewelry artisans will turn the CAD model into a wax casting ( wax casting is the first step in creating the mold of the ring).
Next, the plaster will be poured into the wax casting to harden. Once the plaster is hardened, the casting is baked at high temperatures to remove the wax from the mold. Whatever will be left will be used as a ring mold in which the molten metal will be poured to create the ring.
Custom Ring Creation Timeline
2 to 4 Weeks: For solitaire to other simple designs.
4 to 6 Weeks: The average time to create a custom ring. Most of our rings fall into this criteria.
6 to 8 Weeks: Rings with intricate details and complex designs can take up to 8 weeks to design.
Step 4: Aftercare and Maintenance
Caring for Your Custom Engagement Ring
Your relationship with Jianna Jewelers doesn't end when you pick up your ring. We offer after-services to ensure your ring shines bright for years after we create it for you. Our maintenance services include cleaning, jewelry repair, and periodic inspection to keep your rings pristine. You can drop by our store wherever you feel that your ring needs professional aid; otherwise, rely on these tips to keep your jewelry looking as good as new:
- Clean your engagement ring regularly using soap and lukewarm water with a soft-bristled brush.
- Stir clear of harsh chemicals.
- Make sure to take off your ring at the beach, the gym, or anywhere else that could damage it if you are not careful.
Keep inspecting your ring for loose prongs.Why is Jianna Jewelers Houston's Top Choice for Custom Engagement Rings?
Customers are at the heart of our company's philosophy, making us the leading custom jewelers in Houston. We are extremely devoted to our customers, which is reflected in the quality of our products. Our artisans are acclaimed for their phenomenal craftsmanship.
From stone sourcing to jewelry pricing, we ensure the highest level of transparency in everything we do. We only use high-quality diamonds directly from mines and present them to you at the best possible price points.
Get a Custom Engagement Ring with Jianna Jewelers Houston
At Jianna Jewelers, we're honored to create a piece that symbolizes your love story. Visit our Houston showroom today to start your custom jewelry journey. For more information, visit our website or call 713-524-3333 to schedule a consultation.