Thinking of buying a custom engagement ring? This handy guide will show you everything you need to know and guide you through the process.

Image by boersmajelle via Flickr

Image by boersmajelle via Flickr

Want a totally unique ring design that symbolizes your love for your fiancĂ©? Consider a handcrafted or custom made engagement ring instead of a commercially made one. These rings are often a better value than you may believe because they’re often handmade by a reputable local jeweller so you eliminate all the mark-up costs from sending the jewellery out to commercial factories and the like. In addition, you’ll never find anyone else with the exact same ring so start researching it early and begin the process of finding the perfect ring.

What You Should Know Before Purchasing A Handcrafted Ring
Custom made rings include many benefits, including telling the story of who you are as a couple and starting conversation at social gatherings, but you need to be aware of the trade-offs. These handmade rings often cost more depending on the design and it’s a very involved process so you’ll need to select a reputable jeweller. You just need to source your exact requirement in order to find the perfect handcrafted ring that fits your style.

Start early.
Typically, it will take at least a month but can easily take a few months from the time you and the jeweller sketch out designs to when you actually leave the store with your completed diamond ring.

Sketch out some ideas.
Sometimes looking at styles you like will give you insight, such as do you prefer mixed metals, intricate details on the ring, or fancier ring settings? Do your best to draw the ideas as detailed as possible or bring a few examples and a detailed list and the designer may be able to sketch up a few ideas instead.

Work with a reputable jewellery designer.
Find one that is known for making handmade jewellery and that also sells GIA certified diamonds, which is important if you’re getting a custom made ring as you’ll need a wholesale diamond too.

Know what to look for when choosing your diamond.
While all of the 4 C’s (Colour, clarity, carat size, and cut) are important, the cut is often the most important. The way the angles and symmetry is cut into a diamond helps it reflect light and brilliance. shop now at www.Diamondjewellerystudio.com.au where you’ll find an extensive choice of diamonds, including the world’s newest diamond the TripleEx H&A, which features very exact cuts and you can see 8 hearts and 8 arrows in it. Another favourite is the 58-faceted round brilliant cut diamond.

Consider adding a pop of colour.
While white diamond rings were traditional, many couples are now adding coloured gemstones or even coloured diamonds. While the Diamond Jewellery Studio specializes in Pink Argyle diamonds, they also carry a number of other coloured diamonds.

Experiment with a variety of styles and settings.
While you may think your mind is set, don’t be afraid to try on a few different rings in similar styles. For example, are you crazy about the trendy halo style and do you like them more rounded or more square? Maybe you prefer a 3-stone princess cut ring but with coloured diamonds as the side stones and fancy filigree along the band.

Keep in mind, your designer can take ideas from other rings into consideration but a custom ring has to be a totally new design so make sure it’s one that you’ll want to wear for the rest of your life.