In order to design your very own custom engagement ring, there are several things you should become familiar with to ensure you create the ring of your dreams.

Preparation

Before you can begin customizing your own engagement ring, you should visit several jewelers and try on different rings in styles that appeal to you. Even if you already have an idea in mind of the type of engagement ring you prefer, trying on existing rings may allow you to find a gemstone, setting or stone shape you hadn’t thought about before.

Education

While you may already have a specific idea in mind about the engagement ring you’d like to design, it is important to educate yourself how to judge a stone’s quality.

If you are interested in incorporating diamonds into your engagement ring design, learn about the 4 C’s (cut, clarity, color and carat weight) and how each “C” affects the value of the diamond. Even if you do not plan to use diamonds but will instead use alternative gemstones, the 4 C’s will help you avoid buying an inferior stone.

Additionally, you should compare different metals (such as white and yellow gold, platinum, titanium, etc.) and how each will affect the price of a custom engagement ring as well as how each will differ regarding care, maintenance and durability. Learning about various engagement ring settings will also be beneficial.

Designing

The majority of engagement rings are designed around a center gemstone, so it’s important to know what gemstone you plan to use as a focal point before you can design the rest of the ring. When you have decided on the central gemstone, you can begin customizing the perfect engagement ring to suit your style preferences and your budget. When designing a custom engagement ring, you’ll need to decide on everything from the setting to the metal, to accent stones and everything in between.

Do you prefer the look of yellow or white gold? Perhaps you prefer the subtle sheen and durability of platinum? Choosing the metal for your custom engagement ring is only one of many steps you’ll need to take to create the perfect ring.

You’ll also need to think about settings. If you prefer basic styles, you may go for a common setting that is classic and traditional. For a more elaborate ring, perhaps a more unusual setting would look appealing.

If you are planning to use accent stones, which stones would complement the central gemstone? Usually, the accent stones are shaped in a way to complement the central stone and are smaller and less intense so as not to detract from the main gemstone.

When you’ve decided on a design that works for you, visit a reputable jeweler who can help you with your design choices and steer you away from design flaws. However, they should not try to influence your decision in any way or make you pay for customizations that are not in your budget.

Designing a custom engagement ring is a great way to get exactly the ring you want, and while it is definitely more complicated than choosing a ring off the rack, the effort is well worth it for a sparkling memento of your relationship.