Engagement rings are one of the first big jewelry purchases that couples make, and the importance of that decision can put a lot of pressure on the person shopping for the ring. Designing a custom engagement ring allows you to create a piece as exceptional as the person that receives it. However, there are a lot of things to consider before beginning the process and it can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. At llyn strong fine art jewelry our team of artists helps guide you at every step along the way to ensure an easy and fun process creating the perfect engagement ring. This article will help inform you before your consultation and give you some things to consider during your planning. Allow plenty of time to design and create the perfect engagement ring. Making a custom engagement ring takes about 4 to 12 weeks from deposit to finished piece, depending on intricacy and current work load. There are several stages during the process where your approval is required before moving forward, so be sure to respond as quickly as possible to emails and phone calls to help us meet your deadline. If you have already made plans for a specific date, let us know as soon as possible so that we can do our best to accommodate your timeline. One of the first things to consider when designing a custom engagement ring is your budget. With custom work we can be more flexible and do our best to create your vision within your budget. There are several costs involved in creating a custom engagement ring which we break down for you at the time of your consultation.
Cost Components:
- CAD/Print/Cast– our cad technician, Kate Worthen, will build the ring in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program. We will print a wax model of the ring on our 3D wax printer which can take up to several days depending on the size and intricacy of the design. The wax is then sprued up and invested to make a plaster mold and the wax is burnt out of the mold in our kiln overnight. Finally, we cast the metal into the mold using our induction casting machine.
- Metal Weight – we weigh gold and platinum in pennyweights (abbreviated dwt) which are 1/20 of an ounce to determine the cost of the metal.
- Gemstones and/or diamonds – the price of gemstone(s) and/or diamond(s) we provide for your ring.
- Stone setting – The labor involved in securing diamond/gemstones in the ring.
- Optional Expenses:
- Fabrication – The labor involved in assembling parts (two tone ring for example)
- Engraving – a date or phrase inside the shank or decorative engraving
Many people have little to no experience with jewelry when starting this journey, so don’t feel intimidated. The best way to get started is to contact us and set up a consultation. At the consultation we will go over these points with you to get an overall idea of the design and your budget. Next, we order in stones for you to select from, finish the design and figure the final quote, and take the deposit. Then we produce the CAD renderings for your approval, print the wax, and make the metal casting for you to come see and approve in person. Finally, we set the stones and finish the ring. The process is fluid and there are chances to make changes and adjustments along the way. Whenever you are ready to begin, the team at llyn strong fine art jewelry is here to help.
Contact us today and start designing the perfect engagement ring.
864-233-5900
llynstrong.com