Commissioning a bespoke engagement ring isn't as complicated as you might think, it should be a fun and exciting experience. The first thing you need to do is to get in touch, once you get the ball rolling I will help you through the next steps and answer any questions you have about the process.
Budget
Something that many people don't realise about commissioning a piece of jewellery is that you can set your own budget. Once you have an idea of how much you would like to spend I will design a piece that fits within your budget.
Ring Size
You need to know your partners ring size, it's best to be as accurate as possible. The most accurate way is always to have your partners ring size measured by a professional jeweller. Most high street jewellers will offer this service free of charge.
Alternatively if your partner already has a ring that they wear on their ring finger you can take this to a jeweller (or post it to me) to be measured for you. However it's important to remember it's the measurement for the ring finger on the left hand that you need, sizes usually differ between hands depending on which hand is more dominant.
Style
Have a think about the kind of styles that you and your partner like. Examples of things I might ask you to think about include: whether you would like a solitaire or multi-stone ring, the type of setting you might prefer, whether you would like a delicate or a thicker band and whether you prefer a minimal style or a more textured and intricate design. If you're unsure about any of these things, that's absolutely fine, it's just to help me get an idea of you and your partners style.
The Metal
Some people have a preference over what colour metals they wear. If your partner prefers white metals your main options are White Gold or Platinum, (Silver is not recommended for engagement rings as it is a softer metal that will not stand the test of time as well as Gold or Platinum). If your partner prefers warmer colours you have a choice of Yellow Gold or Rose Gold. If you are unsure of their preference, a good place to start might be to choose the stone and I can advise you of what metal might work best with the colour of the stone.
The Stone
Diamond: The most traditional request for an engagement ring is a Diamond. The hardest precious stone, at 10 on the Mohs scale, diamonds are strong and durable making them a good choice for a ring that should last a life time. Diamonds also come in a range of shades, so it doesn't necessarily have to be a clear diamond, Champagne or Grey Diamonds look beautiful when paired with the right metal.
However if you're looking for something a bit different there are some other precious and semi-precious stones that look beautiful in an engagement ring:
Sapphire: Typically seen as a deep to bright blue stone, sapphires also come in other shades such as; pink and white. At 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphires are the third hardest mineral and look great as a colourful alternative to Diamonds.
Ruby: A deep red stone, Rubies also come in varying shades of pink. At 9 on the Mohs scale, rubies are also a very hard wearing choice of stone, but can be just as expensive as Diamonds.
Morganite: Is a beautiful pale pink stone, as a beryl, morganite is from the same family of stones as emeralds, sitting at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.
Topaz: Is typically seen as a brilliant blue stone, but it also comes in other shades such as; white, pink and green. Typically measuring at 8 on the Mohs scale, this can make a beautifully colourful engagement ring.
Aquamarine: A beautiful pale blue semi precious gemstone that ranges from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Aquamarines have lovely clarity, and can really stand out when paired with a contrasting warmer metal such as yellow or rose gold.
Tanzanite: Named after its place of origin, in Northern Tanzania. This is a rare blueish, purple stone that ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. It is currently considered to be rarer than diamonds and would make a very unique engagement ring.
Re-purposing Inherited Jewellery
If you have an inherited piece of jewellery that you love but that does not quite fit yours or your partners taste, re-purposing the materials from that piece into a new ring can make a really nice, sentimental piece of jewellery. Both the stones and the metal can be used to make a new and entirely unique piece of jewellery for you.
Remember, the best place to start is to get in touch with me by filling in the Commissions Form on my website.
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