The day you have been waiting for has finally arrived. He has asked and you have said yes. Now, unless you are lucky enough for money to be no object, you may discover that the engagement ring of your dreams and your budget are not in the same league. Never mind, when designing your own engagement ring, you may well be able to minimize some costs to still end up with the engagement ring you have your heart set on.
There are several ways in which you can reduce the cost of a custom made engagement ring:
* Metal. The metal that you select to have your ring crafted from can significantly impact on the final price. Platinum, while a hard wearing and high quality metal, can cost almost twice as much as the equivalent in gold. If you admire the platinum look you can always have your ring made up in white gold, and then have it rhodium plated for a similar appearance.
* Diamond size and quality. The price of a diamond is governed by these factors: the size, the cut, the clarity, and the color. By juggling around with these, you can dramatically alter the price tag. If you have your heart set on an enormous solitaire ring, does the diamond have to be internally flawless? Will you notice if it is not? A good custom jeweler should be able to position tiny flaws in the outer edges of your diamond under a claw or the setting. This sort of clever ring making can still produce the same visual result but with a much smaller price.
Sometimes just dropping down one color can significantly impact on the diamond price as well. If you have your heart set on a ring with plenty of bling you can alternatively have many smaller diamonds incorporated into the setting. Massed smaller diamonds will never cost the same as a single stone of the equivalent weight.
* The setting. Some settings can actually make your diamond appear bigger. By incorporating white gold or platinum around your diamond, the stone will look larger. A clever jeweler will be able to guide you in the right direction with this.
* Intricate working and engraving can make an engagement ring appear much more impressive. There are even some patterns that can be worked into settings and the shanks of the ring that can appear to be tiny diamonds, but aren't. These sorts of workings can add a lot of texture and visual appeal to an otherwise simple style of engagement ring.
By designing your own engagement ring you will be able to decide where you want any trade offs to be to keep your engagement ring within your budget. A great jeweler should be able to present you with various options on diamonds until you hit upon the stones that are going to work for your ring.
Companies like Tacori actually provide engagement rings made without a center stone, allowing you to select a diamond from within your budget to finish your engagement ring off.
He has popped the question. You have said "Yes!". Before you phone the wedding planner and start searching for the perfect wedding dress, you are going to design your own engagement ring. There are many advantages to having a custom made jewelry engagement ring. Firstly, and most importantly, you will have exactly what you want, down to the finest details.
* Vintage or contemporary design. After trawling through magazines, jeweler's windows, and possibly the net, you will probably realize that you are drawn to a particular style. Some girls make a conscious decision to have their engagement ring styled from a particular jewelry era and other girls will want the very latest style. Many contemporary designs right now are very reminiscent of the Art Deco style with the center setting or stone being square. The contemporary twist to this is to have a modern cut diamond like an Asscher style.
* Multiple stones or solitaire ring. A solitaire ring is a spectacular way to showcase a magnificent diamond. Solitaires are also great for girls who are into more simple styles. Having said this, a solitaire stone can have many varieties to the setting from understated to highly intricate. Multiple stones can be utilized in many ways. Many current styles are using smaller stones to decorate shanks and bands. Multiple diamonds can also be a great way to get a sparkling ring at a lesser cost. A solitaire diamond is nearly always going to cost more than smaller diamonds added up to a similar weight.
Various engagement ring settings:
* Bezel. This is a practical setting, enclosing the stone in metal very securely, and drawing visual attention to your stone. Some girls prefer bezel settings as claws can be more prone to catching, and getting banged or bent.
* Claws or cathedral. Claws, also known as prongs, give maximum visibility to a fantastic glittering stone, allowing light to pass through from all sides. The claws need to be substantial enough to keep the stones secure. A cathedral setting still uses claws to keep the stone firmly in place, but it also has the two sides of the ring rising up to the center setting, allowing for a more secure setting. Both claw and cathedral settings involve the center stone having a certain height or being raised from the band.
* Pave settings are a fantastic way to way to add glitter to any ring. Normally involving smaller stones that are firmly inlaid within the band, this gives a more subtle sparkle. Pave settings can be used to decorate the shanks of an engagement ring and make for beautiful settings for wedding and eternity rings.
* Channel settings involve the stones sitting down flush in a groove between the two sides of the metal. This is quite a modern setting, contrasting between metals and stones quite distinctly
* Raised or flat ring settings. Are you going to be a lady of leisure or do your hands see a lot of action? Some girls find flatter settings to be more practical for active lifestyles. However, any well built ring should be able to withstand a certain amount of living.
Saying to a custom jeweler "design my own engagement ring" is for many girls a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the engagement ring of their dreams. Custom made jewelry not only allows you to have a unique ring but to have every tiny detail finished to your requirements.
Andy Moquin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Jewelry, Engagement Rings and Engagement Rings. Andy Moquin has spent 20 years in the jewelry business buying and selling over $20,000,000 in diamonds, engagement rings and custom designed jewelry. He as traveled to Belgium and Israel to work with international diamond dealers and works as an advisor f. Andy Moquin's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.