How to Design Your Dream Diamond Engagement Ring

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Everything you need to know to create a custom-made diamond engagement ring.

How to Design Your Dream Diamond Engagement RingImage: Ring Concierge
The best way to get the natural diamond engagement ring of your dreams—and something forever personal and unique—is to design one that’s custom. We asked two jewelers who specialize in custom rings how to create a custom diamond engagement ring that reflects your style and love story. Turns out, it’s easier than you’d think.

1. Find the diamond engagement ring designer or jeweler that speaks to your style.

When you are creating a custom ring, you need to work with a designer or jeweler whose style and quality you admire. “You might pick the best diamond, but if it’s in a poor-quality setting then you won’t be happy,”  says Manny Soin – c0-owner of Middleton Jewelers.

 

Maggi Simpkins diamond ring

2. Establish a budget and prioritize what matters most to you.

Determining a budget up-front makes it easier to identify a range of diamond options. Most people have to compromise on something to stay within their budget, so it’s best to know in advance what matters most to you, whether it be a larger stone, a diamond of the highest possible quality, or a setting with side stones. Once a budget is established, Middleton Jewelers sources a range of diamonds to present to clients for comparison and consideration. While each diamond should have a GIA certificate that incorporates the 4 Cs to identify the stone’s quality, it’s important to remember that two stones with identical GIA grading reports can still appear very different.

Steph R. – a designer at Middleton Jewelers says ” I urge my clients to pay more attention to the stone itself (the way it looks, how it makes them feel) rather than what’s on the paper.”

3. Bigger is (generally) better.

“The size of the diamond is the most important factor in designing a ring,” says Manny Soin. “The average consumer won’t notice tiny inclusions or a hint of warmth, but they will notice the size of the stone from near and far.”

For that reason, Manny steers his clients away from VVS stones if they are on a limited budget saying: “I don’t believe in paying for something you can’t see. I am also not afraid of a little warmth in a stone. I don’t prescribe to the thought that only the whitest of diamonds are beautiful.”

On the other hand, Middleton Jewelers does have an incredible selection of VS quality natural and lab-created stones that can deliver an extra “pop” we coupled with a colorless factor as well. Middleton Jewelers has everything you need in every range of the highest quality products.

Ring Concierge diamond engagement ring

4. Research ring styles and stick with what you love.

“Before you sit down with a designer, spend time researching for inspiration and trying on different rings to discover the styles you love, what you don’t like and what looks good on you,” advises Steph R – in-house custom cad design specialist at Middleton Jewelers. Just continue to remind yourself not to be swayed by trends; celebrity engagement rings get a lot of attention, but that doesn’t mean they are right for you.

“Stick to your gut when selecting the ring,” says Steph R. “If you have always loved round diamonds, and then Hailey Bieber gets engaged with an oval and suddenly you like an oval, is it because you actually like that stone shape or are you being influenced by the trend?”

5. Choose a diamond engagement ring for your style—and lifestyle.

Once you have chosen the diamond, the right designer or jeweler will work with you to create a diamond engagement ring that suits your lifestyle. “Simple designs are the most popular right now,” says Josh Gamer, whose bestselling ring is a solitaire on his Whisper Thin band. “Simple styles,” he explains, “ensure that the focus stays on the diamond.”

Also, women today want more durable ring styles that they can wear from the office to the gym. (As such, Manny notes that micro pave settings are losing popularity.)

Ring Concierge diamond rings

Your ring should also match your individual style, be it modern or vintage. “At the very least make sure you are buying a diamond shape you will love forever,” says Manny.  “It’s pretty inexpensive to change a diamond setting after a few years, but it’s expensive to change the stone.”

Additionally, it’s important to consider your wedding band when selecting your ring style. Perhaps you’re envisioning an engagement ring that pairs with stackable wedding bands? More and more women are going in this direction because different stackable bands easily allow for the changing-up of a look based on time of day, attire, or mood. Middleton Jewelers is known to create custom wedding bands that can integrate with engagement rings.

6. Get creative: it’s all in the details

Different metal finishes, detailing, unique side stones, and the personalization of a ring with engravings and other hidden elements are what really allow for a ring to stand apart. “I have the most fun when clients tell me stories about things that are significant to them and their relationship, and I am able to figure out how to incorporate them into the ring,” says Steph R, who integrates symbols and characters, such as flowers, birthstones, and spiritual motifs, on the insides of the rings she designs.

Ring Concierge rings

Steph R. always provides clients with sketches of their diamond engagement rings for approval, and then 3-D renderings are made before wax molds are carved for each design. Make sure you approve your ring every step of the way to ensure you are getting everything you want. And don’t be afraid to make modifications along the way (just make sure to do so before the wax mold is made).

7. Buy a diamond engagement ring without leaving home

Technology has made it much easier to create custom-made rings by presenting diamonds, settings, and styles in images and videos when you can’t meet directly with a jeweler, but nothing replaces the feeling of trying on a ring in person.

Once a client places an order, the GIA-certified diamond ring is made in Middleton WI, and delivered within two to three weeks. With a little research and planning, you easily design the custom diamond ring of your dreams—the ring that tells your unique story.

Ring Concierge diamond engagement rings

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