Choosing Between a Pre-Designed or Custom Designed Engagement Ring

When it comes to engagement rings there are two broad categories that exist in terms of ring design and crafting. Usually, jewellers, particularly in the online industry tend to feature a range of engagement rings based on the size of their inventory. However customer requirements are vast and expansive, and today engagement ring buyers tend to bring with them a number of expectations, when it comes to specific changes, additions, and other design options, which not all jewellers are able to provide, at least not on demand. This brings us to the subject of custom-designed engagement rings. Engagement ring customization whilst straightforward conceptually, in practice consist of a number of different applications. This can change considerably depending on customer expectations and the capabilities of the jeweller to provide them, in addition to the main engagement rings which are sold from the pre-made selection of rings, also known as ready-made rings, which the jeweller may have in their collection.

1. Ready-made Engagement Rings

Read made engagement rings are the set ring designs that the jewellery company or jewellery store is able to showcase either in their jewellery store or on their jewellery website. These rings are essentially pre-built and ready to order almost immediately, or with little in terms of time-lapse. These rings are generally sold based on what you see is what you get, with little in terms of additions that can be made during the process of purchase. However, it is important to note that jewellery companies, especially those which specialise in selling online, do add ‘customisation’ options, which are essentially changes to various elements of ring: size, diamond carat, quality, colour, metal type/colour, carat etc. However, these ready-made engagement rings nonetheless work within a set collection of rings that form part of the core inventory of the company. The strength of a company’s ready-made engagement ring collection is important, as it acts as a barometer for the company’s other capabilities in terms of gemstones, services, and customisation options.

2. Ready-made Engagement Rings with Size Adjustment

When it comes to engagement ring customisation there are a number of levels to the kind of change that is possible. Among the simpler changes that an engagement ring can be subjected to, and the often cited is the size change: That occurs when the buyer decides on a certain ring design but then requests certain, often minor changes be made to the width of the ring, or to other parts of the metal band. Ring size change rarely involves changes to the ring’s gemstone, or to the broader structure of the ring band. However, this may require, depending on the extent of the size changes: for if it involves expanding or shrinking the band size of the engagement ring, that may have effects on the carat of the ring it could hold steadily and comfortably.

3. Pre-designed Engagement Rings Made to Order

Rings that are made to order, involve the purchase of rings that are made to customer specification in terms of the ring size, gemstone cut, type and metal. The specific sizes and dimensions of the ring are particularly made to suit the specific demands of the customer. However, rings that are made to order often take inspiration from or are entirely based on current designs that are in the jeweller's collection. For when customers seek engagement rings they are usually looking through and studying available engagement ring options: that vary in terms of colour of the metal, gemstone type, band designs and character in their jewellery store or the online site of their preference. Which in turn may direct them to develop their own ideas of what a good engagement would look like. However in practice, the end product is predominantly based on what the jeweller has to offer, and the rings which are made to order often follow the same design language, with some changes in size, the shape of the band or cut of the gemstone.

4. Pre-Designed Engagement Rings with Minor Design Changes

Pre-designed engagement rings with minor design changes is goes a step further from rings that are made to order, in that engagement rings in this range whilst adopting almost entirely the design template of the jewellery companies existing designs, customers may request minor changes to be made to certain elements of the rings: These minor or accent changes may involve changes to the size of the gemstone, the specific cut of the gemstone for a particular design, or the addition of filigree designs, or in some instances the addition to specific engravings, like initials, special shapes, or key dates. Pre-designed engagement rings with minor design changes are among the most common type ring modifications that customers request. Which is often made in quick time, and tends not to take too much time in terms of waiting period from request to delivery of the final product. Also, minor changes could also involve adopting ideas from other rings the jewellery company may have in its possession, so comparing and contrasting them to produce something slightly different but unique to your tastes becomes important.

5. Custom-made Engagement rings

Custom made engagement rings fall in a spectrum of options, which go from engagement rings that are made to order from a template that the jewellery company offers from a list of potential custom engagement rings to ideas which is essentially used to develop a new template from which a potentially new engagement ring design can be developed. This process from idea to product can take a number of different trajectories. Starting from the basic ring concept which the customer can produce on their own, and communicate via a picture, basic sketch, or captured image. Or an engagement ring concept that can be developed via a dedicated conversation with your jeweller, with whom you can run your ideas and take his/her suggestions and develop the basic structure of your future engagement ring’s design. The idea of a custom engagement ring is basically building one from the ground up, to produce something new conceptually or at least in terms of new designs which you select jeweller currently does not offer but has the potential to do so in the future. Here it is important to consider your jeweller's capabilities when it comes to custom engagement rings: do they have the expertise to work through the process, to go from idea to concept, to design and finally to a product. An important