make your own engagement ring | design her engagement ring | make your own wedding rings

design your own engagement ring

Many of my customers design their own engagement rings. While it can be daunting at first, I encourage you to do the same. I work with each customer individually to ensure that your finished engagement ring is so fine that you'll have to provide photo evidence that you made it yourself.

* I require a workshop deposit after 30 minutes of pre-sales assistance.

Start by learning about engagement ring design. Don't get caught up learning about diamonds - beyond their shapes - they are a small part of the design process.

	Get some paper and draw. Be patient. Your drawings don't have to be good. Drawing helps us both understand what you want and how to improve upon it.
	Look at a bunch of rings. You may discover a few new styles. Look for specific details & techniques, in addition to the rings as a whole.
	Skim over a few design and jewelry-making books to learn a little about how it is done. We also have books at the studio that you are welcome to browse.
	Prong Settings - This is the most common type of engagement ring setting. Prongs show more stone and are used often with solitaire diamonds. Prong settings for round diamonds usually have either 4 or 6 prongs.
	Bezel Settings - Bezel settings are less prominent and are more secure. Bezel set diamond engagement rings have a contemporary look and are a good choice for active women. This particular bezel set ring is ugly and not a good choice for any women.
	Multiple Stones - Several smaller stones give a different look than a traditional solitaire engagement ring. Side stones can be set next to a large center stone to enhance its distinction. Clusters give multiple small stones more prominence or can be used to accentuate a larger stone.
	Bead Setting - tiny beads of metal hold stones into the ring. Pave, the most popular form of bead setting, has been a popular embelleshment in engagement rings for decades.
	Mokume Gane - This technique of fusing metals allows us to create very small patterns in the metal without the use of advanced metalsmithing skills.
	Inlay - This platinum ring has been engraved and is ready for gold inlay. The high melting temperature of platinum allows us to melt gold into a recess for fun and subtle embellishments.
	Inlay - This ring was made from a different inlay technique. White gold is cut out and rolled into the yellow gold.
	Casting - these bull horns were carved out of wax and cast in silver. For people who want outrageous engagement rings, custom settings, or finely sculpted designs, casting allows for this type of form and detail.
	Planishing - The term goldsmith is derived more from hammering than jewelry design. Planishing hammers are excellent and fun tools for making a variety of design enhancements to simple rings.
	Precious Metals - Here's a quickie on Platinum, Gold, Palladium, and Mokume Gane. (click here for link)