So you’ve decided to customise your own engagement ring (for a few good reasons) but the question comes to mind is where and how do I begin?
Whether you’re already a savvy enthusiast or a beginner in buying jewellery, it is okay to feel a little lost and seemingly daunting at first, but in due time realise the journey of customising your very own engagement ring or any jewellery piece per se, a truly exciting experience.
When completed, you may just be an immensely proud owner of a bespoke piece with love written all over it – from the beginning of its creation until the very moment it is placed on your partner’s finger.
So, fret not! We are here to help and guide you at every step of the way. Let’s get to it!
Start Early
At Tamakito, we have skilled artisans who are able to make jewellery that follows your preference. But what you need to account for is the actual time it takes for the full customisation process.
This includes time for you to browse for ideas, decide on what kind of ring you would like to have, collect your visual examples, and send them to us before we can start making it.
Remember, this engagement ring will be worn for life. It is symbolic of the day she says “Yes!” to a chance at forever with you and it should also represent her style and personality.
This isn’t a decision you would want to rush through. We recommend giving yourself at least two weeks to plan ahead and a month for the full customisation process.
Collect Visual Inspirations
Pinterest and Instagram are great places to get visual inspiration for the ring you are personalising. (Chances are, your partner already has a few collections of her own!)
This helps you get ideas for various design elements that you might love so you can incorporate it into one ring.
For example, if you like the stone colour in one image, the band style in another, and the setting style in a third picture, you can borrow all these ideas to create your very custom-made piece!
Select a Stone
Now that you have a pretty good idea of the kind of ring you would like to make, begin by selecting a stone.
Whether you are personalising a ring for a proposal, a gift or just for self love, you can always begin by choosing a stone in the colour of your choice.
We have a fantastic range of diamonds and gemstones to suit your budget and style. Discover which stones are available in red, pink, blue, green, aqua, peach, yellow and more with this helpful guide.
Choose the Stone Shape
Image from Pinterest
Round and oval gemstones are some of the more common stones shapes around. But you do not have to limit yourself to these shapes. Choose from pear, radiant, cushion, emerald, asscher, or heart.
Sometimes a certain stone shape suits a certain colour better and can bring out more sparkle. That said, some gemstones do have a preferred cut that is already designed by nature, making certain shape choices more suitable.
Our craftsmen will be able to advise and guide you as you come to a decision.
Decide on a Setting Style
The ring setting refers to how a stone is fastened to the ring. Beyond the functionality of keeping the gemstone intact, a setting style also determines how your gemstone will be aesthetically displayed on the ring.
You can choose a simple design, or something with additional accent stones that are arranged as a pave or bead set along the band.
Choose from four or six prongs and whether the prongs are clawed, round, or uniquely designed.
These little details matter because it frames the gemstone and is part of what is immediately seen when looking at the ring from above.
Select a Metal Type
Image from Pinterest
Good news – we are almost done! Now for the easy part – choosing your preferred band metal. The four types of metals used to make ring bands are Silver, traditional Yellow Gold, modern and feminine Rose Gold, and timeless White Gold.
Keep in mind your partner’s skin tone and jewellery preferences when choosing a metal type. Some metals can really compliment a person’s skin tone when paired nicely! Finally, your band style can also be customised.
Have a look at these different styles from our selection here. This is the part where you also need to know what size your ring needs to be.
If you are unsure of your ring size, find out how you can get the exact measurement on our FAQ page here. If you have ordered the wrong ring size, we offer one free resizing for the rings we make!
Think About Your Wedding Bands
If you’re customising an engagement ring, it means the next set of rings you will be working on after the proposal are your wedding bands.
Most people like to ensure that both bride and groom have matching bands or at least have bands made of the same metal type.
There is no hard and fast rule, but we do recommend customising your wedding bands with the engagement ring so that it fits perfectly together on your bride-to-be’s finger.
There are plenty of creative ways to do this (check out Pinterest for some ideas) and our craftsmen will be able to help give ideas if you need.
The Making Begins
Once you have sent in all your requests, we will provide you with a quotation.
Upon your approval, our artisans will then begin the handcrafting process of your jewelled piece by carefully preparing each element according to detail: the stone, shape, and metal of your choice, and the setting style with individual accent stones (if there are any).
Finally, we will have the bespoke ring polished to a perfect finish. Voila! You’ve just designed a beautiful work of art!
Now to really begin, we’ve made it easy for you. Have a go at the customising process here.