BESPOKE
ENGAGEMENT RINGS
Designed just for you, handcrafted to last for generations to come.
ABOUT
Your engagement ring is designed to suit your style and budget - classic, modern elegance, dainty or just simply beautiful. It can be made in platinum or white, yellow or rose gold, and include any shape and size of gemstone that you would like. I will guide you through the whole process and explain the different choices that will work for you. Your free design consultation can be in person in Kent or London, or via a zoom call.
If you are struggling with inspiration for the design, have a look at my pre-designed collection of Made-to-Order engagement rings.
YOUR COMPLIMENTARY PHOTO SHOOT
Have your engagement beautifully captured by local photographer Alexander Stevens in a photo shoot, courtesy of Chloe May.
THE PROCESS
Please allow a minimum of 12 weeks for your bespoke engagement ring.
STEP 1 - INITIAL FREE DESIGN CONSULTATION
We discuss the design, your budget, metal, diamonds or gemstones, who the ring is for, their style, and their finger size. If you don’t know the finger size for a ring, have a look at my FAQ page for a few sneaky tricks! If you prefer, we can do everything via email and Zoom.
STEP 2 - GEMSTONE SOURCING
It’s so important to select the right sparkle! Choose your favourite from a selection of gemstones or diamonds sourced from my trusted merchants based in Hatton Garden and the Birmingham jewellery quarter. If we are speaking remotely I can send you lots of pictures and videos of stones. I’ll explain the different qualities of diamonds and gemstones so you understand what’s perfect for your design and budget. You may already know about the 4 Cs: cut, colour, carat and clarity but if not I'll take you through all you need to know and you can read through my diamond guide. Your bespoke quote will include a price for the finished ring with each stone option and a sketch if necessary.
STEP 3 - DEPOSIT PAYMENT & DRAWING
Once you have decided what stone you would like in your ring and the general design, I will ask for a 50% deposit to be paid via a BACS transfer, the remaining balance is to be paid upon completion. You’ll then receive hand drawn designs or CAD (computer aided design) renders. The design process is flexible and collaborative, we can keep tweaking the final details of the design until you are happy with it.
The first three stages of the process take around 1 to 3 weeks.
STEP 4 - MAKING THE PIECE
The multiple components that make up your engagement ring are either made from your chosen metal starting in a wire or sheet form, or cast straight into each components finished intricate shape. I then craft these miniature pieces of metal together using age-old hand skills.
STEP 5 - SETTING
Your ring is set with its glittering gemstones into the metal framework.
STEP 6 - POLISHING
The piece is polished with various grades of polish that go from coarse to fine, polishing out scratches on the surface of the metal, making the piece become gradually shinier and shinier.
STEP 7 - CLEANING & HALLMARKING
The final step! After polishing, your ring is cleaned to remove the polish. It is then sent to The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London for hallmarking to display what metal it has been made in, the year it was made in, and my maker’s mark. It’s now ready for you to treasure forever!
A GIFT FROM ME TO YOU
If you've commissioned me to make a bespoke engagement ring for you, you will also receive a bottle of Pink English Sparkling Wine from Terlingham Vineyard, a band of three sisters on a mission to make natural farming on vineyards the norm. Their small family run vineyard is based just outside of Folkestone overlooking the glistening English Channel.
