Your Ultimate Guide to Creating a Custom Ring

When it comes to shopping around for your dream engagement ring or wedding band, there are countless styles on the market to choose from. They line the shelves of every retail jeweler and pack the inventory of every e-commerce website in town. But there's always a chance you'll find yourself thinking "I like this one if only the band were different", "if only it was a different shape" or "I wish it had more side diamonds". We hear that loud and clear and that's one of the reasons we specialize in helping you create the custom ring of your dreams. Whether that's starting with something preexisting and making a few tweaks or wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch.

Creating a custom ring results in a unique piece of jewelry, symbolizing love, commitment, and individuality. But there are some important things to consider when designing an engagement ring or wedding ring to suit your or your partner's style. This guide will walk you through each step, ensuring your custom ring not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

At GOODSTONE we can make your dream ring a reality.

Finding Your Inspiration

The first thing you should always do when you're thinking about creating a custom ring is to gather some inspiration. Shop around for looks you like, whether that's in person or online, saving images all in one place so that you can start to understand what aspects show up repeatedly. This will help you to define your vision.

For instance, is it a particular diamond shape? Always a solitaire? Are you seeing a lot of vintage styles you love? Or maybe you're more drawn to colorful rings. You can also look for inspiration in nature, art, architecture, family heirlooms, and personal experiences. You should also consider whether there are any personal symbols or elements that have special meaning to you and your partner.

The best place to find inspiration? Follow us on Instagram for new styles, styling tips and education.

Setting Your Budget

Engagement rings and wedding bands, custom or not, can vary significantly in cost depending on the design and the stones you choose. Things like metal type, diamond size and quality, and costs of craftsmanship will all play a part in determining the final price tag on your custom ring.

Setting a budget early will help you narrow down choices and ensure you stay within a comfortable price range. There are a few things you can do to save money, such as choosing a slightly smaller diamond or a lab created diamond instead of a natural one. If you have your heart set on a two-carat diamond, for instance, shopping shy, in the 1.8-1.9 carat range will save you significant dollars while not having a significant impact on the visual appearance of your custom rings.

To stretch your dollar further, consider options like choosing a slightly smaller diamond or selecting a lab-created diamond.

Understanding the 4Cs

If you opt for a diamond, understanding the 4Cs—Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight—is essential to making an informed choice for your custom engagement ring. The 4Cs determine the price of your diamond, as well as impact its overall look, so finding the perfect diamond for you and your budget is a big decision.

• Cut: The cut of a diamond has the most impact on its brilliance. Well-cut diamonds reflect light beautifully, offering maximum sparkle. Cuts range from Excellent to Poor, but you'll want to prioritize cut as it's the most important to the beauty and appearance of your diamond.

• Color: Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colorless diamonds are the most expensive and rare. There are also fancy color diamonds, which start after the Z grade, like canary yellow diamonds—they come in all colors of the rainbow with varying levels of rarity and expense.

• Clarity: Clarity refers to a diamond's internal or external flaws (inclusions and blemishes). Grades range from Flawless (no inclusions visible under 10x magnification) to Included (flaws visible to the naked eye). Flawless diamonds are very expensive and rare. Shopping for what is called an "eye-clean" diamond will save you money without ever being something you can see with the naked eye.

• Carat Weight: Carat is a measure of a diamond’s weight, not its size. The cut is what better determines how well that weight is distributed and whether the diamond has good proportions. But carat weight does have some relevance on size and price with higher carat weight diamonds being more rare and pricey.

   

  

Any diamond you choose will look fabulous set in our stunning, East West Half Bezel Solitaire With Elongated Radiant Cut Diamond.

Natural vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds

When choosing a diamond, you’ll also need to decide between natural and lab-grown diamonds.

• Natural Diamonds: Formed over billions of years under extreme pressure and heat, natural diamonds are rare and unique. They are often more expensive due to their rarity and mining process.

• Lab-Grown Diamonds: These diamonds are created in a controlled environment, mimicking the natural process. Lab-grown diamonds are more affordable and environmentally friendly, offering the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

  

Fun fact: Lab grown diamonds cost 70% less than natural diamonds.

Choosing a Diamond Shape

Diamonds come in various shapes, each offering a distinct look and style, but choosing a shape really comes down to personal preferences.

• Round: The most popular (and expensive) shape, known for its brilliance and classic appeal.

• Princess: A square cut that offers a modern and edgy look.

• Cushion: A square or rectangular shape with rounded corners, offering a vintage charm.

• Oval: An elongated shape that gives the illusion of greater size.

• Emerald: A rectangular cut with step facets, offering a sophisticated and elegant look.

• Asscher: Similar to emerald but square-shaped, with a unique ‘X’ pattern when viewed from above.

• Marquise: An elongated shape with pointed ends, maximizing carat weight and giving a dramatic look.

• Pear: A teardrop shape combining the best of round and marquise cuts, offering a unique and graceful appearance.

• Radiant: A square or rectangular shape with brilliant-cut facets, combining the elegance of emerald with the sparkle of round.

You can choose from 9 shapes from our Ready to Ship collection and have a ring on your doorstep the next day.

Selecting Your Gemstones

Maybe you're looking for something more colorful? Choosing a colored diamond or gemstone for your custom ring can infuse it with vibrant personality and unique significance. Colored diamonds, such as vivid blue, pink, or yellow, offer a rare and stunning alternative to traditional white diamonds. Alternatively, colored gemstones like sapphires, rubies, and emeralds provide a wide array of options, each bringing its own charm and symbolism.

Sapphires, while known for their rich blue tones, also come in a rainbow of colors, including pink, yellow, and green, offering versatility in design. Rubies, with their deep red hue, are perfect for expressing passion and love, while emeralds, renowned for their lush green color, symbolize growth and harmony. These gemstones can be more affordable than colored diamonds, allowing for larger stones or more intricate settings without compromising on beauty or elegance. You can also add color by incorporating these gems as side stone accents to your center diamond if you want a little mix.

Add to your stack with our gemstone wedding band collection.

Exploring Setting Styles

Now, what those stones all look like in a cohesive ring design comes down to setting styles and design details. For instance, do you like a classic prong setting where the diamond sits high on your finger, allowing lots of light to shine through. Or maybe you like the clean, geometry of a bezel setting, which encircles your gemstones in a slender rim of metal. Bezel settings also offer added security and protection for your ring.

Do you like halo set engagement ring styles? They have a little circle of smaller stones (diamonds or gemstones) around the center stone, adding sparkle and making your center stone appear larger. Do you want tiny pave diamonds down the shoulders of your ring? Or perhaps an eternity band with diamonds that go all the way around? Channel set rings also offer added protection, setting the stones between two metal walls, providing a sleek, contemporary look. Custom engagement rings can truly be anything you like, and there are endless combinations we can help you hone into your perfect ring.

Find your perfect setting like this east west half bezel, a GOODSTONE staple.

Selecting Your Metal

When selecting the metal for your custom ring, understanding the differences between the various options is crucial. Yellow gold is the most classic choice. Known for its warm, rich hue, yellow gold is available in different purities such as 14k and 18k; 14k gold contains 58.3% gold, making it more durable, while 18k gold has 75% gold, offering a richer color but is slightly softer.

White gold is a modern and elegant option, created by alloying gold with white metals like palladium or nickel, and typically coated with rhodium to enhance its bright, reflective finish. Rose gold, achieved by mixing gold with copper, has a distinctive pinkish hue that exudes romance and vintage charm.

Platinum, a premium metal known for its natural white sheen and exceptional durability, is hypoallergenic and heavier than gold, making it an ideal choice if you're looking for a luxurious and long-lasting option. Each metal offers unique attributes in terms of appearance, durability, and cost, allowing you to select the one that best suits your style and lifestyle.

Select a metal that is perfect for you and your style.

Understanding the Design Process

When you're ready to dive into the custom design process, there are a few steps to be aware of. You can submit a custom inquiry and then connect on a call with our design team. Our custom orders include various renderings and iterating on a design until every detail is just as you like. We will also work with you on stone selection from a customized flight of diamonds or gemstones and then craft the setting around the selected stones.

We are here to guide you in the process and create the ring you have always dreamed of.

Design Your Own Engagement Ring

Creating a custom engagement ring or wedding band is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It allows you to craft a piece of jewelry that is truly unique and meaningful, symbolizing your love and commitment. By carefully considering each element—from the metal and gemstone to the setting and engravings—you can create a ring that tells your story and becomes a cherished heirloom for generations to come.