First Things First
You Do Not Need To Know What You’re Doing
Most people designing an engagement ring have never bought jewellery before
So if you currently feel slightly out of your depth, that’s fairly normal
The majority of bespoke engagement rings start with:
• a rough budget
• a few screenshots
• maybe a vague idea of style
• and a lot of “I’m not really sure what I’m looking for”
That’s enough to begin
Part of my job is helping narrow things down and make the process feel manageable rather than overwhelming
Keeping The Whole Thing Secret
This is usually much easier than people expect
Most engagement rings are designed quietly through:
• messages
• emails
• short calls
• or one relaxed meeting
You do not need to disappear for mysterious full-day appointments every weekend
A lot of the process happens gradually in the background while normal life carries on
Book a consultation
I’m also very aware that people are often trying not to get caught
So communication can stay fairly discreet and low-pressure throughout (feel free to mute our WhatsApp chat)
How To Figure Out What They’ll Actually Like
Most people already have more clues than they realise
The easiest place to start is simply paying attention to what they already wear
Things like:
• yellow gold or silver
• minimal or detailed
• delicate or substantial
• vintage feeling or modern
• polished or slightly worn-in
usually tell you far more than random trend articles online
If they wear the same ring every day, that’s probably a better reference point than Instagram
You can also quietly look at:
• Pinterest boards
• saved Instagram posts
• jewellery brands they already follow
• hints from friends or siblings
You are not trying to read their mind perfectly
You are just trying to build a clear direction
Ring Size Without Making It Obvious
This is the part people panic about most
Realistically, there are a few ways around it
You can:
• borrow an existing ring briefly
• ask a friend or family member carefully
• trace a ring on paper
• compare against your own fingers
• or estimate and resize afterwards
Resizing engagement rings later is extremely common
People massively overthink this part
What The Process Usually Looks Like
Most bespoke engagement rings follow a fairly simple process:
1. Initial Conversation
We talk through:
• budget
• style
• stones
• practical wearability
• general direction
Nothing formal or intimidating
2. Stone Sourcing & Design Direction
Once I understand the overall feel of the ring, I’ll source suitable stones and begin narrowing down design options
Usually this becomes much clearer surprisingly quickly
3. Design Refinement
This is where proportions, settings, band shape, texture and small details get adjusted
A lot of the important decisions here are actually about:
• comfort
• durability
• balance
• and how the ring feels to wear long term
not just how it photographs
Once everything is approved, the ring gets made and finished by hand
This is usually the calmest part of the whole process
You’ve already done the hard bit by deciding to ask someone to marry you
The Important Thing People Forget
The proposal matters far more than tiny technical details
Years later, nobody remembers whether a claw was fractionally thicker than another one
They remember:
• how nervous you were
• where it happened
• what was said
• and how it felt opening the box
That’s the real memory
The ring simply becomes part of it afterwards
Final Thought
Most people come into this process worried they’ll get something wrong
In reality, engagement rings are rarely about perfection
Book a consultation
They’re usually about paying attention properly to somebody you love
The rest can be figured out together
