If there you aren’t giving the ring away to someone for a gift, proposal, or wedding, you can start designing your ring whenever you’d like.
Other popular styles of ring include anniversary bands, cocktail rings, eternity bands, and signet rings. Engagement rings and wedding bands typically have a specific style and look. [3] X Expert Source Nicole WegmanJewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge Expert Interview. 23 April 2020. Make sure that your partner will appreciate a unique ring before deviating from the traditional style.
If your budget is limited, cubic zirconium is a great alternative to diamond. It’s not nearly as expensive; you can get a cubic zirconium for $20-100, while diamonds typically cost thousands of dollars. If you aren’t sure what type of stone you want, go to a jewelry store and look around. Ask the clerk about what kind of stones they have to get an in-person look at different stones. You don’t have to include stones in your ring. You can simply design a unique band if you want.
Pick a gemstone based on how it looks overall, not on how “high-quality” it is. One gem might be perfect quality but be very small in size, while a larger, imperfect diamond may look more beautiful on your hand. [8] X Expert Source Nicole WegmanJewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge Expert Interview. 23 April 2020. Most gemstones are measured in carats or millimeters. Millimeters refer to the physical size, while carats refer to the mass of the stone. A carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams (0. 0071 oz). The average carat size for a main stone is 1 carat, while engagement rings tend to measure in closer to 2 carats.
The cut will influence the price of your stone. Popular cuts, like round and marquise cuts, fetch a higher price than less popular options.
Platinum is a solid white color. [11] X Expert Source Nicole WegmanJewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge Expert Interview. 23 April 2020. It’s the most popular choice for engagement and wedding rings, and is also an extremely durable metal for a ring. Most stones require a durable metal for the band, but you can use any material you want if you’re not including any stones. You can even make a ring out of wood, iron, or meteorite!
Settings come in a variety of different styles. Channel settings line the interior of the ring with metal to reinforce the ring. Filigree settings add a variety of worn stones or metals to the band to make it look vintage. There are other options based on how shiny, reflective, or unique you want the band to look. The most common head type for engagement rings is a basket head, where 4-6 prongs hold the stone in place by its edges. You don’t have to include a setting. You can leave the metal exposed if you’d like.
If you’re going with a plain metal ring with no stones on it, consider engraving the exterior side of the ring with something personal if you’re designing a ring as a gift.
Rings don’t need to be perfectly round and basic. You can get an asymmetrical setting or shape it like a snake that crawls up your finger. You can even get a ring with sharp angles in it. Choose a unique shape if you want the ring to stand out and look contemporary. Most rings have a standard fit where the part that touches your skin is flat but the exterior side is round. Other options include straight fits and custom fits, which bend and warp around your finger.
If your city has a jeweler’s row or shopping district, there’s nothing wrong with walking into multiple shops and asking what kind of services they offer. Stores that have been around a long time in high-volume areas tend to be reasonably reputable.
If you find a stone at a store that you really like but don’t like what the clerk is offering in terms of design options, you can buy a gem at one store and take it to another store to build the ring.
