For centuries, lovers have exchanged rings as a sign of many things including commitment, trust, appreciation and oneness with God. The craftsmanship involved with being a custom engagement ring maker is unbelievable, with years of experience and knowledge required.
A lot of people are not entirely aware of the nature and dedication that is part of creating a bespoke engagement ring. This article plans to explain the ins and outs of what goes on during the creation of a bespoke engagement ring, and what tactics and methods ring designers use to help bring the magic of having your own ring come to life.
The Beginning
Every bespoke engagement ring creator will begin by having an initial consultation with you in order for you to discuss what type of ring you wish to be designed. This is the time when you should explain in thorough detail what you are after.
It is very important to mention your budget too, as the custom ring designer can then make some adjustments so things can be more suitable for you.
Jewellers often also showcase some ring designs that they have worked on in the past as part of the inspiration. This is also something that is very important, as you may see a particular design that absolutely stands out and blows you away.
If this happens, be sure to mention to your designer that you would like to incorporate elements of the ring that inspired you into your own custom ring design.
A ring that is suited to your style can be used as a starting point so that it is much easier to work from and fewer changes will need to be made.
Making Refinements
After you have had a good discussion with a professional, various visualisation processes may take place such as sketching. In today’s world, computers can be used to make 3D models, but still, the majority of the time, people tend to prefer seeing some sketches done on paper.
Designers can also create models in order for you to comprehend the design better. These can be made out of things like wax and metal, and at times can be made with plastic from 3D printers.
During this stage, you will be heavily involved in the decision-making as it is your ring after all. 3D representations of your ring are often a great way to notice things that you may not have realised stood out.
The Inclusion of Diamonds
One of the best guides when choosing and discussing diamonds is by using the “Four C’s”. It refers to the most important elements of a diamond:
- Cut
- Colour
- Clarity
- Carat
Because the diamond is likely to be the most valuable part of your ring, this is a big decision that you will need to make and it is often the most exciting part of the process.
But what does each term mean exactly?
Cut
The cut of a diamond is probably one of the biggest deals when it comes to the diamond, as this fundamentally will affect how your diamond will look. This is in essence the shape of your diamond. The cut of the diamond determines how well it will reflect light and how much shine and light can be seen.
Colour
Quite straightforward - this refers to the colour of the diamond. The colour of the diamond is on a grading scale from D to Z, (where D has no colour and Z is tinted). The diamonds that are considered colourless are from D to F and generally reflect more light, plus are considered more valuable.
Clarity
Diamonds are subject to imperfections that are either external or internal. These are known as inclusions and blemishes. A lot of the time, diamond imperfections are not really noticeable or visible to the naked eye, but if there are major imperfections then this can affect the overall brilliance.
Carat
The carat weight is a unit of measurement used with gemstones. One carat weighs about 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams.
The Creation
After the designs have been thoroughly looked over and both you and the designer know exactly where to go, the process of actually making the ring begins.
This procedure varies a lot, as there are so many different ways that rings are made. It can also depend heavily on what type of ring has been decided upon.
A lot of custom engagement ring makers have their own secrets and tricks for getting things right. In the past, creating rings was a skill that was passed down, often from father to son. There have been centuries of trial and error, style changes and inclusions of technology.
Traditional Methods
Traditional techniques are still used to create rings. One of the most common processes will see the ring maker cut start by cutting the chosen metal to size. If there were any kinds of patterns, styles or textures to be included, it would usually be done at this time.
Tools like hammers and mallets would be used depending on the particular type of style of the ring.
Using Wax Casting
More commonly, wax is used as a cast in order to create rings. This has been the case for several hundred years too. This process is so popular because it allows a much easier way to keep up with what you are trying to make. The process is also known as the “lost wax process” because no traces are to be left by the time you would have put the ring onto a finger.
The ring makers use wax to get the model of the ring. After the wax ring has been created, they will embed the carving in a metal flask which is then filled with a plaster-like substance. Then, the wax model of the ring is left to set and become hard.
It is then placed in a specialised oven that is heated to extremely high temperatures. The wax is then completely melted until the only thing left is a hollow impression of the initial design.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we have helped bring some ease to the understandable confusion that comes with grasping the process of creating a custom bespoke diamond engagement ring.
To recap, every time a custom ring needs to be created, you must first attend a consultation with a designer. This is to ensure that the designer knows exactly what to do, as well as give you some more inspiration and ideas that can help you.
The consultations are likely to span multiple sessions, where you can make revisions and mention things that you like and dislike. You also will discuss the kind of diamond or gemstone that you are after, where the four C’s (cut colour clarity carat) will be discussed.
And finally, once everything has been confirmed, the ring will start to be created. There are all sorts of different methods, modern and traditional. Most commonly the “lost wax” method that has been around for a very long time is still favoured by a lot of jewellers because of the accuracy.
Having custom engagement rings means that you are able to show a much more unique display of affection because the ring is quite literally one of a kind!
If you’re looking for a bespoke engagement ring Varoujan Jewellers can help. Call us today on (02) 9232 2329.