The classically brilliant round-cut solitaire may remain a favourite, but if Prince Harry’s decision to design a bespoke engagement ring has you thinking… read on!
We’re betting Prince Harry’s beautifully bespoke engagement ring for Meghan won him some serious brownie points. If you’re considering designing and creating your own engagement ring, the whole process can seem a little daunting. Not sure where to start and concerns over the cost, are just a couple of queries you might have when considering a bespoke engagement ring. So we ask the experts for their advice… step forward the dazzling Diamond Rocks founder, Vineet Khandelwal for his top tips for creating a bespoke ring fit for royalty…
Get personal
“We’ve found that about six out of every ten of our bespoke ring appointments are made by couples, with the rest arranged by a brave partner wanting the ultimate element of surprise. If the latter is your preference, then I’d start by making sure you really know your partner’s tastes. You can do this in a number of ways: check out their existing jewellery, find out – surreptitiously, of course – if they keep any Pinterest boards, or even ask family and friends for advice. The more thought you put in, the more likely the ring will go down well. Any photos, drawings and notes you can bring to the meeting with your jeweller will really help them get a sense of what you’re trying to achieve.”
Know your budget
“Like everything in life your budget will determine certain elements of your design, such as stone size, cut and clarity. If your budget is tight and you’re thinking diamonds, we would always recommend concentrating on cut over clarity. Small imperfections aren’t typically seen by the naked eye, while a good cut can really make the difference in the look and feel of a diamond.”
Be ready for lots of questions
“It’s worth spending some time in advance thinking about the type of metal, stone and setting that you want. Diamonds in platinum or gold are classic options, but we’re seeing an increasing number of people choosing rose gold bands or rubies and sapphires if they want to keep the cost down. If your heart is set on diamonds, you might want to consider a daring shape, such as a marquise or cushion cut. We have quite a lot of terminology in our business and we can guide you through the different styles.”
Made-to-measure or completely bespoke?
“Many of our customers start with one of several pre-styled formats, which can then be adjusted to make the ring more personal. If you’d prefer to design something from the comfort of your own home, then you might want to take a look at our ‘design your own ring’ pages, where you can select from pre-set shapes, stones and metals. For anyone who wants to go full ‘Prince Harry’, then we can design a ring from scratch using computer assisted design (CAD) software. You can watch your creation come to life on the computer screen and make adjustments on the spot.”
Plan ahead
“It usually takes us between two to four weeks to design and make your ring, so it’s worth bearing that in mind if you have a perfect date when you want to pop the question.”
Have fun!
“Getting engaged is one of the biggest moments in your life, so enjoy the process. Our bespoke work is some of our most satisfying – we love that no two designs ever look the same and are always thrilled to play a role in such an important event – a design meeting with us should be just as rewarding for you as it is for us.”
Our thanks to Vineet for these excellent tips! See more at the Diamond Rocks website.
