Tips on Buying a Handmade Custom Ring

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Most people buy an engagement or wedding ring only once in their lifetime, so it has to be extra special. Creating your own design is not only more fun, but results in a unique, personal item that will always be treasured and never leave your finger. More and more couples are opting for bespoke handmade rings, and there are many good reasons why. Memory Rings for sale

One of a Kind

A custom designed ring is a unique possession that has more personal value than an "off the shelf" ring. For the lady, an engagement ring is probably the most valuable item of jewellery she will ever own, in terms of cost and emotional attachment. And whether her taste is for large or smaller, more refined stones, the choice is often based on a mother or grandmother's traditional style. For modern engagement rings there is now a wide choice of stone, cut, metal type and design to make the ring more unique and abreast of current tastes. The trend in men's wedding rings has changed somewhat slightly away from the traditional plain gold band. Instead, more elaborate designs of shaped and two and three colour gold rings are in vogue. In addition, nowadays men are more likely to want to know more about what they are buying for their money, and consult more with their fiancées on ring design and materials to give a jeweller a more holistic approach to the new one-of-a-kind creation.

Designed to Fit

The advantage of choosing a custom designed wedding ring is that not only does it reflect unique personal taste, it fits perfectly around an engagement ring. A wedding ring should complement an engagement ring rather than overpower it. If you can't find a wedding ring that achieves this then a custom handmade ring is a better option. Although almost every jeweller will stock curved and fitted rings, the chances are slim of finding a wedding ring that fits 100% with the engagement ring and also looks the part.

Gold and Diamonds... The Tip of the Iceberg

The traditional wedding or engagement ring is usually thought of as a gold band set with diamonds. However, modern designer goldsmiths work with a variety of metals and stones, each with their own colours and properties. Platinum, white gold and palladium are a few of the alternatives to yellow gold. Platinum is an extremely hard and long wearing metal and because it is so dense, rings made from it are heavier than gold. Palladium is similar to platinum and as such is durable and very shiny. It is also cheaper than platinum which explains its current popularity. Choice of metal not only depends on taste in colour and reflective qualities, it depends on choice of stone. Diamonds are still a traditional favourite, but modern penchants are for coloured stones rather than "clear. " Coloured diamonds, such as yellow, blue or pink, are expensive so always go to a trustworthy jeweller to ensure quality and authenticity.

Sizing

Most rings sold are "off the shelf" and, just as a suit can be altered to fit perfectly, so can a new ring. However, the downside of this process is that it weakens the ring and it may not be perfectly round, and even an untrained eye can often tell whether it has been sized or not. The process of sizing is a straightforward yet highly skilled job. Increasing the size usually involves hammering the ring around a sizing shaft. But because this thins the shank, the jeweller cannot guarantee a perfectly round ring. Gold and silver rings resize fairly easily because they are soft metals, but some jewellers will not size platinum rings because they are too dense and strong. The ring that fits perfectly and has no flaws is one which has been custom designed and measured to fit.

Expert Advice

When choosing a design for a new ring it's best to seek out a qualified professional jeweller. Word of mouth is always a good starting point, but browse through their portfolio and have a chat about what your requirements are to get a feel for whether the jeweller is on the same wavelength. Very often the best custom rings are made when there is a good synergy between the jeweller and customer. You may already see your new ring in your mind's eye, but a top notch craftsman will offer new ideas on design, such as the best wedding ring design to suit and fit an engagement ring, type and clarity of stone, mounting, and type and colour of metal. The resulting design is usually far superior to the original.