A custom engagement ring is a manifestation of your commitment to your spouse-to-be and ensures that the ring they’ll wear for the rest of their life is truly one of a kind. What could be more romantic? As with any custom design process, some find the custom engagement ring design process intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! In this blog, we’ll answer all your custom engagement ring questions and help you determine whether a custom engagement ring is right for you.
What is a custom engagement ring?
A custom engagement ring is exactly what it sounds like: An engagement ring made exclusively for you, customized to your design preferences, gemstone choices, and more. Custom engagement rings give the client ultimate flexibility and control over virtually every aspect of the design. The finished ring is a true original and a testament to your love, created through a highly personal experience tailored to you by your jeweler.
How are custom engagement rings made?
The process of creating a custom engagement ring starts with the design. At J.F. Kruse, the first step is to sit down with you to understand your vision for the ring or, if you don’t have an initial idea in mind, help you visualize your options and select elements that your bride-to-be-will love. Our non-commissioned artisans and designers will get to work to explore and develop ideas before settling on a concept.
Then, we’ll bring your imagination to life through hand-drawn sketches and/or real-time 3D technology. Your input and feedback will be the focus as our expert staff guide you in creating a piece that is all entirely your own. Need to make changes? No problem! We can rework any element of the design if something isn’t quite right. After you approve your design, our carver will build a 3D wax model that you can hold, feel and even try on. It’s all becoming real!
Once any final adjustments are made to the wax model, your custom design is handed off to our goldsmith and diamond setter. Your selected precious metal will be poured into the mold of your piece to create the setting. Then, each hand-selected diamond and gemstone will be added to the setting and polished to perfection. Congratulations: Your custom engagement ring is ready for its forever owner!
The best part? At J.F. Kruse, the entire custom design process is completely free — you pay only for the finished ring!
How long does a custom engagement ring take to make?
The lead time on a custom engagement ring varies from jeweler to jeweler, and largely depends on the intricacy of the design and the number of changes, if any, that are made throughout the process. At J.F. Kruse, most custom designs can go from sketch to finished product within 3 to 6 weeks. With that said, it’s important to know that the J.F. Kruse artisans don’t believe in taking shortcuts, so your final completion time may be longer depending on your project’s unique elements and any changes that are requested. If you’re hoping to propose with your custom engagement ring at a particular event or occasion, we strongly recommend starting the custom design process as early as possible to ensure you have the ring in hand at the time in question.
We have a 100% happiness guarantee on all our custom work. It is our job to listen to you and ask the right questions throughout the process to ensure your final piece checks all your boxes and exceeds all your expectations. If you don't absolutely love your finished design, we will remake it for free. That's how serious we are about every custom piece we create at J. F. Kruse!
How much does a custom engagement ring cost?
It’s the first question on everyone’s mind when the topic of bespoke engagement rings arises: Just how much is a custom engagement ring? Custom = expensive, right? Not necessarily! At J.F. Kruse, our design services are completely free, so your custom ring will likely cost about as much as other engagement rings in our showcases.
The final cost of your custom engagement ring will vary — no two are the same, after all! — and will largely depend on the main factors that affect ring cost, the “4 Cs” of diamonds: Cut, color, clarity, and carat. Our expert jewelers can help you balance these four elements to choose stones that meet both your budget and your vision. The weight of your finished design, i.e. the amount of precious metal used to create your custom engagement ring, will also impact the final cost. At J.F. Kruse, up to 50% of the metal in your custom engagement ring can come from existing jewelry; you may also incorporate diamonds and gemstones from personal heirloom pieces. Using stones you already own can help to keep your costs down while adding emotional significance to your new, custom setting!
For most custom engagement pieces, the cost of labor (not to be confused with the cost of design, which is 100% complementary at J.F. Kruse!) starts at about $695, not including the cost of precious metals, diamonds, and any other gemstones featured in your design. When you choose an engagement ring out of a showcase, you are still paying for these elements, but the breakdown of cost for each is not specified on the price tag. When you choose a J.F. Kruse custom engagement ring, you’ll enjoy total price transparency and will personally decide how much you spend on each element - you are in the driver’s seat!
Where can I get a custom engagement ring made?
Custom engagement rings are often available at jewelers and online retailers. While the decision of where to get a custom engagement ring is ultimately up to you, you should know that J.F. Kruse is the only jeweler in Central Minnesota that can design and make your jewelry in-house from start to finish. No other retail jeweler in the area offers a 100% in-house custom design process! Our team of artisans, goldsmiths, and diamond setters will meticulously craft an heirloom-quality piece that reflects your unique love story, personality, and style.
You’ve learned everything there is to know about how to make a custom engagement ring — ready to get started on your own design?
The J.F. Kruse team is ready to help! We’ve been creating custom engagement rings for a long time, and we’re experts at guiding clients like you through the process. You can trust us to bring your visions to life and get the details exactly right! Schedule your free custom design appointment today to start designing a ring worthy of your unique love.