Rings are used to representing various things such as devotion, fidelity, and even to signify deity. This piece of jewelry also represents love and commitment, which is why it is used in engagement and wedding ceremonies. While there are ready-made rings that you can directly purchase in a jewelry store, some people prefer to have their rings customized or personalized. This provides them with a great sense of satisfaction because of the uniqueness of the rings that are truly made for them. This article tackles everything you need to know about ring customization and personalization.
Customized Rings vs Personalized Rings
One of the primary things that you need to understand when it comes to creating a unique ring made just for you is the difference between customized and personalized bands. The ring enthusiasts behind philophrosyne.com suggest that you look into reliable online sources or consult with professional jewelers to know more about this because from there, you will be in a better position to understand the process of making your ring. The reason behind this is that the process of customizing a ring is different from merely personalizing it.
Customized Rings
Customized rings are bespoke pieces of jewelry that bring your own creative designs to life. This is where you can have fun in coming up with your own ring specifications that the jeweler can follow. From there, they will see what works in creating your made-to-order piece. Because of the meticulous process involved in creating customized rings according to your requirements, going for bespoke rings usually comes with a price.
Personalized Rings
Personalized rings on the other hand involve taking a ready-made style from a jeweler and adorning it with accents such as some additional stones. Modifying the available designs to incorporate the color combination you like is another example of having a ring personalized. For instance, having a ring monogrammed also falls under personalization. In this case, it is merely adding your own personal touch to the band. Because the process of personalizing a ring is not tedious as creating a bespoke one, a personalized ring is a little less expensive than a customized ring.
How to Customize a Ring
Customizing your ring may prove to be quite challenging as you may need to undergo a series of steps before you are presented with the unique piece of jewelry that is made especially for you. While the process may be quite tedious and you may need to get in touch with the jeweler time and again, the final result will prove to be worth it. The steps below are some of the ones that you should follow in having your ring customized.
Find inspiration
One of the first things that you need to do when it comes to having a ring customized is to find inspiration. In this case, you need to use your imagination because there are no limits when it comes to the design that you want. To find inspiration and design ideas, you can browse through jewelry catalogs that feature the best ring designs. You can also explore online sources in an attempt to get an idea of a viable ring design that will still exude your preferences.
As soon as you have a good idea of the kind of ring that you want, the next thing that you need to do is to sketch it out. You can also ask a friend who is talented in sketching to do this for you, and from there, all you need to do is articulate the drawing according to what you have in mind. The important thing is that the main intricate details that you want in the ring are apparent for the jeweler to be able to understand what it is that you intend to achieve.
Explore your options
When you already have a design articulated and sketched, you can already begin exploring your options. Since rings often come with a price, there should be no stopping you from visiting boutiques or showrooms to get a good idea of how much a customized ring can cost you. You can also research whether the metals that you want to use in your band are easily available in the market or otherwise. In case you intend to add precious stones to your ring, you should also explore your options on where to source them.
Fortunately, there are already various options for you to choose from when it comes to customized rings. From the metal that you intend to use in your ring’s band, to the precious stones that you wish to incorporate it with, you will surely find something available. However, the biggest consideration for you, in this case, would be the price of the ring because the harder it is to find the materials that you need to make the ring, the more expensive it can get.
Know your metals and stones
Exploring your options will give you a good insight into the types of metals and gemstones available in making a ring. It will help if you dig a bit deeper to get to know the variety of metals that you can use for your ring, as well as the stones that you can add to it. In this way, you will have a more cost-effective ring without compromising the design that you have in mind.
When it comes to the metal of the ring, you can choose from yellow gold, white gold, or platinum, which are some of the most popular choices because of their color. However, there are already some people who prefer rose gold or two-tone metals for a more unique look. Keep in mind that the metal of your ring dictates its hue, which is one of the most striking aspects of a finger band.
Apart from the metal that your band will be composed of, you can also exert the effort to get to know the different types of stones that you can add to your ring. If you are into customizing an engagement ring, then the most popular type of stone that you can consider is a diamond. In this case, you need to look into the diamond’s shape, cut, and color because these characteristics can vary accordingly. Other than diamonds though, you can also go for colored gemstones to add some pop into your design.
Consult the right jeweler
With a design at hand, the next thing that you need to do is to get in touch with a reputable and reliable jeweler who will be able to help bring your design to life. What you can do in this case is to first research the jewelers in your area. From there, research whether they cater to ring customization because if they do, then you need to check out their previous designs, as well as what their clients have to say about their work.
If you are impressed by the works of the jeweler or the metalsmith you researched, the next thing that you need to do is to get in touch with them and schedule a consultation. You need to collaborate and discuss whether your design will make a great ring based on various factors. They may provide some suggestions on how you can tweak your design a bit more to make it better. You can then choose to accept their suggestion as long as it doesn’t compromise your entire design or refute it.
Familiarize yourself with models and fittings
A jeweler will most likely help you familiarize yourself with models and fittings. Some jewelers make the custom ring designs on-site, while others ship them out to their manufacturers. Either way, before the ring is complete, your jeweler may ask you to come for a scheduled visit. There may still be a few adjustments necessary before the final touches may be done on your ring, which is why models and fittings are still necessary. Make sure that you confirm the timeline of the ring-making process with your jeweler because, in this way, you will be able to monitor its progress.
Consider alterations
After the customized ring is delivered, there are instances wherein alterations may still be necessary. In this case, what you can do is to check with your jeweler. More often than not, alterations made within a certain time frame are still covered by their service contract. Just make sure to clarify this with your jeweler. Rest assured that most alterations are only minor, which means that your overall design will still be unaffected.
Ways to Personalize your Ring
There are various ways to make your ring unique without having to customize it. In this case, you can choose from different available designs and just add your personal touch to them. Below are some of the ways on how to personalize your ring.
Engraving
One of the most popular ways to personalize your ring is by engraving. For wedding rings, the date of the wedding ceremony is usually the details engraved inside the band. Some couples even have their initials engraved, as well as their favorite love quote. Other couples even have some lines from their well-loved song engraved inside the band of their ring.
Some other contemporary engravings include fingerprints, as well as an electrocardiograph, or your own heartbeat. In terms of the latter, your heart activity will first need to be recorded and visualized before being engraved inside your ring. However, not all engravings are done inside the band. Some people prefer to have their engravings etched outside the band where anyone will be able to see them. Some of the most popular engravings etched outside the bands are love stories depicted by various patterns and images.
Gemstone addition
Another way to personalize your ring is by incorporating different types of stones into it. While setting a stone outside the band is quite popular, some people prefer to have the stones set inside the band. This paves the way for a rather secretive but meaningful placement of the stone in the ring. In this case, the ring is personalized without having its outside appearance altered or modified. This is best for people who prefer less overt displays of their unique design.
Use of alternative metal finish
Apart from the incorporation of a special stone in your ring, you can also go for an alternative metal to personalize it. For instance, you already have a certain design in yellow gold ready for purchase. In this case, what you can do is ask the jeweler whether the same design can be made available using a different finish. There are different types of finishes that you can choose from such as a traditional polished finish or a contemporary satin look.
You can even go for a pebbled type of finish wherein your band will have a slightly different variation of reflectivity and texture. Otherwise, you can also choose from wire brushed or soft brush finished as well as sandblasted and matte. You can also consider florentine which has a beautiful texture that features hundreds of tiny raised sections of metal that appears to be arranged in a weaved pattern.
Some people choose to go for two-tone metals, paving the way for a rather unusual type of ring that nonetheless makes a great statement. You can also choose the finish of a two-tone metal accordingly. In this way, you won’t feel restricted with the use of a single color. You can even enhance the look of the ring further by setting diamonds or colored gemstones in each of the metals of the ring. In this way, your band will surely stand out.
When it comes to designing your own ring, it is vital that you first familiarize yourself with the difference between a bespoke style and a personalized design. From there, you will be able to understand the process that is necessary to create a ring based on whether you want to have it customized or personalized. Nevertheless, regardless of the ring design that you go for, the important thing that matters is what it symbolizes in your life.