Build a Ring

Have you ever wondered how to build a ring to reflect your own individual style? Building your own engagement ring is nowhere near as difficult as it sounds and can be the perfect way of owning a highly individual ring.

Build your own special ring.

'Building a ring' is a term that is used to describe creating a ring from separate component parts. This falls within the two extremes of buying an engagement ring 'off the shelf' and having an engagement ring completely custom made. This is perfect for the bride-to-be who has seen rings in jewelry stores that are not quite perfect, when perhaps all that is required is for a slightly different stone or setting to be used in order for the ring to be absolutely perfect. Instead of having the engagement ring custom made and designed, in these instances the bride-to-be may wish to simply have her ring built using different components. The jeweler has a number of standard components and these can be mixed and matched according to the couple's choice, and they can often offer this service at a highly competitive price.

When looking to build your ring, there are three main elements that need to be considered.

This is the part of the ring that goes around the finger. It is important that this is the right ring size and not only fits comfortably around the finger, but also is suitable for everyday wear. The ring shank will also need to complement a wedding band. In addition to different styles, the bride-to-be will also be able to choose a type of metal. The choice is likely to stretch from low grade golds through to the finest platinum.

The engagement ring setting is soldered to the ring shank and holds the stone. This typically is either a prong setting which means that the stone is set in a basket and held in place with prongs, or a rub over setting. Rub over settings are where a solid setting holds the stone in place and this is becoming increasingly popular. This is most effective when used to set larger gemstones. The setting is made from the same or a complementary metal to the shank. Yellow gold combined with white gold or platinum is a traditional combination.

Arguably this is the most important feature to consider when building a ring. The stone will define the finished look of the ring as well as having a major impact on the price. Many couples opt for a ring that contains a diamond, perhaps combined with other precious stones such as sapphires or rubies. GIA certified diamonds are often offered and these are of a recognized quality. An alternative to diamonds are synthetic stones and these often present an excellent low cost option.

Building a ring takes skill.

Many jewelers will give help and advice about how to build a ring. There are, however, some useful tips that will help you build the perfect ring.

• Building an engagement ring involves mixing and matching component parts. Therefore getting a good idea of likes and dislikes before starting is useful. Taking a good look at what stores have and understanding the different kinds of components and how they work together can help.
• Deciding on budget before staring is important. It is easy to get carried away by the thought of bigger and brighter diamonds or larger settings and a predefined budget can help to focus the search.
• Pick a jeweler that specializes in this service. The most important feature of building your own ring is ensuring that the stone is set by a specialist stone setter. Stone setting takes years of training and the setting of high quality and expensive precious stones is not something that should be undertaken by someone who is not experienced in this art.

If the perfect ring still remains illusive, then the next step is to consider designing a ring from scratch. This is an exciting prospect, however there are some key aspects to consider:

• Designing an engagement ring and having this completely custom built will be more expensive than building a ring using component parts.
• Jewelers who offer the 'build a ring' service can often produce the finished ring in just a few days, much less time than it takes to create a one-off design.
• One-off designs are sometimes difficult to visualize whereas with the component parts it is easier to see how the finished ring will look.

Building a ring is a great way to own your own special ring that will always be cherished..

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