Design a Wedding Ring

Knowing how to design a wedding ring opens up a range of opportunities. Whether you are looking for unique matching wedding bands or individual rings, designing your own can be a wonderful way to own something special.

Design the perfect wedding ring.

Why Design Your Own Wedding Ring?

Wedding rings are the most important item of jewelry you will ever own and finding the right ring is important. Unlike most other types of jewelry, a wedding ring will be worn constantly for many years to come.

Designing your own wedding rings or marriage bands allows you to demonstrate your individuality by creating an absolutely unique piece of jewelry. When starting to think about designing your own ring it is useful to keep a file of pictures and magazine clippings that reflect your style. This might include wedding ring pictures you like as well as other style information. This is also a good way to share information with a jeweler and to help them get a better appreciation of your own style.

How to Design a Wedding Ring

Many jewelers welcome commissions and will work with you to help you design the perfect ring. Before beginning, however, it is useful to consider some key features about your design.

Metal

When you design a wedding ring the most important feature to consider is the type of metal. The most common types of precious metals for wedding rings are:

• Platinum – The most expensive metal used to make jewelry. Platinum wedding rings are bright white and look fantastic in classic and contemporary designs.
• Gold – Gold is found in a variety of karats and colors. In addition to yellow gold, other colors are widely available including white, pink, and even green.
• Palladium – This bright white metal is gaining in popularity. Palladium has many of the positive qualities of platinum but is less expensive and easier to work with. This is useful when designing your own wedding rings as it means that your choice of jeweler can include independent artisan jewelers as well as large jewelry stores.

Gemstones add flair.

• Gemstones – Including gemstones in your wedding ring will give a really individual touch. Diamond wedding rings are classically elegant, while sapphires, emeralds or other stones can look extremely stunning. Some couples set gemstones of sentimental value into wedding bands, such as a diamond from an old family ring. This is a lovely way to combine new and old, making a very special ring.
• Style – The ring style is where you can get creative. The one important feature to remember is that the ring will be worn every day through many different stages of life. Therefore the wedding ring that will be worn out clubbing in the early days of marriage, in future years may also be worn when nursing a baby, digging a garden, or playing with grandchildren.

While plain and simple styles are the most versatile, additional interest can be created by combining different colored metals using techniques such as mokume gane, adding some carving or engraving to the wedding ring for even more uniqueness.

Finding a Jeweler

Designing a wedding ring is partnership between you and your jeweler. The jeweler will take your ideas and create a design for the perfect ring. It is essential that you are comfortable with your jeweler and are able to trust them to work with you. There are many ways to find a creative jeweler who accepts commissions.

Word of Mouth

One of the best ways to find an excellent jeweler is through word of mouth. When you next see someone wearing jewelry that you admire, ask them where they got it from and who made it. People will be flattered that you admire their jewelry and style, and this is the ideal way to find the names of jewelers.

Shows and Exhibitions

Craft or jewelry shows provide an ideal platform for jewelers to exhibit their work. Visiting these shows will allow you to see many jewelers' work together and give you the opportunity to talk to different jewelers about your wedding ring design ideas. Another benefit of visiting shows and exhibitions is that the wide range of jewelry on show might provide extra inspiration for your design.

Art colleges also often hold exhibitions or shows at the end of a course and this is a wonderful way to find new jewelers who will welcome the opportunity to create something a little different.

Jewelers’ Websites

Many jewelers have their own websites and browsing these from the comfort of your own home is certainly beneficial. This is a useful way to look at many different designs and can be a handy way to find inspiration when starting to design a wedding ring.

Designing a Ring Online

Some jewelers offer an online design service, including:

• Design Your Wedding Rings
• Gilletts
• Wedding Ring Workshop

Tips for Designing the Perfect Wedding Ring

• Remember that the wedding ring has to be practical – however this needn’t stop your creativity. Different metals, stones, or shapes all add to a ring’s individuality.
• If your design is very unusual and perhaps not suited to everyday wear, consider buying a standard ‘off the shelf’ wedding ring and design a special ring for occasional wear.
• Discuss your idea with a jeweler and listen to their feedback. They may have other ideas or suggestions that could be useful.
• Ask the jeweler how they will approach the commission. For instance, will they prepare sketches or produce a wax sample ring?
• Confirm whether a quotation includes consultation time and the creation of mock-ups.

Designing wedding rings is a wonderful way to own the rings that will be important to you and will become a unique family heirloom in many years to come.

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