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A Guide to Commissioning a Bespoke Engagement Ring: Your Journey from Design to Reality
Buying an engagement ring shouldn’t feel like a transaction—it should feel like the start of your story, and it should be fun! Yet, for many couples, the traditional world of fine jewellery can feel closed off and a bit stuffy, overwhelming, and solely focused on tradition rather than individuality. I’ve heard many frustrating stories from clients—one guy in particular, while shopping in a traditional area of London (no names mentioned), was politely swept through the shop and, before he knew it, he was being shown the door, simply because he didn’t quite look the part. If you are already planning an unconventional wedding, you deserve a ring that is just as unique as you and your love story.
For the purpose of this guide, as part of our wedding Jewellery advice, we teamed up with the experts at Nude Jewellery to get you a first-hand view of how it’s done. These guys believe the process of commissioning your engagement ring should be just as beautiful and transparent as the finished piece. They’re here to lift the velvet curtain and show you that designing your dream ring is not a daunting process, but a deeply personal, empowering, and creative collaboration.
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Here is your friendly, expert guide written by Nicola Galloway from Nude Jewellery, on taking the leap and commissioning a piece of art, handcrafted just for you.
1. The Initial Concept: Your Vision, Unfiltered
The biggest myth about commissioning a ring is that you need to be an expert. You don’t! In fact, the more research you do, the more confusing and daunting it can be. My advice would be to keep it simple and avoid getting lost down a rabbit hole – you could get lost in there! Your only job is to share your initial sparks of inspiration.
- Bring the Mood, Not the Blueprint: Don’t worry about gemstone sizes or metal types yet. Start with mood boards, Pinterest is great, photos, favourite architectural styles, or even colours from nature. If you love asymmetry, we’ll start there. If you want a deep teal sapphire that changes colour in the light, that’s our cue.
- A Collaborative Spark: As the designer, my role is to translate that mood or style and those unfiltered feelings into a cohesive design that is uniquely yours. This initial chat is purely about exploration, and it’s the most exciting part of the journey.
Ready to take that first step? You can explore our collection of unique bespoke engagement rings for initial inspiration.
2. The Technical Transformation: From Sketch to Reality
Once we have your core idea—say, a pear-shaped teal sapphire flanked by black diamonds—we move into the sketching phase, which is surprisingly magical.
Firstly, I’ll put together a page or two of sketches and ask for your opinions, and we can then merge parts of the designs that you like, take away ideas you don’t. Or at this point, we might have nailed it and designed your perfect ring.
- The Power of CAD: We convert the design/sketch that you’ve chosen into a precise CAD (Computer-Aided Design) image. This allows you to see the ring from every angle and ensures that every measurement is perfect, and we can still play around with the design. This is where we perfect the tiny details, such as the height of the setting and the exact way a wedding band will sit flush against it.
- Embracing Unconventional Cuts: As designers, we get to play with the rules, which I love. We often use marquise cuts, trilliants, and pear-shaped rather than just traditional rounds. For example, our Atlantis Collection is defined by its intentional asymmetry and mixed cuts, creating a dynamic piece that feels like a wearable sculpture. These unconventional cuts are the secret ingredient to making your ring truly stand out.
Teal Sapphire and diamonds Selene engagement ring.
3. Sourcing and Selection: Finding Your Soul Stone
For us, the gemstone is the heart of the ring. It’s not just about carat weight; it’s about character, colour, and transparency. Many times, I’ll show a client a selection of gemstones or diamonds (which are within their budget) without telling them the cost straight off, as I want them to pick their perfect gemstone, not the one that is most expensive.
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Teal Sapphire and diamonds Selene engagement ring
A Personal Connection: We guide you through the process of selecting the exact gemstone that will be set in your ring. For example, if you choose a blue sapphire, we will show you options ranging from deep, inky navy and velvety midnight blues to brighter cornflower shades. You get to fall in love with your specific stone—a stone with its own story, inclusions, and unique colour flash.
- The Ethical Promise: Peace of mind is non-negotiable. We are deeply committed to ensuring all our diamonds and coloured stones are ethically sourced, giving you confidence that your beautiful piece is something you can feel genuinely good about wearing for a lifetime, and we only create engagement rings from recycled gold or platinum.
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4. The Workshop: Witnessing the Creation
This is the part that truly sets bespoke jewellery apart: you get to be involved in the creation process.
- Handmade in the UK: If you live in the UK, best to choose a studio close by. At Nude Jewellery, for example, every engagement ring is created in our Surrey studio. This is a labour of love with no two days ever being the same – and that’s what I love, ensuring a level of care and precision, it’s polished and worked on, and we will always send you images “from the bench”.
- Behind-the-Scenes Transparency: We love sharing the journey! When your ring is read,y it’s delivered to our gem setter in London, where it is beautifully set and then delivered to the London Hallmarking Office. At this point, we’re on the final countdown to you receiving the ring, and I’ll try to sneak a cheeky video of the ring to you between me dashing around London with my stash of hidden jewels!
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Commissioning your engagement ring is an opportunity to own a piece of personal history, not just a product. It’s about creating an heirloom that embodies your unique journey.
Ready to start the most exciting creative project of your life? Start your bespoke journey and design your unique engagement ring with Nude Jewellery.
Teal sapphire Calista
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the biggest myth about commissioning a bespoke engagement ring? A: The biggest myth is that you need to be an expert. You absolutely do not! Your only job is to share your initial sparks of inspiration, mood, and personal style. The designer’s role is to translate those unfiltered feelings into a cohesive design.
Q: Where should I start if I have no design experience? A: Start with mood, not blueprints. Forget carat weights and metal types initially. Gather inspiration from Pinterest mood boards, architectural styles you love, colours from nature, or personal photos. This helps the designer capture the essence of what you want.
Q: How long does the entire bespoke commissioning process usually take? A: The process usually takes between 6 to 12 weeks from the initial design consultation to the finished piece, depending on the complexity of the design and the sourcing of unique gemstones.
Maisie champagne diamond and rose gold ring
Q: Does commissioning a ring mean I have to spend more money? A: Not necessarily. While bespoke work is high-quality, working directly with a jeweller like Nude Jewellery allows for greater control over the budget. The designer can guide your choices on stone size, metal, and complexity to create a stunning, unique ring within your financial comfort zone.
Design & Technology
Q: What is the “Technical Transformation” phase? A: This is the phase where your chosen sketch is converted into a precise CAD (Computer-Aided Design) image. This allows you to see the ring from every angle, confirms all measurements are perfect, and ensures the tiny details—like the height of the setting—are exactly right before production begins.
Q: Why do designers use unconventional stone cuts? A: Unconventional cuts like marquise, trilliants, and pear shapes are often used to make your ring truly stand out. They allow the piece to feel more dynamic and sculptural, embodying a unique style like intentional asymmetry.
heather ring
Gemstone Sourcing & Ethics
Q: How is the “soul stone” selected? A: The selection is a deeply personal process. The jeweller will guide you through a curated selection of ethically sourced diamonds or coloured stones within your budget. The goal is for you to fall in love with a specific stone’s character, colour flash, and unique inclusions, ensuring a true personal connection.
Q: What is Nude Jewellery’s ethical promise? A: Peace of mind is non-negotiable. Nude Jewellery is committed to ensuring all diamonds and coloured stones are ethically sourced. Furthermore, they only create engagement rings using recycled gold or platinum, making your piece beautiful and responsible.
