What exactly is the difference between a bespoke engagement ring, and a made-to-order one?

When choosing an engagement ring or special piece of jewellery you have 3 options: ready-to-ship - which means the ring which is already completely made and you get that exact piece, or you can choose between a made-to-order or a bespoke ring - but what is the real difference?

Made-To-Order Engagement Rings

This is a halfway house between a ready made ring and bespoke - you can choose from a variety of designs and then customise things like the size and type of the gemstones, the metal colour and of course ring size.

The benefit is it’s usually a shorter, more straightforward and more affordable process than going fully bespoke, and because you're tweaking an existing design you'll have a very good idea of how it will look when it's finished, which can make the experience feel less daunting.

Made-to-Order Diamond Ring by Jessie Thomas

 

Bespoke Engagement Rings

Going bespoke means you’ll get a ring that is fully unique to you, created by working closely with the jewellery designer of your choice where you’ll be able to build a ring from scratch.

Tip: It's often a good idea to check with the designer that your design won't be repeated if that's not something you're comfortable with.

Probably the most important thing is to choose a designer that has a similar aesthetic to you, ideally someone whose designs and eye for details you love. It's also important to make sure you can communicate easily with them, and you feel like you will trust their ideas and execution fully.

For example if you’re thinking an art deco inspired ring then perhaps Laura Vann is your girl, or if you’re looking for a bold chunky ring then Minka Jewels might be a better option - take a look at past creations to get an idea of where their style lies. 

 

Bespoke Ring by V by Laura Vann

 

Both options are great and allow you different levels of customisation, it all depends if you've got an idea you'd like to see realised, how important uniqueness is to you, and how quickly you need the ring.

Trust plays a big part in the success of a bespoke engagement ring, and an experienced designer will be full of exciting ideas to help you achieve your dream design.

Bespoke Ring by Minka Jewels

Header image: Bespoke Ring by Lia Lam