Couples who end up getting custom wedding rings didn’t always start out with a custom ring in mind. What often happens is that you go to a jeweler in search of your dream ring, but end up not quite finding it. You may spot a few pieces that come close to perfect, but when you’re searching for a ring you’re going to wear every day for the rest of your life, “close to perfect” isn’t good enough. You might think, “If only we could combine the gold alloy of this ring with the profile of that ring, and add the stones from this other ring…”

Rather than let you walk away unsatisfied, the jeweler might offer to make a custom ring for you. If you’re working with the right designer, one whose way of working and sense of style lines up with yours, brainstorming a design and watching it come to life can be exciting. More often than not, however, the process is a long, frustrating one. If you’re not a jewelry expert yourself, you might not have the vocabulary to describe exactly what you want, and you can’t be sure if what you see in your imagination is doable in reality.

It can be a little intimidating to enter into a conversation with a jewelry designer when you have a design in mind but lack the expertise to communicate your vision. The result can be a lot of frustrating back-and-forth, with no guarantee that you’ll end up with a ring that’s better than any of the ready-made “close to perfect” rings you passed up.

Along with frustration can come a feeling of being overwhelmed. You may have experienced this feeling if your journey for the perfect ring began online. Even if you’re not planning to buy a ring online, you’ll probably do some research on your phone or computer, getting a sense of what’s out there, what it will cost, and what’s in style. You can end up spending weeks, months even, browsing jeweler websites, learning about metals and gemstones, and finding inspiration. All of this is fun on its own, but when it comes time to make a decision, you might find yourself overwhelmed by options and losing sight of the features and styles you were interested in to begin with.

Shopping for wedding rings shouldn’t be a frustrating or intimidating experience. Seeing a custom design come to life should make you feel more excited about what’s to come, not less. It should be a journey of joy and discovery, just like marriage itself.

Designing your own custom wedding rings is a great way to get in touch with what is unique about your relationship. Our Design Center blends traditional goldsmithing techniques with cutting-edge technology to bring you a ring that tells your story through precise craftsmanship and flourishes that tell your story. Try it for yourself and see just how fun and easy it can be to go from generic to authentic.