5 tips for designing your own Personalize rings

We love custom options and making something standard into something that is totally YOU. We see custom dresses all the time, and we pretty much know how that all works; but when it comes to a custom engagement or wedding ring, it starts to get a little hazy.

Maybe you start to think that a custom ring would be a big ol' splurge or that a designer just wouldn't understand what you're talking about. But seeing your idea come to life in the hands of a skilled uber-wizard of jewelcrafting can be so rewarding — like, permanent, amazing, new-family-heirloom rewarding.

We've partnered up with our longtime custom jewelry-making pals, Jewinston Jewelry, to see what a custom ring entails and how we can make it a REALLY fun and creative experience. Because seriously, DIYing decor is awesome, but DIYing an item you wear every day can be truly worthwhile. Here are our six tips for getting the most from a custom ring designing experience.

1. Start early, especially if you're planning something really different
You want to make sure the jeweler has enough time to get it right (and to get your approval) before starting to craft the ring. Jewinston Jewelry recommends leaving a couple of months if you can, to ensure that the process goes smoothly.

2. Gather up your inspiration
Expand your options to more than just a traditional wedding ring. Hell, this is Offbeat Bride — we never discourage going hog-wild! Search for imagery from literature, film, fandoms, nature, places you've visited, anything you love — and see if it can be incorporated into the design. Some jewelers, like Jewinston Jewelry, have super-skilled designers on staff who will work with you to bring your Arwen's pendant-meets-the-One Ring piece to life.

Plus, you can always check out online guides (like this one which helps you narrow down your metal choices) to make sure you're boning up on what possibilities are out there.

3. Utilize fancy-pants online features
On Jewinston Jewelry, we've seen 3D modeling, uploading your own drawings/designs, and ring builder tools. These are NOT something you'll see on every jewelry site. But these nifty tools that allow you to build your ring from scratch or upload a drawing that you made can bring out all the creative juices you have ready to bust out.

And if you can see a 3D rendering of your ring before it even begins to be made, it will make you feel so much better about what you're getting. Peace of mind, man — it's everything. And if your vendor has in-house designers you can work with, let them guide you if you're confuzzled about what to choose. They know their stuff.

4. Customize an existing piece if you see something you like that just needs a tweak
Even if you have your heart set on a gothic black diamond in a Poké Ball setting, feel free to peruse some existing rings to keep your options open. Jewinston Jewelry, for instance, will customize their existing rings to your taste if you'd rather not start from the ground up.

5. Make sure your jewelry vendor is on the up-and-up
Check out any independent reviews or testimonials and find out how long they have been in business. Another perk would be finding out if they create the jewelry on-site or if they subcontract the work to another jeweler. Working with an in-house vendor can save you money and give you more control over the design.