How to Get a Custom Engagement Ring Made

Your love story is far from ordinary. Why should your engagement ring be any different?

Creating custom engagement rings at Alexis Russell is fun, fast, and less expensive than you might think. It’s the perfect step towards the next chapter in your relationship.

But, some customers aren't aware of the variety of avenues available to them. There are actually four ways you can go about it:

1. Book a consultation: Our designers will talk over your vision and budget so we can come up with the ring of your dreams together. This is the easiest route.
2. Customizable styles: Start with one of our signature styles and choose your unique stone and metal color to match your partner’s style
3. 3D Ring Builder: Either start from scratch directly in the Builder, or choose your perfect center stone first from our loose stone inventory and enter the Builder that way. Whichever route you take, you can customize every detail—from your stone and setting style to other options—with a real-time 3D render that updates instantly for you to examine from all angles.
4. Find inspiration  from past styles: We’ve helped countless couples create the rings of their dreams, and you can browse these works of art to get your creative juices flowing.

No matter how you go about getting your custom engagement ring, you can rest assured you’re in good hands at Alexis Russell. For more than 20 years, we’ve used ethically sourced materials and handcrafted all our rings in our New York studio.

Get started today, or learn more about how to create a custom engagement ring.

How to Get a Custom Engagement Ring Made

Designing a custom engagement ring is a chance to create something deeply personal. The end result holds your story, not just your style. Learning how to get a custom engagement ring made is actually a lot simpler than you might imagine, too!

When you work with a jeweler who knows how to bring your vision to life, it’s a fun and collaborative experience where you’re in complete control, but you have all the support you need to bring the ring of your dreams to life.

So, that’s a fitting place to start our guide on learning how to make an engagement ring.

First, Find a Jeweler You Trust to Guide You Through the Process

A great jeweler will walk you through every design decision with context, so you can feel confident in creating your engagement ring. They’ll help you balance aesthetics, budget, timeline, and symbolism all at once. That’s not something you can do on your own!

As for where to start looking for a jeweler, you have options. You can, of course, go local and visit someone in your area. But you will pay a lot more and may be more limited in terms of options. That’s why a lot of couples choose to do their shopping online.

So, why buy a custom engagement ring at Alexis Russell? Simple - we offer the best of both worlds. You get that mom-and-pop customer service with the customization and pricing of online shopping.

Since 2005, we’ve helped tons of couples design one-of-a-kind rings that are handmade, ethically sourced, and thoughtfully designed. We make it easy to collaborate no matter where you are. Here’s how to get a custom engagement ring made at Alexis Russell.

Different Ways to Get a Custom Engagement Ring Made at Alexis Russell

We offer multiple paths to personalization, depending on how you like to start the process. There’s no wrong answer - just the approach that feels most natural to you.

Book a Consultation

This is the best way to buy an engagement ring if you don’t know where to start, because we can provide you with the same experience you’d get at your local boutique but with a lot more convenience.

Whether virtual or in-person, consultations give us a chance to learn about your style, preferences, and priorities. From there, we can talk about stones, design direction, and budget. This is an opportunity to explore the process in a relaxed, personalized way.

Customizable Styles

Love the look, but want to add your own touch? If one of our signature ready to ship designs is almost perfect, we have you covered. We offer the same signature setting but give you the power to choose the perfect center stone and metal color that matches your style. This simple process allows you to create a truly personal ring without starting from scratch.

3D Ring Builder

If you’re like us, you thrive through interaction you'll love designing your dream ring with our 3D Ring Builder, where you have two options to begin: either start from scratch directly in the Builder, or choose your perfect center stone first from our loose stone inventory and enter the Builder that way. Whichever route you take, you can customize every detail—from your stone and setting style to other options—with a real-time 3D render that updates instantly for you to examine from all angles.

Begin With Inspiration

Already saved a few rings to your Pinterest board? Great. Our Engagement Ring Inspiration page is full of previously made, fully customizable styles to browse. You can use these to spark ideas, mix and match features, or recreate a favorite look with your own unique twist.

Whether you want to slightly tweak one of our designs or combine elements from several, we’re here to help translate your vision into something real. There are no right or wrong answers on how to get a custom engagement ring made at Alexis Russell!

Working With Your Jeweler to Design the Ring

Now that you’ve narrowed it down to a starting point (be it a stone, inspiration photo, or render), you’ll begin working closely with our team to design the ring.

We mean it when we say this is a true collaboration: we’ll talk through everything from the setting and stone orientation to the metal type and band width. We may send sketches, digital renderings, or sample images to help you visualize your design along the way.

We also welcome heirloom stones and love working with clients who want to repurpose a meaningful gem into a new setting. Alexis Russell isn’t here to simply sell you a ring - we listen, guide, and refine your ideas until the ring feels just right.

Finalizing the Details

We’ll confirm the specs and start production once the design is locked in. That includes:

• Stone placement and setting style
• Ring size and metal type
• Special requests or engravings
• Matching wedding/stacking bands (if applicable)

We’ll also provide a production timeline at this point so you know exactly when to expect your finished piece. But, let us know upfront if you’re on a tight deadline for a proposal or event. We can usually accommodate rush requests when possible. Speaking of which…

Set Your Budget and Understand the Timeline

Custom engagement rings vary widely in price, and that’s a good thing. It means there’s room to tailor a ring that’s perfect for you.

Your stone, metal choice, and design complexity all factor into cost. When you work with Alexis Russell, we’re transparent about pricing from the start and never push you toward a particular style or budget tier.

Now, how long does it take to make a custom engagement ring? Most custom pieces take 2 to 4 weeks from the time your design is finalized.

Like we said, we’ll keep you informed at every step - no surprises or guesswork. And if you’re really looking to pop the question ASAP, we do offer ready to ship engagement rings! But, you came here to learn how to make a custom engagement ring, and we think you’re ready now.

Wrapping Up Our Guide on How to Make a Custom Engagement Ring

From choosing your stone to refining the setting, every decision reflects your story and your style. We hope you feel good about the next steps in how to get a custom engagement ring made. There are a few paths you can take when you partner with the pros at Alexis Russell.

Whether your heart is set on a unique engagement ring with a classic diamond or other gemstone engagement rings, Alexis Russell is here to help you take the first step. Book a consultation, shop by stone, or get inspiration from our catalog today!

Frequently asked questions

Which engagement rings can be customized?

Most of our engagement rings can be customized, including center stone shape, size, metal type, setting style, and band design. Whether you're starting from a loose stone or modifying one of our existing styles, customization is built into our process.

What if I don’t see the option I had in mind for metal, shape, etc?

Just reach out if a specific metal, stone shape, or setting variation isn’t listed. Our team can usually accommodate special requests or suggest similar alternatives that still reflect your vision.

Where are custom engagement rings from Alexis Russell made?

All of our rings are handcrafted in our New York studio by our in-house team of skilled artisans and jewelers.

How long does it take from start to finish?

Most custom engagement rings take 2 to 4 weeks from initial design to delivery, depending on the complexity of the design and the materials chosen. We’ll talk about the timeline as part of your consultation.

Can I return/exchange a custom engagement ring?

Because each custom ring is made-to-order, they are final sale and not eligible for return or exchange. That said, we’re happy to work closely with you during the design process to get every detail right.

What about resizing?

We offer one free resizing within 30 days of receiving your custom ring, so you have peace of mind if the fit isn’t quite perfect the first time.

Are materials recycled or sustainable?

Our metals are 100% recycled, and we offer ethically sourced stones that comply with the Kimberly Process for customers who want an eco-conscious engagement ring. This is something you can feel good about.