The Diamond for You

Not all diamonds are created equal. When choosing a diamond for your custom engagement ring, there are many factors at play. Deciding and prioritizing your wishes for your ring is important to establish beforehand, as it will guide the ring design. Cut, color, clarity, and carat are all key components to consider when selecting a diamond. A smaller diamond that's priced the same as a larger diamond will be higher quality and showcase a brighter rainbow of colors. Larger diamonds are stunning from a distance but more likely to have microscopic flaws that alter their clarity and may have an undesirable color despite being a higher carat weight. Finding the right balance between quality and size will ultimately depend on your budget and your priorities, but keep in mind, there is no wrong diamond!

A Cut Above

The shape of a diamond is a key contributor to the overall design and aesthetic of your custom engagement ring. More traditional shapes include round brilliant cuts and ovals. Marquise, pear, and heart-shaped diamonds are less common but equally gorgeous when seated in a halo setting or set as the focal point in a solitaire-style ring. Older and more vintage, old miner's cut and rose cut diamonds have fallen out of modern graces but are an excellent choice for those who prefer a more antique vibe. Square diamonds, such as princess, emerald, or cushion cuts, can be both fun and quirky while maintaining elegance. Your diamond choice is the largest contribution to your custom engagement ring's overall appearance and will define the entire ring, so don't be afraid to explore!

Get Inspired

Don't like what you see in the stores but don't quite know which direction to turn when building your own custom engagement ring? Draw inspiration from your favorite historical period, going back to the elegant vintage charms of the early 1900s or choosing something retro and bold. Select an artistic style that you enjoy, such as art deco, and ask your jeweler what they can come up with to mimic that style. Spark creativity by theming your ring around your favorite character's style in a movie or TV series and meld it with your own fashion sense. Model your custom engagement ring off of a mother or grandmother's ring and create something beautiful inspired by your loved ones.

Revamp your Setting

Perhaps you inherited your grandmother's ring, but the design is a little dated, and you're not sure your bride-to-be will appreciate the ring itself even if she loves the sentiment. Reset a family heirloom and turn it into something new again with a custom engagement ring. Using the dimensions of the existing diamond, create a stunning ring by replacing the band in a new style and adding supplementary stones, turning a plain solitaire ring into a sparkling halo setting, or simplifying an existing design by taking small exterior diamonds and turning them into a pave band, setting the diamonds into metal so the band is “paved” with tiny diamond bricks. Maintain sentimentality while creating something truly unique to you and your love story at Parker's Karat Patch Jewelers in the Arden area.