Online Wedding Ring Costs vs. Custom Made Wedding Ring Costs

Ronnie recently emailed me, her a picture of a ring she saw on Overstock.com.

It cost $795. I had just created a similar custom setting for her priced at $1400. She wondered if she’d paid too much. I compared the two rings. Were they similar? Not really.

“Why Does My Custom Made Wedding Ring Cost More Than That Online Ring?”

I couldn’t tell just from a picture, but the ring from Overstock looked much lighter than mine. Sometimes the shanks are hollowed out and the gem settings are thinner to reduce the cost.

Would it hold up like mine? Not this lifetime. It was hard to compare the quality of the gemstones from a photograph.

The Quality is in the Details

Ronnie’s Custom Made Engagement Ring With Hand Engraving and Speed Bumps to Stop it From Spinning.

The real difference in the rings, though, was in the details. From the side, the Overstock ring was really plain. My design on the other hand, had an intricate and beautiful hand engraved pattern. It had a thick and well made design for Ronnie’s crazy busy life.

Why a Custom Made Wedding Ring Costs More

A real custom designed ring is a one of a kind piece of jewelry. Lots of work and consultation goes into the design and creation of your ring. It starts with talking to you.

You’re Unique, Your Wedding Ring Should be Unique Too!

I like to discuss your tastes, your likes and dislikes, and your purpose for your custom designed ring. I want to know if you’ll be wearing your ring everyday and how much life it’ll be exposed to. Are you a pilot or a road grader? I also want to make sure the design compliments your hand.

Your Custom Designed Ring is Just For You!

Many Steps go into Making Your Custom Ring

The next step is drawing up your design. (See my blog post, The Sixteen Steps to Your Custom Jewelry Design.) Once that’s done, we carve a wax model for you. Then I show you the wax and you agree to go ahead with casting or to have me make modifications.

When You Were Made They Broke the Mold – Same Deal With Your Ring

Next, we cast your ring in gold or platinum. We set gemstones, and polish the daylights out of it! We might engrave some details or put on a special finish at this point, too.

“What if I Want to Spend Less?”

Not all jewelry has to be custom made—especially if cost is a concern. By all means, go ahead and buy a ring you like at a jewelry store in the mall. Or on Overstock.com. Of course, check the details first. It’s details in quality, and the careful choices in style that will mean the difference between a happy choice and a place-holder ring.

Make Sure Your Wedding Ring Choices are Good Ones 

Ideally examine it under loupe. (See my blog post on How to Use a Jeweler’s Loupe.) Always make sure it’s made with good quality. What constitutes good quality you ask? Check out my blog post: The Four Pillars of a Daily Wear Ring. More than likely, you’ll pay more for a custom designed ring than for a mass-produced jewelry store special—or online.

Should You Have a Custom Made Ring?

Ronnie, Happy With Her New Custom Wedding Set

A well known chain of jewelry stores may be pumping out 100 of the same ring design at the same time to take advantage of the economy of scale.

Ronnie’s Engraved Custom  Wedding Set

That popular style may be exactly what you want. That said check carefully if that ring passes the four pillars test. There’s a good chance that it may be a bit thinner than you need. Mass produced designs can suffer from the lowest bid phenomenon. Where the company that offers the make 100 of a particular design is the lowest bidder because they make their 100 rings thinner and with less metal than the original design. Check out more about this in my blog post: Zombie Rings: How to Tell a Good Ring From a Bad Ring.

This Custom Wedding Set Sings with Careful Detail and Sturdy Daily Wear Strength

Your custom designed ring was made once, just for you. Yeah it’ll cost more, but…you’re worth it. Right?

Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla Gold