Are Custom Engagement Rings More Expensive Than Normal Rings?

When talking with anyone about creating custom engagement rings, the first thing that always comes up is something along the lines of, “But aren’t custom engagement rings really expensive?” or “I don’t have enough room in my budget for a custom ring!”

Somewhere along the line, it became a common misconception that all custom engagement rings cost lots more than buying an in-store ring.

What most people don't realize is that your custom engagement ring doesn’t have to be more expensive than its common counterparts, and in some cases, it could be even less expensive! Like any other engagement ring, the price of a custom engagement ring depends on the intricacies and difficulty of the design, the metal and the stone qualities, and a few other factors. Keep reading to find out what exactly affects the cost of a custom engagement ring.

What Is A Custom Ring?

Trying to define a custom ring is a little tricky, since there are so many different ways a ring could be modified. To better understand how cost plays into your made-to-order ring, we like to group custom rings in two different ways: The first is a simple or in-store ring design with unique features added. The second is a completely custom and unique ring, designed for you, where every detail of the ring is personalized.

Option #1: A Simple Ring with Personalized Features

The first category of custom engagement rings is the simple ring, or heirloom ring, which has certain features altered. For example, sizing your grandmother's engagement ring for you bride-to-be, picking out a diamond at one jeweler and having it set at another, adding an engraving, re-setting an older diamond, or putting a little custom feature on an existing ring are all examples of ways that you can customize a ring.

Because these are essentially tweaks, adding these unique features will not cost you an arm and a leg. And, because these alterations require less labor, they will cost much less and be that much more affordable. Usually, it’s just a small fraction more (cost wise) for a stunning ring with a personal touch.

Another way that customized engagement rings are less expensive is when you compare them to a well-known designer’s ring. Often, people will love the look or style of a certain brand name, but cannot afford the price tag that comes with these famous names. A custom engagement ring that is inspired by (but doesn't copy!) a well-known designer could actually save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, though it is a little more time consuming on your end.

Option #2: A Completely New Design

If after you’ve browsed through the hundreds of different store engagement rings available to you and you still haven’t found exactly what you are looking for, the solution to your never-ending browsing may be to design a custom ring. Like every engagement ring, the cost of your ring is going to be dependent on the quality of the materials used, the value of the diamond, and the intricacy of the design. Because you will work with a jeweler from beginning to end on your custom engagement ring and because they are more labor-intensive, the cost of your custom jewelry is going to reflect this time and attention to detail.

Completely starting from scratch and designing your custom ring will typically be more expensive than your average store model ring, but you can’t put a price on the experience of having your unique engagement ring made one-of-a-kind for you and your significant other, can you?

The Jeweler

All in all, the price that you are going to pay for a custom engagement ring versus a store engagement ring comes down to the jeweler that you go to and what you are looking to be altered to your ring. Make sure that you visit different jewelers to find one that you trust, and one that you know will be able to execute your vision for your custom engagement ring. Most jewelers will go out of their way to help you create a design at a price that you can comfortably afford. In the end, choosing a custom ring shouldn’t be about the monetary aspect, but about what your significant other will truly love in their engagement ring.