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Last Updated: October 23, 2026
Quick Summary
Book a custom ring consultation by sending an initial enquiry through a showroom's online form or by phone, sharing a rough idea of what you want and when you need it. At Griffin & Co, appointments run from our Chichester showroom, by home visit, and remotely, so you simply choose the format that suits you.
- Bring inspiration images, existing jewellery to match or remodel, and a realistic budget figure to your appointment.
- A bespoke ring usually takes four to six weeks from approved design to finished piece.
- Ask about deposit terms, revision policy and production timeline before any money changes hands.
- An online consultation can include a design visualised within 24 hours through our online ring builder.
- Collect custom engagement ring ideas at least a fortnight before your appointment.
Table of Contents
- How to Book a Custom Ring Design Consultation
- What to Bring to a Ring Design Consultation
- Gathering Custom Engagement Ring Ideas Before You Book
- Ring Design Consultation Questions to Ask Before Paying a Deposit
- How an Online Ring Design Consultation Works
- Budget, Deposits and What a Bespoke Ring Costs
- From Sketch to Finished Piece: A Realistic Timeline
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Book a Custom Ring Design Consultation
Booking a custom ring consultation takes about ten minutes of preparation and one conversation, and the custom ring consultation itself is the easy part. The process starts with an initial enquiry, either through a showroom's online form or by phone, where you share a rough idea of what you want and when you need it. At Griffin & Co, we run bespoke appointments from our Chichester showroom, by home visit, and remotely, so the first step is simply choosing which format suits you.
Most people arrive at that first appointment with far less than they think they need. You do not need a finished design, a set budget or a chosen stone. You need a starting point and a willingness to talk through what the ring is for.
Here is what most guides get wrong: they treat the consultation as a sales pitch you endure rather than a working session you run. The couples who leave with a design they love are the ones who prepared three or four questions and knew what they wanted to spend before they walked in.
Below, we break down exactly how to book, what to bring, and the questions worth asking before any deposit changes hands.
Choosing the Right Appointment Format
Three formats exist, and the right one depends on how decisive you are and how far you are travelling. A showroom appointment gives you stones and metal samples in hand under proper lighting. A home visit suits anyone who wants to see how a ring sits with their everyday wardrobe, or who cannot easily travel. A remote consultation works over video, usually with a follow-up CAD design or 3D visualisation sent by email.
If you are early in your thinking and want to browse first, say so when you enquire. A good jeweller will tell you whether to book a full consultation or simply call in during opening hours. There is no obligation to buy on the day, and any pressure to commit at a first meeting is a warning sign.
Pro Tip
Ask what the consultation fee is, and whether it is deducted from the final price if you proceed. Many bespoke services charge a small design fee that comes off the balance, but you should know which it is before you book.
What to Bring to a Ring Design Consultation
Bring three things: inspiration images, any existing jewellery you want matched or remodelled, and a realistic budget figure. Everything else is optional. Photos from magazines, screenshots, or pictures of a friend's ring all help a jeweller read your taste faster than words alone.
If you have an heirloom piece you want reset or a wedding band the new ring must sit beside, bring it.
Also useful: a note of the wearer's ring size if you know it, and any lifestyle details that affect the design.
Gathering Custom Engagement Ring Ideas Before You Book
Start collecting custom engagement ring ideas at least a fortnight before your appointment. Save images of stone shapes, settings and metal tones you react to, and note what you dislike as carefully as what you like. A jeweller learns as much from a firm "not that" as from a folder of favourites.
Pay attention to the hands that will wear the ring. A wide band on a short finger can feel cramped; a delicate setting on a larger hand can disappear. Look at photos of rings being worn, not just product shots on white backgrounds, because scale is everything and product photography flattens it.
Stone shape is usually the first real decision. Round and oval cuts read as classic, while emerald and asscher cuts feel more architectural.
Watch Out
Do not arrive with a single reference photo and expect an exact copy. Most jewellers will use it as a starting point. Bring a handful of references so the direction is clear.
Ring Design Consultation Questions to Ask Before Paying a Deposit
Ask about the deposit terms, the revision policy and the production timeline before any money changes hands. These three answers tell you more about how a jeweller works than any showroom tour. A deposit is normally a percentage of the total, and you should know exactly what it covers and whether it is refundable.
Beyond the money, ask these:
- How many design revisions are included before the CAD is finalised?
- Will I see a 3D visualisation or CAD render before you make the piece?
- What happens if the finished ring is not what I approved?
- Are your stones certified, and by which laboratory?
- Where are your diamonds sourced, and are lab-grown stones an option?
- What guarantee do you offer on the setting and the craftsmanship?
- Can the ring be resized later, and at what cost?
- What is the lead time from approval to collection, in writing?
The answers matter more than the questions. A jeweller who hesitates on certification or refuses to put a timeline in writing is telling you something. Ask for the quote and the design brief in writing too, so there is a shared record of what was agreed.
Asscher Cut Morganite Ring with Diamond Shoulders in 9ct White Gold →
Key Takeaway
The single most important question is what happens if you change your mind after approving the design.
How an Online Ring Design Consultation Works
An online ring design consultation runs much like an in-person one, just over video with digital tools doing the work that samples usually do.
Preparation makes or breaks a remote appointment. Test your camera and lighting beforehand, have your reference images saved to one folder you can screen-share, and find a spot with reliable signal. If you are choosing a stone colour, because screens distort warm and cool tones noticeably.
A remote consultation is not simply a video call. Treat it as a working session with a clear agenda:
- Before the call, send a short brief: the occasion, a rough budget range, three to five reference images, and any existing ring the new piece must sit beside.
- Confirm the platform and whether the call will be recorded or summarised in writing.
- Ask for a written follow-up within a set number of working days, including a design direction and an indicative price range.
- If you are choosing between two stone shapes or metal tones, request a short video close-up or a posted sample rather than relying on a static image.
Accessibility is worth raising at the booking stage. If you need captions, a longer appointment, a written summary afterwards or a home visit instead, say so in your initial enquiry. A well-run bespoke service will accommodate it without fuss.
Pro Tip
Seeing them under your own lighting is often more useful than any on-screen render.
If you are commissioning from a distance, confirm how measurements will be taken. A local jeweller's measurement is more reliable than guessing, and a ring that fits properly is the difference between a piece worn daily and one left in a drawer.
Budget, Deposits and What a Bespoke Ring Costs
Set your budget before the appointment, not during it. A bespoke commission is priced from the metal, the centre stone, any accent stones and the labour, so the final figure depends heavily on the stone you choose.
Deposits vary by jeweller and by the size of the commission. Expect to pay a portion up front to cover materials and design work, with the balance due before collection.
For a sense of scale, our own made-to-order pieces show how metal and stone choices move the price. A diamond bezel ring in 9ct yellow gold sits at £540, while an asscher cut morganite ring with diamond shoulders in 9ct white gold is £480.
Pro Tip
If your budget is firm, say the number out loud at the start. A good jeweller will design to it rather than showing you stones above it and hoping you stretch.
From Sketch to Finished Piece: A Realistic Timeline
A bespoke ring usually takes four to six weeks from approved design to finished piece, though complex commissions run longer. The consultation and design phase sits before that clock starts, so budget extra time for revisions if you are working toward a deadline.
Here is how the stages typically run:
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Initial enquiry and booking | Choose format, share rough ideas | 1-3 days |
| Design consultation | Discuss stones, settings, budget | 1 appointment |
| Design brief and quote | Written proposal and costing | 3-7 days |
| CAD design and revisions | Renders shared, changes made | 1-2 weeks |
| Approval and deposit | Sign off design, pay deposit | 1-2 days |
| Making and setting | Hand-crafted, stone set | 4-6 weeks |
| Collection or delivery | Final check and handover | 1-3 days |
Ask for the timeline in writing with the quote, and confirm what happens if a stone needs to be sourced specially.
A realistic end-to-end view, from first enquiry to ring on finger, is usually six to ten weeks for a straightforward commission and longer for anything involving hand engraving or a remodelled heirloom. Build in a buffer of at least two weeks if you have a fixed date.
Aftercare is part of the same conversation. Ask about warranties, complimentary cleaning and resizing terms, because a ring you wear daily will need attention eventually. Confirm how often the setting should be checked, and what the process is if a stone works loose.
Key Takeaway
Get the timeline, the delay factors and the aftercare terms in writing alongside the quote. A jeweller who will not commit to dates in writing is a risk you do not need to take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a custom ring consultation?
A consultation is a working session, not a sales pitch. You will discuss the occasion, your budget and any design ideas you have brought along. The jeweller will show stone options, explain cut, colour and clarity in plain terms, and talk through settings and metal choices. You should leave with sketches or a design brief, an indicative quote and a clear next step. Expect 45 to 90 minutes for a first appointment, and ask in advance whether a consultation fee applies and whether it comes off the final price.
Can I book a ring design consultation online?
Yes. An online ring design consultation works well if you cannot visit a showroom or want a first conversation before committing. You will need a stable video connection, good lighting and your reference images saved and ready to share on screen. Ask the jeweller to send CAD designs or 3D visualisation files before the call so you can review them properly. Confirm how ring sizing will be handled remotely, since a later in-person measurement is usually needed before production begins.
How much does a custom-designed ring cost?
Cost depends on the centre stone, metal and complexity of the setting. As a reference point, Griffin & Co lists a Diamond Bezel Ring in 9ct yellow gold at £540 and an Asscher Cut Morganite Ring with diamond shoulders in 9ct white gold at £480. Bespoke pieces with a larger lab-grown diamond or intricate CAD work will sit above those figures. Always ask for a written quote that separates stone, metal, labour and any design fee so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
What should I ask a bespoke jeweller before paying a deposit?
Ask what the deposit covers and whether any part is refundable if you change your mind. Confirm the number of design revisions included, who owns the CAD files, and what happens if the finished piece does not match the approved design. Request the production lead time in writing, typically quoted in weeks, and check the warranty, resizing policy and aftercare terms. Also ask where stones are sourced and whether certification is provided, so you know the material provenance before committing.
