You’re head over heels in love and finally starting to talk about forever. What’s among the first things to go through your mind right about now? My bet is that day dreaming about what the rock on your left-hand ring finger is going to look like is pretty high up there on the list. And for good reason!

When deciding between a custom and pre-designed engagement ring, it’s important to consider your priorities and what you envision for this symbolic and oh-so-special piece.

Here are five key questions to ask yourself (and your partner) to start your ✨ring shopping era✨ off in the right direction.

1. How important are details to you?

If you care about the details, then custom design is going to be your BFF. When we collaborate on your engagement ring, we aren’t only infusing elements of your unique story to make your design one of a kind, but we are giving you control over details like the height of the diamond off your finger, the width of the band, the way your wedding band will fit with your engagement ring. Sometimes you don’t even know how important details are to you until you’re given the option to have some input on them.

On the other hand, if you’re not one to pay much attention to the little things and you want a more traditional, classic design, you may be entirely satisfied with a ring that’s already fabricated.

2. Do you have a specific design in mind?

If you have personal details like integrating a rare gemstone or personal heirloom, a vintage-inspired setting, or incorporating subtle, meaningful touches into your ring, custom design will give you the creative freedom to bring your vision to life.

If you’re more flexible and open to choosing from a curated selection, a pre-designed ring offers the convenience of seeing the final product before purchasing. Browsing pre-designed styles is also a great way to figure out what you even like in the first place. And sometimes, window shopping leads to love at first sight.

3. What is your timeline?

Custom-designed rings often require a bit more time and effort, as they involve diamond sourcing, design collaboration and your (and/or your partner’s) involvement. We typically custom design with couples for 2-3 months.

If you have a tighter proposal timeline or simply prefer a quicker decision-making process, a pre-made ring might be the more practical choice. Most rings from our shop can be resized and ready to ship in under 4 weeks.

4. What type of investment feels comfortable for you and/or your partner?

Custom-designed rings can vary in cost depending on the complexity of the design, carat weight, quality and source of the diamond, metal used, and level of craftsmanship required. While the investment range is a vast one, our custom designed natural diamond engagement rings start at $15,000.

If the stress of stretching your budget doesn’t allow for a fully custom designed ring and you’re flexible on the details mentioned above, you might find a Shop style to be more in-line with your expected investment. Take a look at our pre-designed natural diamond engagement rings, here, or lab diamond engagement rings, here!

5. How involved do you want to be in the design process?

Do you prefer to browse on Pinterest, social media, and across various designer platforms until you find designs that make your heart skip a beat? Or does the thought of a seamless yet hands-on process of signing off on every little detail sound your speed?

Custom design allows you to be deeply involved in every step of the process, from selecting the stone to refining the details of your setting. This level of involvement can be incredibly rewarding and the personal input often deepens the meaning behind your special keepsake.

However, if you prefer a less time-intensive and collaborative experience, choosing a pre-designed ring allows you to focus more on the joy of finding the perfect ring rather than the details of creating it.

Ask yourself these questions and you’ll get a pretty clear idea of which path is best suited for you. Whether you opt for a custom-designed ring that tells your unique story or an already available design that captures your heart at first sight, the most important detail, in the end, is that it feels just right for you.