Making a customised engagement ring is a unique process you will always hold dear. At Cullen Jewellery, we specialise in creating one-of-a-kind bespoke engagement rings that impeccably reflect your style and relationship. We work closely with you from start to finish to capture and implement your vision. With our vast range of lab grown diamonds, lab grown sapphires, and moissanite gemstones at your disposal, we can craft your ideal custom ring that is as stunning as it is personal.
The art of custom-made engagement rings
A custom-made engagement ring is a personal vision. Many spouses-to-be are drawn to the idea of a made-to-order engagement ring, but intimidated by the process, or worried they won’t make the right decision.
Fortunately, the Cullen Jewellery ring design process is informative, empowering, and completed in 5 simple steps that cover every detail.
Step 1
Bring us your vision - We love to see people's ideas for custom designs. The more information you have, the better. If you don't quite know every detail of what you would like or need, don't worry! We can help you through the process!
Step 2
Receive your quote - Your consultant will provide you with a quote. Often your consultant will have to take some time to develop a quote based on your requests - and more basic requests will be much faster. More complex designs may need some more time.
Step 3
CAD design - To make a detailed 3D CAD model of your ring, we require a deposit (which will be later removed from the total of the ring you end up purchasing). Receiving a CAD can help customers view their design and gauge their feelings on whether they love the design or would like to change make some changes. This is an essential step because some customisations can be hard to visualise. Our customers can choose to adapt the CAD several times until they are happy with it.
Step 4
Begin crafting - Once you are happy with the CAD, all that’s left to do is pay the deposit and our jewellers can begin meticulously crafting your gorgeous ring. This generally takes 40 business days to craft your design, however, we would recommend checking with your consultant as this can change at certain times during the year.
Step 5
Completion and pick-up - Once the ring is complete we will send you a video of the complete design. From there we can organise to pick up or have it discreetly delivered to you, in our signature packaging, express post and signature on delivery.
The custom ring making process
Designing your personalised ring is just the beginning of your engagement story. After you have settled on the design, your ring will progress through several stages in our Melbourne workshop.
Stage 1: Casting
To begin, our jeweller will print out your custom design into a wax mould. A plaster-like substance called the “investment” is then poured over the mould and, once dry, is baked. The wax melts and runs out of the mould, leaving an exact imprint of your ring.
Your precious metal of choice, in liquid form, is then poured into the plaster mould. Once cooled, we have a metal cast of your design.
Stage 2: Polishing
Your ring shape is refined and polished to bring it to a shiny mirror finish. This is achieved by using a polishing wheel and buffing compound which transforms the ring from dull and rough to a sparkling smooth surface.
A ring’s setting is usually made in two pieces so it can be polished perfectly.
After the ring has been polished, the claws are attached and our jeweller will carefully solder the setting onto the band. By melting a thin piece of gold under a blowtorch, the two pieces are held together and securely fixed.
Stage 3: Stone Setting
Setting is the process of having stones fastened in your ring. Since we want your stones to stay secure in their setting for a lifetime, this is arguably the most important part of the process!
Step 1: Prepare the Seat
If your ring has side stones or a hidden halo, the first step is to prepare a ‘seat’ for the stones to sit down in. This is accomplished by using a special drill to bore holes into the setting, creating space for each stone to sit securely in the band.
Step 2: Create the Gallery
Once the holes have been drilled, another drilling tool is used to create a ‘gallery’ which allows light to enter the stone from the sides. The gallery includes the basket and stems that connect the prongs on your ring and is important for optimising the sparkle of each stone.
Step 3: Setting the accent stones
Next comes the exciting part: setting the stones! Each stone in your ring must be pressed down into its own individual ‘seat’. Our setter uses a special tool to transform each of the remaining pieces of metal into claws which are then pressed over each stone one by one (each stone will have 4 claws holding it in place).
Step 4: Setting the centre stone
After the side stones and the hidden halo have been set, the last job is to set the center stone. As the most valuable stone in your ring, setting this stone securely is an extremely important step in your ring’s production, especially when it is also the stone subject to the most wear and tear.
Stage 4: The Final Touches
In this stage, your ring will receive a final polish. It will also undergo our stringent quality control testing. The final polish will enhance the shine of your ring’s metal and ensure your stones are clean, bright, and sparkling.
If your ring features white gold, it will receive a rhodium plate. Rhodium is a silver-hued, highly reflective metal that is added to all white gold rings to remove the natural, yellowish hue of white gold and replace it with an ultra-white colour. Rhodium plating is important as it not only gives your ring a smooth finish but also adds durability and higher scratch resistance.
Your “I do” awaits
Designing a bespoke engagement ring is a memorable and rewarding experience. For inspiration and support, we offer complimentary consultations to discover your precise needs and expertly bring your engagement ring to life.