If you're planning a proposal around a specific date, it's worth understanding the bespoke process early — rushing a custom piece rarely ends well, so knowing the real timeline helps you plan backwards from your date.
The general stages
- Consultation — you share your vision, budget, and any reference images or family stones you want incorporated. This can be done in person at our Green Street premises or via our contact form to start the conversation.
- Design and CAD — we translate the brief into a digital design using CAD (computer-aided design), so you can see and approve the exact proportions before anything is made. Read more about how CAD works in bespoke jewellery.
- Sourcing the diamond or gemstone — if you haven't already chosen your stone, this happens alongside design approval. Certified stones from our suppliers are usually quick to source; very specific or unusual stones can take longer.
- Casting and setting — the approved design is cast in your chosen metal, then the stone is set by hand.
- Finishing, polishing and hallmarking — the final piece is polished, quality-checked, and hallmarked before collection.
Roughly how long does that take?
Most made-to-order and bespoke pieces take somewhere between 2 and 6 weeks from approved design to collection, depending on the complexity of the setting and current workshop capacity. Simpler designs in stock metals move faster; intricate multi-stone settings or unusual stone shapes take longer. We'll always give you a realistic estimate for your specific design at the consultation stage, rather than a generic number.
Planning around a proposal date
If you have a fixed date in mind, tell us early — ideally at least 6-8 weeks out for a fully bespoke piece, so there's room for design revisions without rushing production. If your timeline is tighter, we can also talk through which of our existing designs could be adjusted quickly rather than built entirely from scratch.
Ready to start? Visit our bespoke jewellery page or browse our Ring Studio to see live pricing on existing settings you could personalise.