For millennia, precious metals and gems have captured the imagination and awe of people worldwide, often acting as badges of authority and royal power, and often a status symbol of wealth. Today, such as in he United States, there may be no royal jewels or crowns, but precious metals such as gold and platinum, and many gems from diamonds to sapphires to emeralds are as popular as ever. And they do not even have to be stock models; custom jewelry attracts a large market, and creating custom wedding rings, customize engagement rings, or any other custom jewelry can add personality and flavor to any person’s rings, pendants, brooches, necklaces, and more. Even engagement rings, which are typically seen as a gold band with a pure diamond, can come in a wide variety for today’s brides to be, and the gem’s shape and even nature are open to customization.
The Jewelry Market
Jewelry is a big business, and often attracts the attention of women in their 30s and up with the budget for it, as well as men in their 20s and 30s looking to create an engagement ring for their girlfriends. The United States is one of the biggest markets for jewelry in the entire world, alongside China and Europe, and in the United States alone, engagement rings accounted for $5 billion in revenue in jewelry sales in 2012. Given how the average engagement ring costs $5,598, it is hardly surprising that this sector of the jewelry market is so robust. Later, in spring 2017, it is estimated that 30 million people invested in fine jewelry, and in February the previous year, American jewelry stores sold an estimated $2.6 billion in merchandise. Clearly, jewels and precious metals are in high demand, and not just the stock varieties. Custom jewelry is another big business to consider.
Handcrafted Jewelry Made Personal
Designed jewelry, the custom jewelry business, is lucrative. In fact, in the United States, about 43% of the jewelry industry’s sales came from specialty jewelers. Ordering custom jewelry for decoration or engagement or wedding rings does not have to be a hassle; in fact, it can be very rewarding, and there are clear and simple steps to take to get the perfect ring, necklace, or brooch crafted for oneself or a loved one.
According to Brides, today’s man has many options for ordering a custom engagement ring for his fiancee, and the process is far from complicated. First, the customer is encouraged to start the process early, ideally accommodating for the few weeks or months it takes for the piece of jewelry to be crafted and completed. To brainstorm the custom jewelry, the customer can browse many different references of jewelry in magazines and online, or even browse jewelry stores’ displays. Different parts of the ring can be inspired from different sources, and can be combined into something totally new. Once the ring’s design is in mind, the customer can find a reliable jeweler with good customers reviews and experience with customizing jewelry, and submit the proposed idea to them.
Choosing the metal is another step to take. Gold is the common route, but silver, white gold, and platinum are also options, based on personal taste and budget. The gem is next: while diamonds are the classic engagement gem, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and amethysts can make a ring stand out and can speak personally to the customer and the intended recipient. For this gem, a cut must be chosen, anything from radiant, pear, marquise, round, cushion, and more. The gem can even be uncut if so desired. The setting for the gem will also be decided from several options such as halo and bezel, and once all this is settled, a sketch or model of the ring will be created, to ensure that it fits the customer’s interests. Custom engagement ring clients should also note that some jewelers may offer deals or discounts if both the engagement ring and actual wedding rings are ordered together.
