How Engagement Rings Are Made
Engagement rings are a timeless tradition for soon-to-be newlyweds, yet many people don't know how these rings are made. Whether you’re looking for a simple band with a solitaire diamond or a unique ring with brilliant gemstones, the ring process is the same. The ring experts at The Diamond Ring Co. are here to show you how engagement rings are made.The Ring-Making Process
There are a handful of steps to making an engagement ring, and from start to finish, the process takes around two weeks to complete. A custom engagement ring will take longer as you and your jeweler work through the design stage, but once you finalize your design, the process to make the ring is the same.Let’s see how engagement rings go from an idea to a lasting symbol of love.
Starting the Design
An engagement ring design usually starts with someone’s idea that they want to bring to life. Jewelers use both hand sketching and computer-aided design when creating new ring options, and making a custom ring for your intended.Hand Sketching
Many people have an image in their mind of the perfect engagement ring, so they put pencil to paper to draw out the design. However, if drawing isn’t your forte, you can always meet with a jeweler to have them put your ideas down into a hand-sketched design.Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Jewelers can also help you use a computer-aided design program to create a custom ring. With the CAD program, it is easier to pull different band types and stone cuts, sizes, and colors to help you see how everything works together to match your vision.A Wax Model
Once the ring has been sketched or digitally designed, we move to the wax model. The jeweler creates an exact wax replica of the engagement ring — down to the tiniest detail. From the wax model, we move on to the mold-casting process.Mold Casting
The wax ring model is enclosed in a metal container which is then filled with plaster-like material. This material is left to dry and harden in the container for several hours before being “baked” in a high-temperature oven. The wax melts during this baking process, which leaves a hollow impression of the ring that becomes a mold.To make the ring, the ring metal is melted down, poured into the mold, and left to harden. When the mold is pulled apart, you have the pieces of a beautiful engagement ring, minus the stone.
Die-Struck Engagement Rings
Die-struck jewelry has been used for centuries when it got its start by hammering the jewelry into the desired shape. Today, die-struck jewelry is made by striking the metal between two different forms (the male and female hubs) with extreme pressure to create the jewelry design.Many people prefer this style of jewelry making because it creates stronger pieces that hold fine details and luster better than other options.
Polishing and Assembly
Once the jeweler has all of the metal pieces of the ring together, the polishing process begins. First, the prongs that hold the stone to the ring are soldered to the base and everything is polished to make the metal shine. This is the first polishing step in the ring-making process.Setting the Stones
After the ring band and prongs are put together and polished, they are ready for the setting part of the ring-making process. A setter expertly and delicately places every stone of the ring to create a beautiful engagement ring. The setting step is crucial in how a ring is made since a loose setting can cause diamonds and other stones to fall out and potentially be lost.Polishing and Finishing
The metal has been cast, the stones have been set, and the ring is almost done. For the finishing touches, the ring size is measured again to make sure it is correct and that the ring hasn’t bent during the setting process.Once the ring has been through the finishing touches, it goes through one final polishing session. This last polishing gives the metal and stones the brilliant sparkle that every woman loves.