There are few occasions in life as special as your engagement. Seen as a major milestone in your adult life, the engagement ring is often the second biggest investment in a couple’s life after their house, and next to your wedding ring, the longest lasting. In Brisbane, there are many beautiful spots that are perfect for surprising your loved one with a custom designed engagement ring from us at Bentley De Lisle.
Choosing the perfect engagement ring
With so much pressure to get it right, it helps to have a team you can trust, who will give you the right advice and support to make sure your engagement ring is a perfect reflection of you and your loved one.
So how do you go about choosing the perfect engagement ring? There are two popular ways – the surprise engagement, complete with sparkly ring, or getting engaged first and then going shopping together for your dream ring.
Regardless of which approach you go for, a custom designed engagement ring will be a piece you will treasure for life. Based centrally in Paddington, Brisbane, we are expert jewellery designers that can help you craft the perfect engagement ring in-house from our boutique store.
What to consider when designing the perfect ring
Given all the attention your ring is going to get throughout your life, it is important to make sure you choose something that is not only beautiful, but meaningful for you and your partner. We will work closely with you to design the perfect engagement ring that tells your love story. From helping you choose the right design, metal, thickness, stones and setting style, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
The ring design process
When it comes to making the investment into a custom designed engagement ring, you want to be sure you’re working with professionals. Our highly qualified team of jewellers have many years of experience in designing, remodeling and creating beautiful pieces from the finest metals and gemstones.
We have put together a simple design process below for you to see the steps involved in making your custom engagement ring streamlined and enjoyable process.
The design and stones
Bring your own ideas or let us help you design the perfect engagement ring. Sit down with our jewellers and discuss the design, metals, stones and your budget over a nice cup of coffee.
We will source a selection of Diamonds or gemstones for you to choose from and present you with a quote. You may already have a stone to create the new design and we are more than happy to create your ring.
3D drawing
Once you are happy with the concept of your ring and selected the Diamond or gemstone you like, our drawer will draw your engagement ring in 3D, with the dimensions of all stones and Diamonds to scale. The 3D technology allows you to see all the details of your new design, in an over sized rendered image, before we commence making the ring. This is also a good time to talk about any small changes to the design.
Crafting your ring
Your engagement ring will pass through several hands of our drawers, jewellers and setters.
We can share the images of the process with you to make it more exciting, or you can pop in and see the ring while we are crafting it in different stages.
Our turnaround is within 15 working days, but we will work with you if you have a tight deadline.
Collection and aftercare
Your sparkly engagement ring will be ready for collection in a beautiful box, ready for the proposal.
Our service is free for life, so you can bring it back anytime (we recommend once per year) so we can check all settings, clean, polish and if necessary rhodium plate your ring.
We can organize insurance with Q Report before you leave, so your ring is insured straight away. If you have your own insurance organized, we will provide a valuation certificate.
Your budget
The first step is to decide on your budget. Once we know the budget you are working with, it’s easy to create a custom design tailored to your needs. Many ask what should guys invest into an engagement ring? Some say three paychecks, but we think that it should be up to you and the person you are giving the ring to.
Your future fiance may not like to wear large jewellery due to her taste or lifestyle, so she will appreciate petite engagement ring. Or the love of you life is all about the bling and small ring will not be what she is after. Women are very good at hints and we find most guys coming to see us, have a fair idea on design, thanks to many Pinterest or Google images their partner has been looking at.
If you have no idea what your partner likes, our experienced jewellers will assist you
Choosing the type of metal for the band and setting
Yellow, white, rose gold or platinum. So many choices! Working closely with your jeweler gives you the opportunity to choose the colour and qualities of metal that will let your personal design shine.
Choosing the right stones
One of the most popular reasons that people choose to have a ring custom designed, is to be able to personalise your ring with the perfect stone. It always adds a special touch to the engagement story to know the stone was chosen by you. When we sit down to design your ring, you can choose from a range of high quality stones, or even bring in your own stone, if you have a sentimental stone you’d like included. Not all gemstones are suitable for everyday wear due to their hardness, but we will give you honest opinion so you can make the right decision.
Diamonds
Most engagement rings are all about the diamond, unless you have chosen a precious stone. It is also the most expensive portion of your ring and that is why we source only the best diamonds from reputable suppliers, we have been dealing with for many years. There are many average diamonds on the market which are cut for the carat weight and not for the perfect proportions, but we are all about the best quality stone for your budget.
We will provide you with a selection of diamonds within your price range, so you can choose the perfect one.
Designing your perfect engagement ring
When designing your perfect engagement ring, it helps to have some ideas in mind before you start. Firstly, consider the lifestyle of your new fiancé – no matter what she gets up to during the day, it’s important to make sure the ring will work with her. More streamlined designs are perfect for active lifestyles that need to withstand more wear and tear.
Have a look at the jewellery already in her collection – are they finer, more delicate pieces, or chunkier with thick bands? Whilst it helps to have an idea of the style you’re after, be open to the suggestions of your jeweller, who can help with providing ideas and inspiration as well.
When custom designing your engagement ring, we like to bring up the subject of the future wedding band. It is a bit much in one sitting, but this is very important for the design stage of your engagement ring. If the wedding band is to sit flush under the setting, we need to make sure the setting is just high enough to clear the wedding band so the rings don’t rub on each other long term. Some brides like the idea of one ring, where the engagement ring is also a wedding band and in these cases heights don’t really matter. If the setting is very low, the wedding band would need to be fitted (curved) to fit around it and the choices of wedding bands are more limited, unless you are sure that fitted wedding band is what your love of your life wants.
So many things to consider but millimeters and points of a millimeter can make a big difference in design.
Our easy step by step process makes custom designing your ring a breeze. Once we have decided on the design, you can see what the finished product will look like with our 3D computer modelling. As your ring is being crafted, we’ll send you regular email or text message updates on the progress as it is being made.
Our custom designed engagement rings are also a perfect option for same sex couples looking for something unique and special to reflect their love. Whether it’s an engagement and wedding ring in one, a matching set, or two unique rings, we can create a ring that you will treasure for a lifetime. The perfect symbol of your relationship, that tells the story of your love and marriage.
What do our couples say?
1. Couple – Chris and Colby
Chris
Why did you go custom and was it scary?
I also had a couple of ideas/ features that I felt were important that I just wasn’t finding at the normal stores and I wanted some personal, detailed elements on the ring as well.
What did you enjoy the most about the process?
The thing that I really enjoyed about the whole process was the great personal service and having the opportunity to learn about the ring process. Being able to choose the stones, and guide the design on how the ring looks was also very rewarding.
Did you manage to stick to your budget?
I didn’t really have a budget in mind other than I didn’t want the cost to get out of control, but David worked with us and expertly guided us through the best options available within our expectations. I think the result speaks for itself.
Colby
Were you surprised that the ring was custom made?
I knew Chris was struggling to find anything he liked in the normal jewellery shops and that he felt that the rings available were very standard. I didn’t think that he would go custom made as we both through that it was an expensive option and maybe out of our range. I was surprised the day he asked me if I wanted to go see David with him and see what they had come up with. However the way he spoke about David and his passion for his craft I knew that he had make the best decision and he would not have been happy going any other way.
Did it mean more to you knowing he designed it?
I really love that my ring is custom made. I love knowing that he put a lot of thought into the design and stone selection. The fact that he chose to have our birthstone included really makes it special for the two of us.
Would you recommend it other couples?
Yes! The whole experience has been nothing but flawless and we would not go anywhere else from now on.
2. Couple – Shane and Michelle
Shane
Why did you go custom and was it scary?
I also had a couple of ideas/ features that I felt were important that I just wasn’t finding at the normal stores and I wanted some personal, detailed elements on the ring as well.
What did you enjoy the most about the process?
The thing that I really enjoyed about the whole process was the great personal service and having the opportunity to learn about the ring process. Being able to choose the stones, and guide the design on how the ring looks was also very rewarding.
Did you manage to stick to your budget?
I didn’t really have a budget in mind other than I didn’t want the cost to get out of control, but David worked with us and expertly guided us through the best options available within our expectations. I think the result speaks for itself.
Michelle
Were you surprised that the ring was custom made?
I knew Chris was struggling to find anything he liked in the normal jewellery shops and that he felt that the rings available were very standard. I didn’t think that he would go custom made as we both through that it was an expensive option and maybe out of our range. I was surprised the day he asked me if I wanted to go see David with him and see what they had come up with. However the way he spoke about David and his passion for his craft I knew that he had make the best decision and he would not have been happy going any other way.
Did it mean more to you knowing he designed it?
I really love that my ring is custom made. I love knowing that he put a lot of thought into the design and stone selection. The fact that he chose to have our birthstone included really makes it special for the two of us.
Would you recommend it other couples?
Yes! The whole experience has been nothing but flawless and we would not go anywhere else from now on.
Tips for designing your engagement ring
Know yourself and your tastes but, keep an open mind about different styles and options. Try on lots of rings in different styles to see what suits you and what you’ll love.
Every custom piece tells a story – Think about what makes you and your love unique – is it a blending of cultures, a shared birth month, a special place you want to represent. Ask us how we can help incorporate these special elements in your ring.
Ask all the questions you need – our professional jewelers have been in the business for a long time – there’s no such thing as a silly question and we love to help.
Protecting your new engagement ring
No matter what style and stone you choose, getting a professional valuation and insurance for your ring is vital. All Bentley De Lisle pieces come with a complimentary valuation certificate, and we recommend you return at least once a year for cleaning and checking the settings of your ring to make sure the stones are secure.
This forever service is complimentary as we want to see your jewellery sparkle and having regular checks also means a prevention of any loose stones. While we service your ring, we also check every stone and if any extra work is needed we would notify you.
We also recommend Q Report Jewellery Insurance, which we can organize before you leave with your brand new piece, for your piece of mind.
Planning to propose to your loved one soon?
Call us today, or fill out your details below and we’ll get in touch to start planning your beautiful custom designed engagement ring.
Testimonials
Our customers love
“She loved it”
“I just wanted to say a big thanks to you both for all the help in designing and creating the perfect ring. She really loved it, especially the local Australian vibe to it.“
Adam
“Outstanding”
“David’s experience and attention to detail was outstanding. Photos of our ring being made was very exciting and the completed job exceeded our expectations “
Steve and Genevieve
“Compliments”
“It has been a few years since I got my engagement ring from Bentley De Lisle. All I can say is that I still get compliments when I wear this beautiful ring but more importantly it just makes me feel very special.“
Kelly
“Happy Fiancé“
“Great level of expertise, great experience with both Dave and Tereza and most importantly of all a happy Fiancé!!!”
Henry