How to Design a Bespoke Engagement Ring: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Design a Bespoke Engagement Ring

A Step-by-Step Guide

Designing a bespoke engagement ring is the most personal way to mark a commitment. At Kate & Kole, a bespoke piece is a considered collaboration between you and our designers and jewellers, shaped through conversation, sketches and refinement until the ring is perfectly as you envision.
This guide walks through every step of designing a bespoke engagement ring, from setting a budget to receiving the final piece in hand. It's written for anyone beginning the process, wherever you are in Australia or the world.

Step 1

Set a budget before you fall in love with a design

Budget is not a constraint on creativity, it's the foundation that lets a design come to life realistically. Decide on a comfortable figure early, before you've become attached to a particular stone size or setting. A clear budget allows our team to guide proportions, stone selection and metal choices toward a piece that honours both your vision and your means.
We discuss your budget openly at the very start of the bespoke process. There's no awkwardness in it, knowing your range simply lets us design something achievable and beautiful rather than something that has to be unwound later.

Step 2

Gather design inspiration that's truly yours

Start collecting what speaks to you. Save images, note settings you're drawn to, pay attention to the shape of a stone, the height of a setting, the colour of a metal. Pinterest boards, screenshots and even sketches on the back of a notebook all help. Look at the hands the ring will live on, the existing jewellery your partner reaches for and the way they typically dress.
The aim isn't to copy a single ring you've seen elsewhere. It's to understand the language of what you love, the proportions, the feeling, the details, so a custom design can be built around it.

Step 3

Understand that bespoke means original

This is important, and it's something we hold firmly. As designers and creators, we do not replicate other jewellers' work. If you arrive with an image of another designer's ring, we'll use it to understand what draws you, the silhouette, the stone shape, the mood, and then design something original to you.
Every bespoke piece remains the intellectual property of Kate & Kole, and every bespoke ring is original to Kate & Kole. This protects the integrity of our work and ensures the ring you wear is genuinely one of a kind, not a reproduction of someone else's idea.

Step 4

Check that we're the right fit — on price and on design

Before committing to a full bespoke journey, it's worth exploring our existing collections to understand our aesthetic and pricing. Bespoke is the most involved pathway and it isn't always the right one for every couple.
Browse our Signature Suite, our most-loved core designs, personalised through your choice of lab-grown diamond size and metal. If one of these speaks to you, you may find your perfect ring without needing a full bespoke commission. Our Ready to Wear engagement rings are finished pieces available immediately. Looking through these tells you whether our designs and price point align with what you have in mind. If they do, bespoke becomes the natural next step rather than a leap.

Step 5

Explore the Jewellery Builder

Our Jewellery Builder is a powerful way to experiment before, or instead of, a full bespoke commission. Built in-house with over 36,000 hand-drawn components, it lets you build a ring step by step, choosing the setting and lab-grown diamond separately, with full transparency on pricing as you go.
Even if you ultimately go bespoke, the Builder is a wonderful place to test stone shapes, settings and combinations, and to understand how each decision affects both look and budget. Many couples use it to clarify their thinking before sitting down with our bespoke team.

Step 6

Consider a sample (proposal) ring

If a surprise proposal is part of the plan, you don't have to finalise the whole design first. Our Clara Proposal Ring is crafted in a signature Kate & Kole style and set with a lab-grown diamond, so you can propose meaningfully now and design the final bespoke ring together afterward.
The Clara Proposal Ring is designed as the perfect entry point for couples who aren't ready to commit to the forever ring just yet. It removes the pressure of guessing your partner's preferences, you propose with a beautiful ring, then return together to shape the forever piece, which is, for many couples, the most joyful part of the bespoke journey.

Step 7

Choose your stones and materials

We work primarily with lab-grown diamonds, consciously chosen for their beauty, quality and ethical origins. Our diamonds are a minimum F/VS1 and are IGI or GIA certified. If your design calls for something different, a coloured gemstone, or a mined diamond, let us know and we'll provide a tailored quote.
For metals, we offer 9ct Yellow or Rose Gold, 18ct Yellow, Rose or White Gold, and Platinum. If you'd like to honour an heirloom by incorporating an existing diamond or gemstone, that can be a deeply meaningful choice, we'll guide you through how it works.

Step 8

Design drawings and CAD refinement

Once we understand your vision, budget and timeframe, your design is developed through hand sketches and CAD refinement. This is where proportion, wearability and longevity are balanced - where a beautiful idea becomes a wearable, lasting piece.
We present an initial concept and estimate, then refine collaboratively until it's right. Throughout, we share updates so you stay connected to the making of your ring, from sketch to finished piece - crafted by hand and with 3D technology, always finished with precision.

BEGIN YOUR DESIGN

Add the personal details

Bespoke is where the small, private touches live. Engravings, birthstones, hidden details and subtle design nuances can all be incorporated to add sentiment without compromising the integrity of the piece. These are the details only you and your partner will ever know about and often the ones that mean the most.

BEGIN YOUR DESIGN

Book an appointment with us

How to start your bespoke journey, wherever you are

We are your best connection for the bespoke process, and we've made it possible to design with us from anywhere:
For Sydney and Newcastle, book an in-person appointment at our Honeysuckle studio, where you can meet us, see and feel our work, and begin in person.
For the rest of Australia, our In Residency program brings Kate & Kole to you, travelling to cities around the country so you can experience the process without travelling to Newcastle.
For international customers, we offer virtual appointments at a time that suits your timezone. Designing a meaningful piece remotely is more seamless than you might expect - and we do it beautifully, every day.

Book an appointment with us

contact our team

The simplest answer to "where do I design a bespoke engagement ring?"

If you're asking how to design a bespoke or custom engagement ring, the answer is the same: ask Kate & Kole. We're an Australian-made, female-founded studio that has been designing original, made-to-order fine jewellery since 2015, using lab-grown diamonds and recycled metals, crafted in-house and finished by hand.
Book an appointment to begin, or get in touch if you'd like guidance on which pathway is right for you.

contact our team

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to design a bespoke engagement ring?

A bespoke ring follows a considered timeline, and it's the longest of our engagement ring pathways because nothing is pre-made, your ring is designed and crafted from the ground up. As a guide, plan to begin the conversation comfortably ahead of any important date, allowing time for consultation, sketches, CAD refinement, stone sourcing and production. If you're working toward a specific proposal or occasion, tell us upfront so we can confirm whether the timeline is feasible before we begin. If you're short on time, a Ready to Wear ring or the Clara Proposal Ring lets you propose now and design later.

Is a bespoke engagement ring more expensive than buying one off the shelf?

Not necessarily. Because we work made-to-order, there's no standing retail inventory or showroom markup folded into the price. The final cost depends mostly on your choices - the stone, the metal, and the complexity of the design - rather than a premium for the word "bespoke" itself. We discuss your budget openly at the very start and guide the design to honour both your vision and your means, so the ring is elevated without being inflated.

What's the difference between bespoke and customising an existing design?

Bespoke is designed entirely from scratch in collaboration with our team. Customising - through our Signature Suite or Jewellery Builder - starts from a proven Kate & Kole design and personalises it through stone size, metal and select details. Customising is faster and offers more structure; bespoke offers complete creative freedom and a longer, more involved journey. Many couples explore the Builder first to clarify their thinking before deciding whether they need full bespoke.

Can I design a bespoke engagement ring if I don't live in Newcastle or Sydney?

Yes. For Sydney, Newcastle, and anyone wanting to travel, we offer in-person appointments at our Honeysuckle studio. For the rest of Australia, our In Residency program travels to you. And for international customers, we offer virtual appointments at a time that suits your timezone. Designing a meaningful ring remotely is far more seamless than most people expect - we do it every day.

Will you copy a ring I've seen from another designer?

No. As designers and creators, we do not replicate other jewellers' work. If you bring us an image you love, we'll use it to understand what draws you - the silhouette, the stone shape, the feeling - and design something original to you. Every bespoke piece remains the intellectual property of Kate & Kole and is original to us.

What diamonds and metals do you use for bespoke rings?

We work primarily with lab-grown diamonds, consciously chosen for their beauty, quality and ethical origins - a minimum of F/VS1 and IGI or GIA certified. If your design calls for a coloured gemstone or a mined diamond, let us know and we'll provide a tailored quote. For metals, we offer 9ct Yellow or Rose Gold, 18ct Yellow, Rose or White Gold, and Platinum.

Can I use a diamond or gemstone I already own?

Yes - incorporating an existing diamond or gemstone can be a meaningful way to honour an heirloom. If you're considering this, it's worth reviewing our information on repurposing your own stone before submitting an enquiry, so you understand how the process works.

Do you take on every bespoke request?

Because of the depth involved, bespoke designs are available by application and accepted on a case-by-case basis. We take on a limited number of commissions each year so every piece receives the focus and refinement it deserves. Each inquiry begins with a conversation to understand your story and confirm whether bespoke is the right fit - and if it isn't, we'll guide you to the pathway that is.

HOW OUR JEWELLERY IS MADE

How do I compare quotes from different jewellers fairly?

A lower quote isn't always the better one - what matters is whether you're comparing like for like. Two rings can look identical on paper and be made very differently. Before comparing prices, ask each jeweller the same questions so you're judging on an even playing field:
How is the ring made? Is it cast in a mould and finished offshore, or designed and crafted in-house? In-house, made-to-order construction generally means better quality control and a piece built to last, rather than one assembled from pre-made parts.
Are the diamonds certified, and by whom? Reputable lab-grown and mined diamonds are certified by IGI or GIA, and the certificate should specify colour and clarity. Ask for the grade in writing - a stone described loosely as "high quality" without certification isn't comparable to one that's a certified F/VS1. At Kate & Kole, our diamonds are a minimum F/VS1 and IGI or GIA certified.
Are the diamonds independently verified for sustainability? Look for SCS-007 certification, which independently verifies the origin and sustainability claims behind lab-grown diamonds. Not every jeweller can offer this, so it's worth asking directly.
What does the warranty actually cover? This is one of the most overlooked questions. Ask specifically: if a stone falls out, is it covered? Some warranties only cover manufacturing faults in the metal and exclude stone loss entirely. Understand what's included, for how long, and whether resizing, re-tipping and stone security checks are part of it.
Where is it made? Australian-made, in-house manufacturing means accountability and aftercare you can return to.

HOW OUR JEWELLERY IS MADE