![]() ![]() The engagement ring isn't the only piece of jewelry you'll need to budget for when going the custom route, Philippa tells us. If you're on a budget, Philippa recommends opting for stones like white sapphire or moissanite (a diamond alternative that's mainly lab-grown today), which can be far less expensive than a traditional diamond - and may sparkle slightly differently - but shine just as brightly. ![]() "People think that you need a huge budget for a custom piece or you even need a huge budget for an engagement ring in general," Philippa tells us, "that's definitely the misconception that I clear up the most." It actually is possible go custom while keeping the price down - it just all boils down to the stone you choose. But while tailor-made pieces do tend to run pricier than items that are part of an existing collection, that doesn't mean you need to start multiplying your monthly income to plan accordingly for your purchase. Naturally, one of the biggest sticking points for people when making the decision to go bespoke is budget. ![]() So if these things matter to you, having a direct line of communication with the person putting all the pieces together can be incredibly valuable. Philippa notes that many jewellers today, including herself, work with recycled or lab-grown diamonds, and often stones can be traced from mine to market. For example, you may really want to ensure the stones being used in the design were mined or created in an ethical, eco-friendly way. On a larger scale, the custom process makes for a more intimate, one-on-one relationship between you and the artisan, which can be helpful if you've got a revolving door of questions. "Or they might not want a claw setting that can catch in their hair or on things." "If they find jewelry to be uncomfortable, usually they don't want something that's going to stick up really high, or they don't want a solitaire setting where the stone is very high," Philippa says. For example, if your partner works with their hands but still wants to be able to wear their ring on a day-to-day basis, "I would recommend a certain style of setting," Philippa explains, "maybe a bezel setting, something that is more secure and protects all the edges of the stone." Likewise, if your partner doesn't wear a ton of jewelry, or finds it to be uncomfortable and irksome, a jeweller can work to create a more discreet design that won't feel bulky or get in the way. In addition to those aesthetic accommodations, a jeweller can help you with more practical concerns and decisions as well. "There could be chips or there could be scratches I just don't recommend using stones in a new piece." "Sometimes if your stone has been sitting in a setting for 100 years or 50 years it might not be as intact as a newly cut stone," she says. If you are hoping to use family stones in a custom piece, Philippa recommends getting them appraised ahead of time. It allows a very specific vision to be realized and for unique touches, whether that's playing with styles, metals and stones that aren't typically seen in engagement rings (coloured stones are a personal fave for Philippa, who does a lot of work with teal-tinged Montana Sapphires), or by integrating family stones that may carry a special meaning or history for you or your partner. The most obvious benefit of opting for a custom engagement ring over something from a collection is knowing that you're leaving with an entirely one-of-a-kind piece that can't be found on anyone else's finger or feed. Here are her thoughts on why going custom can be so special, what to keep in mind before you commit (to the process, not your partner), and how it all actually goes down. She and my fiancé got it so right, however, that I thought she was the perfect person to give us a full primer on what's involved. Philippa designed the engagement ring that now lives on my finger, though I was not involved in the design or purchasing process. Since there isn't a ton of information out there on how to approach the intimidating-from-the-outside process of commissioning a bespoke ring, we reached out to Toronto-based jewelry designer and goldsmith Eden Philippa, who's known for her timeless, vintage-inspired designs. There are two main paths people take when searching for the perfect engagement ring: heading straight to a jewelry counter, or finding an artisan who can create a custom piece. So if you've been thinking about proposing to your partner, you might be deep in the planning process or about to plunge right into it. Recent surveys by Brides and Wedding Wire both (separately) found that December is the most popular time to pop the question by far. The apparent influx of proposals in and around the holidays isn't merely anecdotal. Merry Engagement Season! 'Tis the time when our social media feeds are flooded with a very specific kind of sparkle: that of engagement rings. ![]()
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