Why Custom Engagement Rings Are Best

I’m so happy for my friends when they get engaged that I don’t necessarily need them to hire me to custom make their engagement ring, because my friendship is more important to me than the sale.

With that in mind, this particular couple trusted I would make exactly what they wanted, in the right time frame, at the right price. As I say, "It’s not my money, it’s yours, and you’re the boss."

She had found a style she really liked from another retailer and asked me to appraise the ring, but we found it was less valuable than what they paid. Our solution was for me to recreate the style with cleaner and larger diamonds.

I called one of my favorite diamond dealers who generously put a collection of emerald cut diamonds together, reminding me that he doesn’t do this for anybody else (he usually gives me the diamonds and says “Good luck, let me know what the client says,”) but this time he invited all of us into his office outside of the diamond factory.

We scheduled three meetings to take place over four hours and all four of us sat and found the perfect center diamond, two matching emerald cut diamonds that flanked the center, and twelve smaller diamonds for the shank of the ring. He custom made the setting in under a week so that the third time she came, she was able to put something on her finger.

The original diamond they looked at had so much fluorescence (fluorescence refers to a diamond's tendency to emit a blue glow when subjected to ultraviolet light) that it diminished the value of the diamond. Most jewelers stay away from fluorescent diamonds, but if you’re going through some retailers, they don’t necessarily tell you this. My clients had no idea until we pointed it out to them.

No fluorescence is best

We found the larger emerald cuts with no flourescence and had to sort through 150 smaller diamonds to find twelve that did not flouresce for the shank.

My goal is to educate my clients so they know exactly what they are getting. Most people focus on color and clarity, but it’s also about the cut and carat-weight, and then further, when you read a gemologic report, all the other fine points of buying a diamond that a gem expert like myself can point out to you.

TIP: Remember when you’re washing your hands to use care with your rings, and to wash underneath them, not just on top of them. I’ve gotten into the habit when I get home of taking off my shoes, then my jewelry, and then washing my hands. Wishing you all safety and good health!

- Jane
(212) 923-3328 jane@jbjewels.com