You should commission a bespoke ring far enough ahead that the design conversation, the 5 to 6 weeks of making time, and delivery can all sit comfortably before your date. Making time begins only after you approve the design and the stone in writing and pay the 70 percent deposit, so the weeks before that approval matter just as much as the weeks in the workshop.
What sits before the 5 to 6 weeks
A first video consultation is where we talk through the brief, the stone, the setting and the size. After that we may share a shortlist of diamonds or gemstones, then a CAD for you to review. Some people approve a design quickly. Others want to sit with a render, ask for a change to the claws or the band, or look at one more stone. That time is not part of the 5 to 6 weeks, and it is better not to rush it, because nothing is made until you are happy to approve the work in writing.
Our guide to what to expect from a first consultation and our note on how written approval works set out those early steps. We work by message as well as by video, so you do not need to visit us in person.
Counting back from a date
If you have a proposal, a wedding or a gift date in mind, count back from that day. Allow for insured, tracked FedEx delivery after the ring is UK hallmarked, then the 5 to 6 weeks of making, then a realistic span for consultation, stone choice and CAD revisions. If you may need a resize once the ring has been worn, remember that we include one free resize within 1 month of delivery where the design can be resized, which is another reason not to cut the timetable too fine.
Our guide to what happens in the 5 to 6 weeks after you approve your design explains the making period itself. The present page is about when to start, so that those weeks can finish before you need the ring.
Christmas 2026
For Christmas, the design must be complete and the 70 percent deposit paid by Thursday 19 November 2026. That date is close at the time of writing, so if a Christmas gift is in mind you should get in touch as soon as you can. We will tell you in writing whether the timetable is still realistic. If you are planning for another season, including Valentine's Day, our guide to ordering in time for Christmas or Valentine's Day is the place for those specific dates.
If the date is already close
Tell us the date at the beginning. We would rather be plain about what we can and cannot do than accept a brief we cannot finish in time. We do not begin making until the design and the stone are approved in writing, and we will not skip that step to save a few days. Once the ring is finished it is UK hallmarked and sent by insured, tracked FedEx, with the remaining 30 percent paid before dispatch.
If you are ready to start a conversation, get in touch, read about how the bespoke process works, or browse the diamonds we can source.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should you commission a bespoke ring?
Making time is 5 to 6 weeks after you approve the design and the stone in writing and pay the 70 percent deposit. You should also allow time before that for a video consultation, for looking at stones, and for any changes to the CAD.
When is the Christmas cut off for 2026?
For Christmas, the design must be complete and the 70 percent deposit paid by Thursday 19 November 2026. If you are close to that date, we will say plainly in writing what is realistic.
Does the 5 to 6 weeks include the design stage?
No. The 5 to 6 weeks begin once the design and the stone are approved in writing and the 70 percent deposit is paid. Time spent on the first conversation, the shortlist and any CAD revisions comes first.
What if my date is sooner than that?
Tell us the date at the start of the conversation. We will be clear in writing about what we can and cannot do. We do not start making a ring until the design and the stone are approved, and we would rather be honest than promise a timetable we cannot keep.