Yes. This is one of the most common starting points for a bespoke commission, and it is a perfectly good one. A ring you have seen — on Instagram, on a friend's finger, in an editorial, on Pinterest — tells a jeweller more about your taste than almost any other description. The question is not whether we can make something similar, but how to take what you love about it and produce something that is genuinely yours rather than a copy.
TL;DR: A reference ring is an excellent starting point for a bespoke commission. We work from what you love about the reference — the shape, the setting style, the metal, the proportions — and translate that into a design made specifically for you and your stone. No two commissions produce identical rings. The result is inspired by the reference, not copied from it.
Why a Reference Ring Is So Useful
Most people find it easier to point at something they love than to describe it from scratch. A reference image — even a blurry Instagram screenshot — communicates proportion, aesthetic, and character more precisely than verbal description alone. It answers questions before they are asked: what metal tone, how much stone presence, how fine or substantial the band, how elevated or flush the setting.
A reference is not a constraint. It is a starting point for a conversation about what specifically appeals and how to translate that appeal into a ring designed for the wearer, the stone, and the budget.
What We Take From a Reference and What We Change
When working from a reference ring, the useful question to ask yourself is: what specifically do I love about this? The answers are usually specific: the elongated stone shape, the delicacy of the band, the way the prongs hold the stone, the specific tone of the gold, the minimal gallery. These specific elements are what we design toward.
What typically changes: the stone. The reference ring was designed around a specific stone with specific dimensions. Your stone will be different — slightly different proportions, different girdle thickness, different weight distribution. The setting is designed around your stone's actual measurements, not the reference stone's. This is not a compromise — it is what produces a ring that fits the stone properly rather than one adapted from a template.
The design is also refined for the wearer. A ring that photographs beautifully on one hand shape may benefit from slight proportion adjustments on another. The band width, the elevation of the setting, the taper of the shank toward the stone — all of these are adjusted during the CAD process to suit the specific person wearing the ring.
What About Trademarked or Branded Designs?
Some reference rings are specific branded products from named jewellers. These designs may be protected. At À Vie Diamonds we work from the aesthetic direction of a reference rather than reproducing a specific proprietary design. The practical distinction: if you love the proportions of a particular Tiffany solitaire, we can make a solitaire with similar proportions in the same metal. We are not producing a ring with the Tiffany name, the Tiffany six-prong head, or any element that is a specific brand trademark.
In practice this is rarely a limitation, because what most people love about a branded reference is the proportion and aesthetic rather than the specific trademarked elements. The resulting commission typically captures everything that attracted them to the original.
How to Share a Reference
Screenshot and share any image that resonates — single images, collections, Pinterest boards, Instagram links. More is better than fewer. If you have five images that feel related, share all five rather than narrowing to one. The pattern across multiple references tells us more than a single image does.
If you have seen the ring in person — on a friend or family member — note what specifically you noticed: the stone size, the way it caught the light, the weight it looked like it had. These observations are useful even without a photograph.
At À Vie Diamonds, the initial consultation happens by WhatsApp, email, or video call. Sharing images directly in a WhatsApp conversation is the most efficient way to start the process. We will ask specific questions about what you love, propose a direction, and produce a CAD render for your approval before anything is made. Get in touch to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you copy a ring exactly? We can reproduce the aesthetic and proportions of a reference very closely. Where the reference is a specific branded product, we work from the visual direction rather than the proprietary design elements. The result captures what you love about the original while being a genuinely original piece.
What if I have multiple references that feel contradictory? This is common and useful. Multiple references with different elements you love help us understand what is consistent across them — the metal tone, the delicacy, the stone shape — and what you are drawn to in each context. Share all of them.
Can you see what a ring will look like before it is made? Yes. The CAD render shows the ring in photorealistic detail from multiple angles before production begins. Nothing is produced without your written approval of the design. Revisions to the render are included in the process.
What if the ring I love is outside my budget? There are usually ways to achieve the aesthetic of a reference at a lower price point by adjusting stone weight, choosing a lab-grown stone, or simplifying elements of the setting that are less visible in wear. We will be direct about what is achievable at your budget and what would need to change.
How do I start? Get in touch with the reference images and a rough budget. That is all we need to begin a useful conversation. See our bespoke journey page for the full process and our pricing guide for cost expectations.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · À Vie Diamonds