TL;DR: when your ring arrives, spend ten minutes checking it before you celebrate. Photograph the packaging, check the ring against your approved design, look at the stone and the claws, try it on, and keep the documents safe. If anything looks wrong, contact us before anyone else touches the ring. Pieces start from £600.
Minutes one and two: the parcel
Before opening, photograph the parcel. Look for damage, tears or signs of opening. Keep all packaging until you are happy, including the outer box. If the parcel looks damaged, tell us and the carrier straight away.
Minutes three and four: what is in the box
Check that everything listed is there. Our guide to what comes in the box explains what to expect, and the contents are confirmed in writing before you order.
Minutes five and six: compare with the design
Look at your approved render. Does the ring match the shape, the proportions, the metal colour and the details? Remember that a render shows a model, so small differences in finish are possible. Our guide to approving a CAD render explains what a render can and cannot show.
Minutes seven and eight: the stone and claws
- Look at the stone in daylight and indoor light.
- Check that the stone sits level and feels secure.
- Look at each claw or the rim. They should be even, with no gaps.
- Check the band for rough edges.
Do not press or poke at the stone. If something feels loose, stop and contact us.
Minutes nine and ten: fit and paperwork
Try the ring on the correct finger. It should pass your knuckle with a little resistance and sit comfortably. Fingers change with temperature, so judge fit at a normal temperature. Our guide to winter gloves and ring fit explains why. Then put the invoice and any report in a safe place. Our guide to reading your invoice and certificate explains them.
If the ring is a surprise
If the ring is for a proposal, you may not want to try it on your partner's finger. Instead, check it against your approved design, compare the inside of the band with any ring you used for sizing, and store it safely in its box until the day. If anything about the size worries you, tell us early, while there is still time before the proposal.
Take your own photographs
Photograph the ring in daylight from the top, the side and the back, and keep copies somewhere safe. These help if you ever need to describe the ring to an insurer, to us or to another jeweller, and they are a record of how the ring looked on day one.
If something is not right
Photograph it and contact us. Our guide to when a ring is not what you expected explains how we approach it, and if the ring arrives damaged or the wrong size covers delivery problems. Please do not have anyone else work on the ring first.
Looking after it
See our ring care checklist by season. We also check each ring before dispatch, as explained in what a goldsmith checks before dispatch.
Working with us
We work by video consultation and message, and make nothing until you approve the design in writing. Standard making time is 5 to 6 weeks, varying with your location and how busy we are. Delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx.
Frequently asked questions
Should I open it on camera?
It can help. Ask us if you would like us to join by video.
What if the packaging is damaged?
Photograph it and contact us and the carrier at once.
What if the fit is slightly off?
Tell us how it fits. We explain the options.
What if it is a surprise and I cannot try it on?
Check it against the design and your sizing ring, and tell us early if you are unsure.
Should I insure it now?
Delivery is insured. For everyday cover, speak to an insurer.