How Far in Advance Should You Plan Your Custom Engagement Ring?

Your engagement ring is one of the few parts of your wedding that lasts long after the day itself. It is worn every day, photographed in every close-up, and one day passed down. So the question we hear most often is a practical one: how much time do we actually need?

Our honest answer: start planning at least five months before your proposal or ceremony. Here is why, and how that time is used.

Why custom takes time

We specialise in custom jewellery. Nothing is pulled off a shelf. Every LM Jewellers ring is designed around your story and handcrafted as a one-of-one piece, and we take pride in turning your idea into something exceptional and deeply sentimental. That kind of work cannot be rushed, and you should not have to make decisions about something this meaningful under pressure.

A ring planned with time is a ring you never have to compromise on.

Your timeline at a glance

• 5 months before: consultation. Book a session in our Oakdene studio or virtually. Share your inspiration, your budget and the story behind the ring. We guide you through stone, shape, setting and metal.
• 4–5 months before: design and approval. We create your CAD design and refine it with you until it feels unmistakably yours. We source your stone, with IGI certification for lab-grown diamonds. Nothing goes into production until you approve.
• 3–4 months before: production. Your ring is handcrafted by our craftsmen. Production takes 5–7 weeks, depending on the complexity of the design.
• 6–8 weeks before: delivery and first fitting. Your ring arrives, insured, and you try it on properly, at different times of day.
• The final weeks: resizing and adjustments. The buffer that makes everything stress-free (more on this below).

Resizing is a real factor, so plan for it

Even with careful measuring, a ring sometimes needs adjusting once it is on the finger. This is completely normal, and it is the most common reason we ask clients not to leave things to the last minute.

• Fingers change. Heat, cold, the time of day, travel and even a long day on your feet can shift your size slightly.
• Surprise proposals mean estimated sizes. If the size was found discreetly, it is wise to assume a small adjustment may be needed.
• Adjustments take time. A resize is done with the same care as the original piece, plus time to collect and return the ring.
• Some designs are more involved. Rings with stones set around the band, such as eternity and pavé styles, need more work to resize, and sometimes part of the band has to be remade.

Your first resize with us is complimentary. What we cannot create is extra time, so building in a few weeks before your ceremony means any adjustment can be done properly rather than in a rush.

Ordering wedding bands too?

If you are planning matching or contoured wedding bands, design them alongside the engagement ring. A contoured band is shaped to sit perfectly against the engagement ring, and planning both together keeps the timeline simple.

Short on time?

Talk to us before you assume it is too late. We will always be honest about what is realistic for your date and your design, and we will confirm your timeline with you before production begins.

Your planning checklist

• Book your consultation at least five months ahead.
• Save screenshots or a Pinterest board of rings you love.
• Decide on a comfortable budget range.
• Find the ring size, or read how to find her ring size secretly.
• Leave a few weeks before the ceremony for resizing and final adjustments.

The earlier we start, the more freedom you have to create something truly one of a kind. See how our custom ring process works, or begin today.

Start designing your ring →