So you’re designing a custom engagement ring for your proposal, and don’t know where to start?
First, take a deep breath. You’re not alone.
One of the biggest misconceptions about custom engagement rings is that “custom” automatically means extravagant. In reality, designing a custom ring isn’t about spending more money. It’s about creating something intentional. Something that feels like your relationship. Something that couldn’t belong to anyone else.
For many couples, a custom ring becomes an opportunity to incorporate meaningful details, family traditions, favorite gemstones, or simply design preferences that aren’t easy to find in a display case.
And if that sounds overwhelming, trust us, we get it. And we also have you covered!
We interviewed our very own expert on this topic: JJE Founder & Operations Manager, Felipe Verdezoto.
When Felipe designed Danielle’s engagement ring, he spent months researching everything from gemstones and metals to ring construction and symbolism before ever stepping foot into a jewelry appointment.
What started as a search for “the perfect ring” became a full exhibition of creating one from scratch.
We sat down with Felipe to talk about his experience designing Danielle’s ring, what surprised him most throughout the process, and where future love birds should actually begin when creating a ring that feels truly personal and representative of their relationship.
Here’s what Felipe had to say:
What made you decide to design a custom engagement ring instead of buying a pre-designed one?
This answer was prefaced by a short chuckle.
“Danielle had shown me so many ring designs, what she liked and disliked about each one, but there was never one that felt exactly right.”
“Es porque ya me había indicado muchos diseños, lo que le gusta y no le gusta de cada uno, y nunca había ese anillo perfecto.”
While Danielle had a clear vision for the overall style she loved, nothing they’d found fully captured it.
“I knew what her ideal ring looked like in theory, but none of the rings that already existed felt special enough.”
“Yo sabía muy bien cuál era el perfil de su anillo ideal. Pero sentía que ningún anillo prediseñado era tan especial.”
So instead of continuing to search for the perfect ring, Felipe decided to create it himself.
“I decided to design it myself, incorporating the details Danielle wanted and sprinkling in my love too.”
“Decidí diseñarlo yo mismo para hacerlo de acuerdo a sus gustos y darle mi toque especial de amor”
Did you always know you wanted to go the custom route?
Not at all.
Originally, Felipe was trying to find an existing ring that checked every box.
Then he discovered a jeweler that offered a fully custom design experience.
“I found a jeweler that offers a personalized design process, led directly by you. They show you the CAD design and even create a 3D printed model before crafting the final ring.”
“Encontré un lugar que ofrece la opción de que tú mismo lo diseñes, te muestran el CAD y después te dan una impresión en 3D antes de crearlo.”
For him, that level of personalization changed everything.
“It seemed to be a great option, and a highly personalized experience.”
“Me pareció una opción muy personalizada y muy buena.”
For someone who knows absolutely nothing about engagement rings, where should they start?
Don’t start at the jewelry store. Start first by learning the fundamentals.
“I started by watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, and learning all the engagement rings and jewelry basics.”
“Yo empecé viendo videos en YouTube, leyendo blogs, y aprendiendo todos lo fundamental sobre anillos de compromiso y joyería en general.”
Felipe recommends understanding:
- The difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds
- Basic gemstone terminology
- Metal types and colors
- Ring settings
- Stone shapes
- Pricing factors
Most importantly, understand what matters to you and your future spouse before someone else starts telling you what should matter.
“The most important thing is understanding what you really want, and what actually matters to you and your partner.”
“Lo más importante es decidir qué es lo que realmente quieres y qué te importa a ti y a tu pareja.”
What should someone know before meeting with a jeweler?
Felipe answered this one immediately.
“Budget! It’s so important.”
“¡Budget! Es muy importante.”
Before scheduling an appointment, he recommends having at least a rough idea of:
Your Budget
Knowing your budget helps you make informed decisions and prevents you from being guided only toward the most expensive options. It also helps your ring designer to guide you on how to maximize the budget you have available.
Preferred Metal
Do you want yellow gold? White gold? Rose gold? Platinum?
Understanding the basics, and which option is truly the best fit for your partner, is tremendously helpful.
For example:
“Sometimes 18k gold sounds better because it contains more gold, but 14k may actually be a better fit.”
“A veces 18 kilates parece mejor porque tiene más oro, pero 14 kilates podría ser mejor para tu pareja.”
While 18k may seem better just by comparing price tags, 14k gold is generally more durable and a better option for someone with an active lifestyle.
Stone Shape
Round, oval, emerald, pear, marquise, cushion… the options are endless.
You don’t need to set your decision in stone yet (see what we did there..?), but having a shortlist before you speak with a designer will make the process much easier.
Your Partner’s Preferences
This is perhaps the most important factor of all.
Pay attention to what they wear now, what they’ve saved on Pinterest, and what they’ve shown you over the years. When in doubt, lean on your partner’s family or best friends for guidance on their style preferences.
What should you look for in a ring designer?
Trust! Plain and simple.
“You should go somewhere where you trust the designer.”
“Debes ir a un lugar donde diseñan de confianza.”
A great jeweler should act as an educator and guide, not just a salesperson.
“You want someone who genuinely wants what’s best for you, not someone who is always trying to sell you the most expensive option.”
“Que quieran lo mejor para ustedes y no solamente venderles lo más caro.”
What details about Danielle did you keep in mind while designing the ring?
A lot.
Felipe knew Danielle preferred delicate jewelry and chunky statement pieces aren’t her style.
He also knew she loved:
- More traditional, round diamonds
- Delicate curves
- A double-band design
- Sentimental details
Every design decision stemmed from her preferences rather than what’s trendy.
As wedding planners, we talk constantly about creating celebrations that feel authentically like our couples. You should approach the engagement ring exactly the same way.
Were there any meaningful details incorporated into the ring?
Felipe really lit up when we asked this question.
“Yes. A lot.”
“Sí. Muchísimos.”
Every gemstone was chosen intentionally.
Sapphire
The sapphires were chosen to compliment Danielle’s eyes first and foremost.
But they also represented rarity, something special to cherish just like the love they share.
“Sapphires are actually rarer than diamonds.”
“Los zafiros son más escasos incluso que los diamantes.”
Aquamarine
Aquamarine symbolizes enduring, deep love.
Topaz
Topaz represents loyalty, and commitment ‘til death do us part.
Diamond
To Felipe, the center diamond represented perfection through uniqueness.
“Every diamond is unique, just like she is.”
“Cada diamante es único, tal como ella.”
The Hidden Ruby
One of the most meaningful details incorporated in the ring, actually isn’t visible from the outside.
Inside the ring sits a ruby, right beside a carefully selected Bible verse. The verse was special, because this was the one element they chose together, decided and engraved after the proposal.
“To symbolize that God is the foundation of our marriage.”
“Para simbolizar que nuestra columna principal en el matrimonio es Dios.”
It’s a detail few people will ever see, but one that means everything to them.
That’s the heart of what intentional design is all about. Taking something that’s a common tradition, and making it truly and deeply yours.
What part of the process felt the most overwhelming?
The sheer number of options.
“At the beginning, it’s a lot of information.”
“Al principio es mucha información.”
Between gemstones, settings, metals, shapes, sizes, certifications, and symbolism, it can feel like learning an entirely new language.
Felipe’s best advice: Don’t try to learn everything in one weekend.
Spread your research over several weeks and allow yourself time to absorb the information.
What surprised you most about the custom design process?
Not the ring itself. It was actually the people.
“The kindness and professionalism of the jeweler.”
“La amabilidad y profesionalismo de la joyería.”
Felipe was surprised by how much time they spent educating him throughout the process.
Even when he already knew certain concepts, they patiently reviewed them again to ensure he felt fully confident in each decision.
How far in advance should someone begin the custom ring process?
At least four months before your proposal, depending on your jeweler’s turnaround time.
Felipe recommends giving yourself about one month for research and finding the right jeweler. Then leave yourself 3+ months for design, revisions, approvals, production, and delivery ahead of the proposal date.
Every jeweler has different timelines, but custom work almost always takes longer than you might expect.
What would you tell someone who feels intimidated walking into a jewelry appointment?
You don’t need to know everything, just the basics.
“The jeweler should be there to support you.”
“La joyería debe estar ahí para apoyarte.”
And if a jeweler isn’t taking the time to educate you, answer questions, or help you feel comfortable?
“I would consider finding a different jeweler.”
“Yo consideraría cambiar de joyería.”
How did designing the ring impact the way you planned the proposal itself?
The ring transformed the proposal from an idea into something tangible.
“It made the whole process feel more real.”
“Me hizo sentir más real el proceso.”
And because he had invested so much thought into the ring itself, he felt motivated to create a proposal experience that matched the same level of intentionality.
Spoiler alert: the proposal experience DID NOT disappoint.
Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?
Felipe didn’t hesitate.
“Not a single thing.”
“Ni una sola cosa.”
When you pour so much love into the process, how can you have any regrets?
If you could give one piece of advice to someone about to start this process, what would it be?
This answer was an easy one.
“Enjoy the process.”
“Que disfruten el proceso.”
Because years from now, you’ll remember much more than the ring itself.
You’ll remember the excitement.
The anticipation.
The research rabbit holes.
The design meetings.
The moment it all came together.
“It will become a beautiful memory that sticks with you, always right alongside your partner and the ring.”
“Será un recuerdo lindo que siempre estará presente junto a su pareja y su anillo.”
The Final Words of Wisdom We’ll Leave You With
At JJE, we believe the most meaningful wedding details aren’t necessarily the most expensive ones.
They’re the intentional ones.
Whether you’re planning a multicultural wedding, designing a custom engagement ring, writing your own vows, or incorporating generational traditions into your celebration, the details that matter most are the ones that reflect who you are.
If you’re beginning the custom ring journey, don’t focus on creating the most impressive ring.
Focus on creating the most meaningful one.
Trust us, that’s the one they’ll treasure forever.
And if you need help, you can always drop us a line at Hello@JoyfulJourneyEngagements.com!
An Interview with Felipe Verdezoto, JJE Founder & Operations Manager
Be the first to comment