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Bespoke jewellery from our Birmingham boutique
Design an engagement ring around your partner, your budget and the way they will wear it. Our jewellers can develop your idea into a bespoke ring, from the first sketch and stone choice through to fitting and collection.
Visit our boutique at 581 Stratford Road, Birmingham B11 4LS, call us on +44 121 773 4222 or send an online enquiry to start your design.
Made for one person
A custom engagement ring gives you control over the details that define the finished piece. You can choose the centre stone, precious metal, setting height, band profile and smaller design features such as a hidden halo or engraved detail.
We offer more than changes to a catalogue design. Our bespoke jewellery service lets you bring us a complete concept, a saved photograph, a family stone or a rough sense of your partner’s style. We will help you turn that starting point into a ring fit for daily wear.
Our Birmingham jewellers specialise in lab-grown diamond and gold jewellery, including distinctive combinations of 18k and 24k gold. We will explain where each metal works best and suggest a construction that protects the stones and supports the ring.
You do not need a finished design before you contact us. Choose the route that suits you.
Start with a ring you have seen in our collection. You may want a different diamond shape, another gold colour, a plain band or a change to the shoulder stones.
Our oval lab-grown diamond ring with marquise shoulders and a hidden halo offers one example of how stone shape, shoulder detail and setting profile work together.
Choose the centre stone first, then design the setting around its dimensions. This route suits you if you have a preferred diamond shape, carat range or certification requirement.
The setting must fit the individual stone. An oval diamond with a wide outline needs different proportions from a long, narrow oval of the same carat weight.
Start with a solitaire, halo, three-stone or vintage-inspired silhouette. We can then source a stone that suits the proportions and budget.
A setting-first approach also helps when you want a low profile, a flush-fitting wedding band or a secure bezel.
You can design a ring without knowing your partner’s size or exact preferences. Bring photographs of jewellery they wear, saved designs, comments they have made and any ring you can borrow with care.
We can discuss sizing methods, design choices with scope for alteration and a proposal date. Avoid guessing from height, shoe size or hand shape, as those details do not provide a sound ring measurement.
A solitaire places one centre stone at the heart of the design. Claw settings show more of the diamond, while bezel settings surround the edge with metal and offer a smooth profile.
A high-set solitaire can allow a straight wedding band to sit beneath the centre setting. A lower setting may require a shaped band.
A traditional halo frames the centre stone with smaller diamonds and increases the visible spread. A hidden halo sits beneath the centre stone, so you see the detail from the side.
Your jeweller must leave enough metal around the small stones to hold them during daily wear. Fine pavé needs inspection and care over time.
Three-stone rings pair a centre diamond with two side stones. You can match all three shapes or combine a centre stone with tapered, pear or marquise side diamonds.
Side stones affect the width of the ring across the finger, so we consider finger coverage and band fit during the design.
Milgrain edges, engraved shoulders and geometric halos can add period character. Fine details need enough depth to withstand wear, especially on the lower half of the band.
Bezel settings, asymmetric bands and mixed gold colours suit a modern design. A bypass setting can create movement around an oval or pear-shaped diamond.
Carat measures weight rather than visible size. Shape, cut proportions and setting design influence how large a diamond appears on the finger.
The best option depends on the diamond’s cut, dimensions and appearance rather than the shape name alone.
Your lifestyle should influence the setting.
Claw settings expose more of the centre stone and need periodic checks. Bezel settings protect more of the edge and reduce catching. Cathedral shoulders rise towards the centre setting and add support, though their height can affect wedding-band clearance.
Pavé diamonds add surface sparkle but require care around hard knocks. A low setting can reduce snagging, while a high setting can create space for a straight wedding ring.
Tell us about your work, hobbies and jewellery habits. We can discuss stone security, setting height and band thickness before we develop the design.
18k gold contains 75% pure gold. Other metals in the alloy add strength and influence its colour.
It suits engagement-ring bands, claws and stone settings because it balances gold content with the strength required for regular wear. You can choose yellow, white or rose gold.
24k gold has a higher gold purity and a deeper yellow colour. It also has greater softness than 18k gold, so it can scratch, dent and lose shape with less force.
We do not treat 24k gold as the default metal for fine claws or slender stone settings. Those parts need enough strength to hold a diamond through years of wear.
A jeweller may use 24k gold for selected accents, inlays or protected design features. We can combine it with 18k gold where the construction supports the softer metal.
Platinum offers a dense, naturally white option for bands and settings. It suits many diamond rings, including designs that need strong claws. Platinum develops a surface patina with wear, which some clients keep and others ask a jeweller to refinish.
Metal choice affects weight, colour, maintenance and cost. Skin sensitivity and existing jewellery may also guide your choice.
Specialist growers produce lab-grown diamonds through controlled processes that recreate the conditions under which diamond crystal forms. Lab-grown and natural diamonds share the same core chemical composition and crystal structure.
Lab-grown diamonds often allow you to consider a larger stone or higher grades within a set budget. Their origin and market pricing differ from natural diamonds, so you should compare both options with those differences in mind.
Natural diamonds form within the earth and enter the jewellery market through mining and established supply chains. Rarity, origin and market demand contribute to their price.
Ask us about the documentation available for any stone you consider. We will explain the information that suppliers provide rather than make claims without supporting records.
Cut describes the quality of a diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. Cut has a major influence on brightness and sparkle.
Colour grades the presence of body colour. The setting metal can influence how you perceive a diamond’s colour.
Clarity records internal and surface characteristics. Some grades contain features that you cannot see without magnification.
Carat records the diamond’s weight. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can have different dimensions and face-up sizes.
A balanced choice often gives more visual impact than selecting carat weight alone. We can compare stones by their measurements, cut and appearance.
Independent gemmological laboratories such as GIA and IGI issue grading reports for eligible diamonds. A report can record the stone’s measurements, shape, carat weight, colour, clarity and other grading details.
Certification does not replace a valuation or guarantee future value. Check that the report number matches the stone and review whether the laboratory identifies it as natural or laboratory-grown.
We will confirm which report, if any, accompanies each stone before you approve it.
We discuss your ideas, preferred style, target date and budget. You can visit our Birmingham boutique or begin through an online enquiry or phone call.
Bring inspiration images, examples of your partner’s jewellery and any thoughts on metal or diamond shape. We can work from a broad brief.
We develop the ring’s proportions, setting and band profile. You can review the proposed details and request agreed revisions before manufacture.
We consider daily wear, setting security and future wedding-band fit during this stage.
We source options around your chosen diamond type, shape and budget. We explain the grading information, dimensions and available reports so you can compare stones on more than carat weight.
You choose the precious metal and finish. We confirm where 18k, 24k or platinum suits the design and address any practical limits.
You receive confirmation of the agreed design, stone, metal, price and expected production schedule before work starts. Your quote will state any design fee, payment stages, VAT treatment, collection or delivery arrangements that apply to your order.
Our jewellery team makes the ring to the approved specification and checks the setting, finish and dimensions.
You can arrange a final fit and collect your ring from our Birmingham boutique. We will confirm delivery options during your consultation if you cannot collect in person.
The centre stone often accounts for a large part of the budget, but the complete price depends on several choices:
A setting change to an existing design may cost less than a full bespoke commission. Natural and lab-grown diamonds also follow different pricing patterns.
We will prepare a quote after we understand the design. The quote will confirm the price and state whether your order requires a design fee or deposit. It will also explain VAT and any collection or delivery costs.
There is no fixed rule for how much you should spend on an engagement ring. Choose a budget that fits your finances, then use design, cut and proportion to make the most of it.
Design complexity, stone sourcing and workshop capacity affect the lead time. A ring with unusual dimensions, mixed metals or detailed handwork may need more time than a change to an existing style.
Tell us your proposal date at the start. We will provide an expected schedule after we confirm the design and stone. Production dates remain subject to the specification and payment terms stated in your order.
Allow time for design approval, manufacture, inspection and fitting rather than planning around manufacture alone.
A ring that fits the correct finger offers the best sizing guide. Measure the inside diameter with care and tell us which finger your partner wears it on.
A jeweller can also measure your partner’s finger during a store visit. Finger size changes with temperature, time of day and swelling, so one rough measurement may not provide enough information.
For a surprise proposal, we can discuss designs that offer scope for resizing. Diamond-set bands, eternity-style designs and complex metalwork can restrict later changes.
Tell us whether you want a straight band to sit flush against the engagement ring. We can raise the centre setting or shape the engagement-ring profile to create clearance.
Some low settings need a curved or fitted wedding band. Planning both rings together can produce a close fit and reduce unwanted rubbing between settings.
Soap, hand cream and daily wear can collect beneath the setting. Use a soft brush, warm water and a mild cleaning solution suited to your ring’s stones and metal. Avoid harsh chemicals and hard tools.
Ask us about inspection, cleaning, repairs, resizing and valuation support for your finished ring. We will explain the services and terms available for your order. Contact us if you notice movement, a damaged claw or a change in fit.
Start with jewellery your partner wears. Note the metal colour, shapes and level of detail they choose. Their work and hobbies can help you decide between a raised claw setting and a lower bezel design.
Bring those references to your consultation. We can compare styles and explain how each option affects wear, wedding-band fit and budget.
Stone choice, metal weight and design complexity determine the cost. Lab-grown and natural diamonds have different price structures, while pavé, engraving and mixed-gold details add workshop time.
We provide a quote after discussing your requirements. Your quote will confirm the agreed design, VAT treatment, payment terms and applicable delivery costs.
The schedule depends on design work, stone availability and manufacture. Tell us your target proposal date during the first conversation. We will confirm an expected timescale once you approve the specification.
Independent laboratories such as GIA and IGI grade eligible lab-grown diamonds. The report should identify the diamond as laboratory-grown and list its grading details.
We will confirm the documentation that accompanies a stone before you approve it.
24k gold has a rich colour and high purity, but its softness limits its use in slender bands and fine claws. We may suggest 24k accents with an 18k gold structure where the design permits.
Your jeweller will assess the setting, ring thickness and expected wear before recommending a mixed-gold construction.
We can begin the design without a confirmed size. Bring a ring your partner wears on the correct finger if you can borrow one without causing concern.
Some settings allow more resizing scope than others. We will explain those limits before you approve the design.
You can visit us at
Karat GoldsmithsCall +44 121 773 4222 to discuss your visit or arrange a consultation.
We can design the engagement ring with clearance for a straight wedding band or plan a shaped band around a low setting. Discussing both rings during the design stage helps us control the gap, height and contact points.
Bring us a finished idea, a saved photograph or a few clues about your partner’s taste. We will help you choose the diamond, precious metal and setting, then confirm the specification and quote before manufacture.
Visit our Birmingham boutique, call us or start with an online enquiry.
