How Are Engagement Rings Made?
Women love their rings. And when it's a sparkling engagement ring; it's double the love. However, while we love how rings sit on the finger, few know how they come to be.
One thing for sure is that ring-making is a form of art that requires a lot of skill, attention to detail, and precision. So how are rings made? Whether a simple solitaire or an intricate halo, many of the ring-making processes remain the same. Let's see some of the steps involved in making engagement rings.
Designing Stage
The designing stage produces a blueprint for what a ring should look like, including its dimensions. This bit can be done by a jewelry designer attached to a jewelry brand. Some jewelry stores also allow people to customize their rings, meaning you can go in there with your own design, or work with the in-store design to create a unique design that your significant other will love.
These sketches are done purely by hand or are computer-aided (CAD). Once a design is complete, the manufacturing process begins.
Wax Model Making and Casting
This step involves creating a wax version of the ring. To do this, a craftsman will use different types of wax and wax carving tools to create a replica of the designed ring using wax. This wax model looks like what the final ring will look like, down to the tiniest detail.
With a satisfactory final result, a plaster mold of the ring design is created. This plaster mold allows that particular ring design to be replicated as many times as is necessary. This saves jewelers time and money, as they don't have to create each ring design from scratch each time they need to manufacture a specific design.
Mold Casting Model
The wax replica of a ring design is then placed in a metallic container. This container is then filled with a plaster-like compound. This material is left in the container for a couple of hours to dry and harden. Once this happens, it’s then baked under high temperatures, which melts the wax, leaving a hollow impression of the ring that becomes a mold.
At this point, the metal of choice can be introduced. But it must be melted down under extreme temperatures to form a liquid. The metal in liquid form is then poured into the mold and left to harden. Once it hardens, the mold is pulled off, leaving a gorgeous engagement ring, minus the stone (s).
Sizing Rings
Each ring is sized individually by tapping with a hammer and being heated to allow resizing. When the size is achieved, prongs are put in place and the ring is filed into shape and finished with an abrasive rubber wheel.
When sizing is done, the ring is pre-polished using different grades of polishing compounds. This process leaves a ring looking its best and ready for setting.
Setting the Stones
At this stage, the ring and prongs have been assembled, laying the foundation for the stones to be set. Diamonds and other stones will be measured and matched before setting.
A jewelry setter will delicately and expertly place each stone on the ring following its intended design. This process must be handled carefully to ensure the stones are not damaged, or placed loosely. If they are placed incorrectly, they can fall out and potentially get lost.
Final Polishing and Finishing
The metal has been cast, stones set and the ring has been sized. This last step is just about ensuring the ring looks as it should.
This stage begins with a confirmation of size. The ring is measured to ensure it's the intended size and that it didn't get dented from the setting process.
This process is followed by a thorough polish to give it its sparkle. Upon customers' requests, white gold rings are also coated in rhodium to protect the ring from scratches and to help it keep its luster.
There Is Your Sparkler
At the end of these processes, you get your gorgeous, sparkly ring placed on display or in a box awaiting collection.
Another way to get your ring made is by purchasing diamonds or stones, and getting a jeweler to customize a ring for you. Sounds interesting? Find out how to buy pre-owned loose diamonds here.