Commissioning a custom ring in Australia

A custom ring is one made to your brief rather than bought from stock, whether it is an engagement ring, a wedding band, a signet ring or a dress ring. This page describes the usual steps from brief to finished ring, how metals and fineness marks work, what gemstone grading reports are and how lab-grown stones should be described, sizing, written quotes and deposits, what the Australian Consumer Law says, how insurance valuations work and what the Kimberley Process covers, with links to official Australian sources.

This is a free, non-commercial reference page. It is general information, not legal, financial or insurance advice. It does not review, rank or recommend any jeweller, workshop, laboratory, valuer or insurer, and it names no retailers or brands. This page is not affiliated with any business, industry body or government agency, and listing is not an endorsement. Check current details with the official websites linked below.

The guide

How a custom ring is usually made, what the metal and stone descriptions mean, and the paperwork worth having before, during and after the commission.

The brief

A commission usually starts with a conversation about the type of ring, the metal, any stones, the style, the size, the budget and the timeframe. Bring reference images, and say how the ring will be worn: an everyday wedding band, a signet ring for engraving and a dress ring worn occasionally have different practical needs. If you are supplying your own metal or stones, such as a family piece to be remade, say so at the start and ask how they will be recorded and returned if the job does not go ahead.

Design, sketches and CAD

Many makers turn the brief into hand sketches, a computer-aided design (CAD) model or both. A CAD render shows proportions, stone placement and profile, and some makers also produce a printed resin or wax model so you can see the ring at actual size or try it on. Ask how many design revisions are included, whether further changes cost extra, and whether design work is charged separately if you decide not to proceed.

Approval and the written specification

Before making starts, agree a written specification: metal and fineness, ring size, band width and thickness, the stones (type, whether natural or laboratory-grown, any treatment, size or weight, and any grading report numbers), the setting style, finish, engraving, price, deposit, timeframe and what happens if something changes. Under the Australian Consumer Law, the ACCC says goods must correspond with any description the business gives them, and with any sample or demonstration model in quality, state or condition, so a clear written description and approved model matter.

Making: casting or hand fabrication

Once the design is approved, a ring is commonly either cast (a wax or resin model is used to make a mould, molten metal is poured in, and the casting is cleaned up) or hand-fabricated from metal stock that is shaped, soldered and formed by a jeweller. Some rings combine both methods. Either way, the raw piece is then filed, shaped and checked against the specification before stones are set.

Setting and finishing

Stones are secured by a setter using a chosen setting style, such as claws or prongs, a bezel (a rim of metal around the stone), channel or pavé settings. The ring is then polished or given another finish (such as satin or brushed), engraved if required, and in some cases plated. Ask whether the finished ring will be plated, because plating can wear and may need renewing, and ask to inspect the ring against the approved specification before final payment.

Metals: gold, platinum, palladium and silver

Gold used in jewellery is usually an alloy. Its carat (often written ct or K) describes the proportion of pure gold, and the other metals in the alloy affect colour, such as yellow, white or rose gold, and hardness. Platinum and palladium are white precious metals in the platinum group. Silver is softer and tarnishes over time. Rolled gold and plated items have only a layer of precious metal over another metal and are different from solid gold. Ask what alloy is proposed, whether a white-metal ring will be plated, and how the metal suits daily wear.

Fineness marks and hallmarks

A fineness mark stamped inside a ring states the claimed precious metal content. An Australian Standard, AS 2140 (Jewellery: fineness of precious metal alloys), sets out a millesimal (parts per thousand) marking system for gold, silver, platinum and palladium, and a companion standard, AS 2335, covers rolled gold and plated jewellery. The National Measurement Institute states that trade measurement laws cover scales used to weigh precious metals and stones, but do not cover metal purity. No compulsory government hallmarking scheme was found during research for this page, so a stamp is the maker's claim. A false description of metal content can still breach the Australian Consumer Law.

Gemstone grading reports

A grading report is issued by a gemmological laboratory and describes a particular stone. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) says its diamond grading reports assess the 4Cs of colour, clarity, cut and carat weight, with disclosures for any treatments, and that a report can be checked online using its report number through GIA Report Check. A report describes the stone, not the ring and not its price. Ask whether the stone is laser-inscribed with its report number, and check that the report matches the stone you receive.

Natural, laboratory-grown and treated stones

Laboratory-grown diamonds have essentially the same visual and physical characteristics as natural diamonds, and GIA says telling them apart requires specialised testing. GIA states that all laboratory-grown diamonds it evaluates are laser-inscribed with the words "Laboratory-Grown" and an assessment number. Under the Australian Consumer Law, a business must not mislead you about what you are buying, so ask in writing whether each stone is natural, laboratory-grown or treated, and make sure the answer appears on your invoice.

Ring sizing

Ring size is measured around the finger and is usually taken with a set of sizing rings or a ring mandrel (a tapered measuring stick). Sizing systems differ between countries, so confirm which system the maker uses and record the size in the specification. Fingers can change size with temperature and time of day, and a wide band usually needs a slightly larger size than a narrow one. Ask whether resizing after delivery is possible and what it costs, as some designs, such as rings set with stones all the way round, are difficult to resize.

Quotes, deposits and consumer guarantees

Get a written quote and terms before paying a deposit, and keep copies of the approved design, quote and receipts. The ACCC says consumers automatically receive consumer guarantees, including that goods are of acceptable quality (acceptable in appearance and finish, free from defects, safe and durable), match their description, match any sample or demonstration model, and are fit for any purpose you disclose. Businesses cannot rely on a "no refunds" policy to remove these rights, but there is no right to a remedy if you simply change your mind. Ask what happens to your deposit if you cancel, or if the maker cannot deliver. If you buy on lay-by, Consumer Affairs Victoria says the agreement must be in writing and any deposit is treated as an instalment.

Insurance valuations and responsible sourcing

An insurance valuation is a written estimate of what it would cost to replace an item, prepared for insurance purposes. NSW Fair Trading says there is no requirement for a valuer to be a member of a professional body, and that the National Council of Jewellery Valuers (NCJV) requires registered members to undertake training and ongoing professional development. Moneysmart notes most contents policies limit how much you can claim for certain items and suggests keeping receipts and photos. On sourcing, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme aims to break the link between the trade in rough diamonds and the financing of armed conflict; in Australia the Department of Industry, Science and Resources administers export permissions, DFAT oversees policy and the Australian Border Force oversees imports.

Directory

Official Australian sources on consumer law, lay-by, trade measurement, industry codes, gemmology, valuations, insurance and the Kimberley Process, instead of a list of jewellers. Each entry was checked against its own official website.

What is listed. Only government bodies and peak bodies whose page could be fetched and checked are included, and each link goes to that body's own page or to an official government page about it. The list is not complete and is in no particular order. No jewellers, workshops, laboratories, valuers or insurers are listed.

Not an endorsement. Listing is not a recommendation. This page is not affiliated with any organisation below and does not review, rank or recommend any ring maker, valuer or laboratory.

Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement. Links are to official websites as published at the time of checking.

Questions to ask before commissioning a ring

Plain questions worth putting to a maker, and getting answered in writing, before you pay a deposit.

Can I have a written quote and specification before I pay anything?

It should state the metal and fineness, size, dimensions, stones, setting, finish, price, deposit and timeframe. Goods must match the description the business gives them.

Exactly what metal and alloy will be used, and will the ring be plated?

Ask for the carat or fineness, the colour of the alloy and whether a white-metal ring will be plated. Ask what mark will be stamped inside the band.

Is each stone natural or laboratory-grown, and has it been treated?

Ask for this to be written in the specification. The ACCC has said that failing to disclose that a gemstone is not natural or has been enhanced is likely to breach the law.

Does the main stone come with a grading report, and can I check it?

Ask which laboratory issued it, check the report number with the laboratory's own online service, and ask whether the stone is laser-inscribed.

What happens to my deposit if I cancel, or if you cannot finish the ring?

Get the deposit and cancellation terms in writing. Consumer guarantees apply automatically, but there is no right to a remedy for a simple change of mind.

How many design changes are included, and will I approve a model before making starts?

Ask whether you will see a CAD render or a physical model, and what changes cost after approval. Goods must match any sample or model in quality, state or condition.

If I supply my own stones or metal, how are they recorded and protected?

Ask for a written receipt describing what you hand over, and whether the maker's insurance covers it while it is in their workshop.

Can resizing, repairs and future maintenance be done, and at what cost?

Some designs are hard to resize. Ask about claw checks, re-plating and what the maker will do if a stone becomes loose.

Will I receive a valuation, and who prepares it?

Ask whether a valuation is included and who prepares it. NSW Fair Trading says valuers do not have to belong to a professional body, so ask about qualifications. Check your insurer's item limits.

About this page

customrings.com.au is a free, non-commercial reference page published by Radiant Life Distributors Pty Ltd, Adelaide. It is general information, not legal, financial or insurance advice, and it makes no claims about any product or business. It does not review or recommend any jeweller, workshop, laboratory, valuer or insurer, and it is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any organisation listed; listing is not an endorsement. Information was checked against official websites in October 2026; laws, standards and guidance change, so confirm current details with the organisations linked above.