Every custom engagement ring design begins with an idea. Sometimes it starts with a sketch, a treasured gemstone, or a piece of jewelry tucked away in a jewelry box. For Jenna, inspiration was right in front of her.
While looking at engagement rings at Olufson Designs, Jenna noticed two different rings. She loved elements of each, but neither was quite the ring she imagined. Could those details come together in something new?
That question began a custom engagement ring now taking shape in our workshop. With Jenna’s permission, we’re sharing the steps between her first inspiration and a finished piece of jewelry.
Designing a Custom Engagement Ring with CAD
Sean, Olufson Designs’ founder, owner and goldsmith, is developing Jenna’s design using CAD (computer-aided design). This technology lets him build and examine a ring digitally in three dimensions.
The two original rings offer inspiration, but combining their features involves more than appearance. Sean must consider whether the metal has enough thickness in the right places, how the gemstones will be supported, and how the proportions affect comfort and everyday wear. His goldsmithing experience helps turn Jenna’s ideas into a ring that can be made, worn, and enjoyed for years.
Next, Jenna can review the CAD design and consider possible refinements. A detail might be adjusted or a proportion changed. Exploring those choices on screen helps the design take shape before it becomes precious metal.
From CAD Rendering to Physical Model
After the CAD is approved, the design can become a physical model. Modern 3D-printing tools can produce detailed models from digital files, while traditional wax artistry remains an important skill in jewelry making. A model makes the scale and shape easier to understand than a screen alone.
The model also connects modern technology to the centuries-old practice of lost-wax casting. A model is surrounded by heat-resistant material, then removed during heating to leave a cavity for molten metal. Once the metal cools, the casting is revealed. It has the shape of a ring, but it still needs careful finishing.
Goldsmiths then refine the casting, set the gemstones, and polish the piece. These hands-on steps require precision and care. Casting is an important milestone, not the finish line.
Jenna’s Custom Ring: A Story Still Taking Shape
Jenna’s ring is not finished yet. We know where it started: two rings, each with details she loved. As her design moves through the next stages, we hope to share more of the process—and, when the time is right, the finished ring.
That is one of the joys of custom jewelry: a personal design can begin with a simple question—what if?