How long does a made to order wedding ring take?

How long does a made to order wedding ring take?

One to two weeks to make a titanium, black zirconium, anodised zirconium, gold inlay or diamond set band and about four weeks for a solid gold band. Delivery then takes one working day, insured and signed for.

So from paying to opening the box, plan on about two weeks for a titanium, zirconium, inlay or diamond set band and about four weeks for a solid gold band. Every ring page states its own making time beside the price, so the figure you see on the ring you choose is the one that applies to it.

Delivery: the four steps from order to door and what insured and signed for means

Why does a made to order ring take weeks?

Because it does not exist until you order it. We hold no stock: the day you order, your size, width, finish and engraving go to the workshop that makes that design. The ring is cut, shaped, finished and checked for you.

That is what lets every band come in every size from A to Z and every width it is offered in, rather than whatever happened to be on a shelf.

Does hallmarking add time?

It is already inside the making time. UK law requires gold over 1 gram, platinum over 0.5 gram and palladium over 1 gram to be hallmarked by one of the four Assay Offices before it is sold as that metal. Every solid gold wedding band is well over that weight: a 4mm 9ct band in size N weighs about 3.7g.

Titanium and zirconium are not precious metals under the Hallmarking Act, so those bands carry no hallmark and skip that step, which is part of why they are the quicker rings to make.

UK hallmarking explained: what each mark on a ring means

Which rings are the quickest to make?

Titanium and zirconium bands, at one to two weeks. That includes the gold and platinum inlay bands, where a line of solid precious metal is set into a titanium or zirconium ring.

Our diamond rings are titanium and black zirconium bands with the stones set into the metal, so they take the same one to two weeks. Solid gold bands take about four weeks.

Titanium rings: one to two weeks, the lightest rings we make

Black zirconium wedding bands: black zirconium, one to two weeks

Gold rings: solid gold bands and gold inlays

Can I get a ring in time for Christmas?

Yes, if it is ordered by the last day for that kind of ring. Titanium and black zirconium bands, the diamond set ones included, can be ordered latest because they take one to two weeks. Solid gold bands and couple sets take about four weeks, so their last day comes first.

The exact date for each kind of ring moves with the making time and bank holidays, so we work it out rather than print it here. Our Christmas pages show the last order date for each one with the days left.

Rings that arrive by Christmas: The last day to order each kind of ring, with the days left.

Men's rings that arrive by Christmas: Black, textured, inlaid and wide bands with their order dates.

When should I order a wedding ring before the wedding?

Eight weeks before the day. That covers the making and the post, then leaves time to wear the ring for a fortnight and, if the size is wrong, send it back and have another made before the wedding.

Tell us your date when you order and we will say plainly whether it works. If a workshop ever tells us a ring will run past its window, you hear it the day we do and you can cancel for a full refund at that point.

Wedding date planner: work back from your date to the day to order

Buying wedding rings online: Your rights, returns, sizing and hallmarks before you order.

What if I do not know the ring size yet?

Order anyway and choose "I do not know yet" for the size. Nothing is made until we have confirmed the size with you, so the making time starts from that confirmation rather than from the order.

Measuring at home takes about two minutes with the size finder and for a wide band a half size up is often the more comfortable fit.

Ring size finder: measure at home before you order

Finding a ring size secretly: for a surprise