How Long Does It Take to Get an Engagement Ring?

So you've decided to propose. The next question is almost always the same: how long does it take to get an engagement ring? Most rings land in one of three windows. An in-stock ring can be yours the same day or within about three days. A made-to-order setting takes three to six weeks. A fully custom design takes six to twelve weeks. Our advice? Order at least three months before the day you plan to ask.

Here's a walk-through of each path, plus how to count backward from your proposal date.

Here's what each option takes from the day you place your order.

This is the fastest route, hands down. You pick from the rings we've already got in the case, and if the size works, you're walking out with it that day.

There's a second fast option most people miss. If you've got a loose diamond or a family stone, we can set it into an in-stock setting right at our bench in a few days.

A made-to-order setting is cast fresh in your size and finished around your center stone. Plan on three to six weeks. It's the sweet spot for most couples — an exact fit, without the full custom timeline.

A custom ring gets built from nothing, so it needs the most runway:

• Consultation and CAD rendering: 1 to 2 weeks

• Your review and approval: a few days

• Casting and stone setting: 3 to 5 weeks

• Hand finishing, polishing, and inspection: about a week

Six to twelve weeks covers just about every custom project we take on.

Two rings ordered the same day can finish weeks apart. Here's what moves the date:

• Design complexity: A clean solitaire moves faster than a halo or a pavé band set with dozens of tiny stones.

• Center stone sourcing: A diamond we've already got is instant. Chasing a specific cut, color, and clarity combo can add one to three weeks.

• Metal choice: Platinum's tougher to work with than gold, so it takes longer at the bench.

• Revisions: Every round of CAD changes adds days. Quick replies keep your ring moving.

• Time of year: November through February is peak engagement season, and every stage runs long.

• Finishing touches: Engraving, milgrain, and specialty finishes each add a step.

Resizing takes three to ten days for most rings. Eternity bands, full pavé bands, and platinum sit at the longer end, because that work is more delicate. Your first sizing with us is free.

Engraving takes one to five days. Machine engraving is quick. Hand engraving is slower — and worth the wait.

Both happen after the ring is finished, not while it's being made.

Knowing how long it takes to get an engagement ring only helps if you count backward from the day you're going to ask. Use this as your guide.

 One piece of advice straight from our bench: order three to four weeks earlier than you think you need to. Sizing, engraving, and appraisal all happen after the ring is done, and that's exactly where people get squeezed.

In our experience, the thing that pushes a proposal date is almost never production. It's a ring size nobody pinned down until the last minute.

Here's how to stay ahead of it:

• Borrow a ring she already wears on that finger and bring it in.

• Ask her sister, her mom, or her best friend. They usually know.

• If you've got to guess, guess big. Sizing down is faster than sizing up.

• Propose with the ring as-is, then bring it back for a free first sizing.

A ring that runs a little big still works beautifully for the moment.

Rush work is possible, and it comes down to the design. A simple solitaire can usually be moved up. An intricate setting usually can't.

If your date's coming up fast, you've got two good options. Buy an in-stock ring now and design the dream ring together later, or propose with a placeholder and let her help create the real one.

Yes, absolutely. If you pick a ring we have in stock and the size works, you can take it home that day.

Six to twelve weeks from your first consultation. That covers design, casting, setting, and finishing.

Start looking three to six months out, and order at least three months before you propose.

It does. Every extra stone adds setting time, so detailed designs run a week or two longer.

Shipping's free and fully insured, and most orders show up within a few business days.

They do. November through February is our busiest stretch, so add two to three weeks.

Tell us your date, and we'll tell you exactly what's possible. Stop by 6750 S. Emporia St., Centennial, CO 80112, or give us a call at 303-393-8881. Every ring comes with free first sizing, a lifetime warranty, free shipping, and a free appraisal.