You’re not traditional—why should your engagement ring be?
Each setting in our engagement program is inspired by one of our signature collections and designed with the same attention to detail that defines our bespoke work. The difference? These custom styles come with design fees already included—giving you the full Bernard James experience, with more clarity, flexibility, and room to make it your own.
HANDCRAFTED
IN NYC
Our craftsmanship is unparalleled, representing a dedication to excellence that defines every piece we create. Each custom engagement and wedding band, along with all bespoke designs, is meticulously crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. Using only the finest metals and VS quality natural diamonds, we ensure that every piece is of the highest quality.
“BEING INSPIRED BY THE WORLD AROUND US OPENS THE DOOR TO UNLIMITED CREATIVITY”
Bernard's design process is deeply rooted in the belief that inspiration is everywhere, leading to boundless creativity. Each piece he creates, whether it's a custom engagement or wedding band or another bespoke item, is a reflection of this philosophy. His designs capture the essence of his clients' stories and emotions, translating them into unique and meaningful pieces that are as individual as the people who wear them.
Naomi & Ant’s Wedding: Where Every Detail Tells a Love Story
From bespoke marquise diamonds to heritage-filled vows in a sun-drenched meadow, click to see how intention turned jewelry into forever.
Your Custom Process
Every project begins with a conversation. Whether you're designing an engagement ring or a bespoke piece, we'll guide you through each step-from selecting your stone to crafting the final design.
read more about
Bernard’s Process and Vision in this article from Only Natural Diamonds:
BEGIN YOUR CUSTOM JOURNEY
Fill out the form below to start your project with our design team. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the details yet—our team will guide you through each step of the process.
FAQs
The first step is to reach out to us via email, chat, or phone call to schedule a consultation. During this consultation, we'll discuss your ideas and preferences. Our team may also offer initial suggestions based on your vision.
After the consultation, we'll put together a proposal outlining the design, materials, and estimated cost. Once you confirm that you'd like to proceed, we'll create a detailed 3D model of your custom piece for your approval. This allows you to make any final tweaks before we begin production.
Production typically takes 6-8 weeks. Once your piece is ready, you can either pick it up from our store or we can ship it to you.
Yes, absolutely! We encourage you to bring your ideas and inspirations to the table. The more details you can provide about what you have in mind, the better. Whether it's a specific style, a combination of elements from different designs, or even a sketch you've created, we'll work with you to create a truly personalized piece. Feel free to show us any references or images that inspire you to help us understand your vision.
The timeline for creating a custom ring can vary depending on the level of customization. If you choose an existing piece from our collections and only wish to customize it by selecting your own stone or adding an engraving, we can typically turn it around in as little as 2 weeks.
However, for more complex custom projects that involve significant design changes or highly bespoke elements, the process may take longer. In general, you can expect a timeframe of 6-8 weeks from design to completion for most custom pieces.
Yes, we only work with the finest metals and natural stones. For engagement rings, we use only VS-quality stones. Upon request, we can also provide a GIA certificate for added assurance of the stone's quality.
Typically, our custom and bespoke pieces are crafted in 18k solid gold. However, if you prefer a different karat weight or metal such as platinum, we can accommodate your request.
In general, yes, we can redesign existing rings. However, it's best to show us the piece first and have a conversation about what you have in mind. Some pieces may need to be completely re-done to achieve the desired design. We'll work with you to understand your vision and determine the best approach to redesigning your ring.
The minimum budget for custom pieces depends on the level of customization or whether you want to create a truly bespoke piece. For smaller requests, we can definitely accommodate various budgets. However, for larger projects, there may be a minimum percentage of the final price required as a deposit. This ensures that we can dedicate the necessary time and resources to create your unique piece to the highest standards.
Yes, absolutely! We recommend creating both the engagement ring and wedding bands at the same time to ensure they are designed to sit flush next to each other. This allows us to create a cohesive set that complements your engagement ring perfectly. Our team will work closely with you to design matching wedding bands that enhance the beauty of your engagement ring.
In general, yes, we offer resizing and modifications for most rings. However, certain designs like infinity rings can be challenging to resize due to their intricate nature. We recommend finalizing any major changes before the casting process begins.
That said, we can still make small tweaks and adjustments until you are truly happy with your piece. Our goal is to ensure that your custom jewelry fits perfectly and meets your expectations.
For resizing, we recommend having approximate ideas of ring sizes before the final creation. We can provide a ring measure to help determine the correct size, or you can visit our store to get sized professionally. We also have tips on how to discreetly obtain your significant other's ring size if you're planning a surprise.
Yes, we offer engraving services not only for custom pieces but also for our regular collections. Whether you want to add a special message, date, or initials, we can personalize your jewelry to make it truly unique and meaningful.
Custom work, including engagement rings and wedding bands, is priced based on several factors, including design, materials, stones, and customization. For engagement rings, each diamond possesses unique gemological characteristics, making pricing variable. Factors such as color, clarity, center stone shape, and carat weight determine the price, which is subject to change based on availability. We offer a wide range of carat weights to choose from.
For custom engagement rings or wedding bands, we are pleased to collaborate within your budget to create the perfect piece for you or your loved one.
Yes, after an initial consultation where we discuss your ideas and preferences, we will provide you with a detailed proposal. Based on this proposal, we will create a 3D rendering of your custom piece for your review.
You will have the opportunity to make any necessary revisions at this stage. Typically, we include 2 rounds of revisions in our process to ensure that the design meets your expectations before moving forward with production.
