Custom Engagement Rings Calgary

A custom engagement ring in Calgary is designed for one person and made from scratch, rather than picked off a tray. At Davidson Jewels, I design every ring myself and make it in 18k gold or platinum. Commissions start at $2,500, most land between $3,000 and $15,000, and the work takes six to ten weeks from the first meeting to the finished ring.

How does the custom engagement ring process work in Calgary?

Five steps, start to finish. You deal with me at every one of them.

1. The consultation. We meet by appointment at my studio on 17th Avenue. You bring ideas, photos, a budget, or nothing at all. I sketch while we talk.
2. The stone. I source centre stones to your brief and your budget. You see them in person, in daylight, before anything is committed. Every diamond comes with an independent GIA or IGI grading report.
3. The CAD design. I model the ring in CAD, a tool I have used since 1989. You see it from every angle and we adjust proportions, prong style, band width, and the height it sits off the finger.
4. The resin prototype. I print the approved design in resin so you can wear it. This is the step most studios skip. It is much easier to change your mind about a shape you have worn for ten minutes than one you have only seen on screen.
5. The bench. I make the ring in 18k gold or platinum, set the stones, and finish it by hand. You collect it from the studio.

What does a custom engagement ring cost in Calgary?

Commissions at Davidson Jewels start at $2,500. Most fall between $3,000 and $15,000. Larger heritage commissions go well beyond that.

The centre stone is usually the largest part of the figure. After that, the cost is decided by the metal, the complexity of the setting, and how much bench time the design takes. A clean solitaire in 18k gold and a hand-engraved platinum ring with a dozen set stones are different pieces of work, and the price says so.

Custom does not automatically mean more expensive. You are not paying for a retail showroom, a sales floor, or stock that has sat in a case for two years. You are paying for the stone, the metal, and the hours.

How long does it take to make a custom engagement ring?

Six to ten weeks is normal, measured from your first consultation to the finished ring. Sourcing an unusual stone or a heavily engraved design can add time.

If you have a proposal date in mind, come and see me three to four months ahead. That leaves room to change your mind at the CAD stage or the resin stage without anyone feeling rushed. Rushing a ring is how mistakes get made.

How can you tell if a Calgary custom jeweller is reputable?

Ask these five questions of any studio you are considering, including mine. The answers will tell you more than a website will.

• Who actually makes the ring? Many places that sell custom rings send the work out. Ask whether the person you are speaking to will be at the bench, or whether your design goes to a trade shop or overseas.
• Can I see the stone before I commit? A grading report is a document, not a stone. You should be able to look at your diamond in person, in daylight, and compare it against others.
• What metal is it, exactly? "Gold" is not an answer. Ask the karat. Ask whether the price changes if you choose platinum. I work only in 18k gold and platinum, and I will tell you why if you ask.
• What will I see before it is made? A drawing is a start. A CAD render is better. Something you can put on your finger is better still.
• What happens in ten years? Rings need resizing, retipping, and the odd repair. Ask whether the person who made it will still be there to look after it.

Why choose Davidson Jewels for a custom engagement ring?

1. One designer, from the sketch to the setting

Every Davidson Jewels ring is designed by me. There is no design team, no account manager, and no handoff. When you ask a question about your ring, you are asking the person who is making it.

2. 18k gold and platinum only

I do not work in lower karats. 18k gold holds its colour and holds a stone properly for a lifetime of daily wear. Platinum is the other option, and for some settings it is the better one. This is a deliberate limit, not a shortage of choice.

3. A resin prototype you can wear

I have designed in CAD since 1989, and I print every approved design in resin before I make it. You put it on. You live with the shape for a few minutes. Changes made at that stage cost nothing.

4. Independently graded stones

Centre diamonds are supplied with a GIA or IGI grading report from the laboratory, not an in-house opinion. You can read exactly what you are buying.

5. A private studio, by appointment

Davidson Jewels is on the fourth floor at 909 17 Avenue SW, and I see clients by appointment only. No sales floor, no commission, no one hovering. One conversation at a time.

Can I use a family stone or old gold in a new ring?

Yes, and it is some of my favourite work. An inherited diamond can be reset into a design that suits the person wearing it now. Old gold can be refined and credited toward the commission at its pure gold value, which with today's metal prices makes a real difference to the final figure.

Bring the piece in and I will tell you honestly what can be reused and what cannot. Some stones are chipped in ways you cannot see without a loupe. Some settings are worth keeping intact rather than breaking up.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Davidson Jewels located in Calgary?

Davidson Jewels is at 909 17 Avenue SW, 4th Floor, Calgary, in the Mount Royal Executive Centre. The studio moved there in July 2026 and is open by appointment only. The former East Village address is no longer in use.

Do I need to know what I want before booking a consultation?

No. Plenty of people arrive with nothing more than a rough budget and a feeling. Others bring a folder of photographs. Both are fine. My job in the first meeting is to ask the right questions and start sketching.

Will I see diamonds at my first appointment?

Not usually. The consultation suite is not a secure vault, so I do not keep stones or precious metal there. Once we know what you are looking for, I source options to your brief and we book a separate viewing so you can compare them properly.

Can my partner be involved in designing the ring?

Yes, and more couples do this than don't. Some come to every meeting together. Others want the design kept secret until the proposal. Either works, and neither is unusual.

Do you make matching wedding bands?

Yes. Because I designed the engagement ring, I already have the model, so a band that sits flush against it is straightforward. Most people come back for this a few months later.

Do you work with clients outside Calgary?

Yes. I have made rings for clients across Alberta and further afield. The design stages can be handled remotely, though I would always rather you came in for the resin fitting if you can.