Custom Engagement Rings for Vancouver

How custom works — our 5-step process

The whole point of going custom is that you see the ring take shape and approve each stage. Here is the path every commission follows, from first chat to the finished piece. You can read more on our bespoke design process page.

1. Consultation. We sit down with you — in person or by video — to talk through style, budget, ring size and any must-haves. This is free and there is no obligation to order. Bring photos, screenshots or a rough sketch if you have one.
2. Design and CAD. We turn your ideas into a 3D computer drawing (CAD) so you can see the ring from every angle before any metal is cut. We adjust the proportions, the band width and the setting until it is right.
3. Stone selection. You choose your centre stone and any accent stones, working to the grading you care about. We explain trade-offs in plain terms so the money goes where it matters to you.
4. Wax or printed model and casting. The approved design is grown as a wax or resin model, then cast in your chosen metal — gold, white gold, rose gold or platinum. This is the point where the digital design becomes a physical ring.
5. Setting and finishing. Our goldsmith sets each stone by hand, then files, polishes and finishes the ring. We check it against the original design before you collect it.

Because every stage happens in-house, you are never waiting on an outside workshop, and we can make changes without shipping your ring across the country.

Choosing your stone: natural vs lab-grown

The centre stone is usually the biggest single decision and the biggest part of the budget. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with identical physical and chemical properties — the difference is where they formed.

Natural diamonds are mined; lab-grown diamonds are made in a controlled setting in a matter of weeks. Lab-grown stones cost noticeably less for the same size and quality, which is why a growing share of couples choose them — The Knot found 52% of US couples bought a lab-grown centre stone in 2024. We grade both types against the GIA 4Cs (cut, colour, clarity and carat) so you are comparing like with like, and you can confirm any certified stone yourself through GIA Report Check. If a stone is mined, we source it through suppliers operating under the Kimberley Process, the international scheme set up to keep conflict diamonds out of the supply chain.

If you want to weigh the cost difference for yourself, our lab-grown diamond rings page goes into more detail, and our engagement ring guide covers shapes and settings.

Using an heirloom stone

If you already own a diamond — from a grandmother's ring, an inherited piece, or a stone you bought years ago — we can build a new ring around it. This is one of the most common reasons people choose custom. You keep the stone that carries the meaning and give it a setting that suits the wearer today.

We start by examining the stone, checking its condition and measuring it so the new setting fits exactly. If there are several stones in an old piece, we can use the main one as the centre and the smaller ones as accents, or reset the lot into something new. Reusing a stone you already have also keeps the cost of the ring down, since the largest expense is usually already in your hand. We will always tell you honestly if an old stone is chipped or worn in a way that affects how it can be reset.

Pricing & timelines

Custom engagement rings at Vanhess typically run CAD $2,500–$4,500. Lab-grown solitaires start around $1,500, and the final figure depends mostly on the centre stone, the metal and how detailed the setting is. For comparison, The Knot reports the average US engagement-ring spend at around $5,200 — so a custom ring made here is often in line with, or below, what couples spend on a ready-made one.

On timing, plan for about four to six weeks from the moment you sign off on the design. The consultation and design stages depend on how quickly we settle the details together; once the design is approved, casting, setting and finishing follow a predictable schedule. If you are working towards a specific date, tell us at the first meeting and we will be straight with you about whether it is achievable. The consultation itself is free.

We will also tell you when the metal you have chosen affects the price — platinum costs more than gold, for example. Where it makes sense, we use recycled gold; the World Gold Council's 2024 demand figures show recycled gold remains a meaningful share of overall supply.

Why work with a Coquitlam workshop

Everything happens under one roof at 2929 Barnet Highway in Coquitlam Centre. The goldsmith who makes your ring is on-site, so there is no middleman and nothing gets shipped out to a third party. If you want to tweak the design mid-process, you talk to the person holding the file.

For Vancouver couples, the trip is short: one Millennium Line ride to Coquitlam Central, about 35–45 minutes from downtown, with parking at the mall. Being a CJA member with 150-plus five-star reviews means there is a real shop you can walk into, see your ring being made, and return to for sizing or repairs years later. See our visit page for directions, or browse custom rings and our wider custom jewellery work to get a sense of what is possible.

Custom ring questions