How Long Does It Take To Get An Engagement Ring?

Getting an engagement ring is a monumental moment. It takes a lot of thought and consideration. Besides, it will sit on your partner’s finger forever; they’re not cheap, and your partner probably has some ideas of what she wants. But how long does it typically take to get an engagement ring? What is the timeline of the process like? Here is what you need to know.

So, how long does it take to get an engagement ring? It takes between four to six weeks to get an engagement ring, on average. Although, if the ring is premade and available for purchase, it may take as little as one day to one week. Of course, other factors can affect the timeline – demand, supply for resources, the complexity of design, custom-made requests, and alterations are perhaps the main ones to consider.

Besides your wedding day, there is possibly nothing more exciting than getting engaged. 

But it does come with quite a bit of pressure.

Will they like the ring. Is it the right size?

But first and foremost, will they even say yes!?

Nevertheless, when it comes to getting engaged, timing is everything.

So, it’s essential to know all the timelines involved with getting the ring.

We’ll be going over them in detail here today.

So keep reading if you are planning to pop the question and you want to get the timeframes right! 

How Long Does It Take To Order An Engagement Ring?

Some people are lucky enough to walk out the exact same day with an engagement ring – and there is no time in the order at all. Others will wait weeks to a few months before proceeding with their order and getting their ring made and delivered.

A few variables can change your exact timeline regardless of whether you are getting a custom fit or a premade ring. 

Premade

If the ring you want is in the store, it is possible that you can go home with it that exact day. 

This is less common than people think because usually, the band needs to be adjusted, or the diamond needs to be set a certain way. 

Premade usually takes no more than a week, which can be a convenient option for many. 

This is also one of the most affordable routes to go when it comes to rings. 

Alterations

Even if you aren’t getting a diamond or a jewel from scratch, it doesn’t mean that ordering your engagement ring won’t take some time. 

Often the ring needs to go through a series of adjustments so that the ring is perfect and still unique for your bride-to-be. 

Custom Fit

This is when everything starts to take a little bit longer and things more a lot slower. 

Custom designs usually take around a few weeks to a few months to get it right. 

This includes all the fine details that go into making an engagement ring in the first place. 

So how do you make an engagement ring, and what are those factors that determine the length of time?

How Long Does It Take For An Engagement Ring To Be Made?

It typically takes several weeks to a few months for an engagement ring to be made. Although, it does depend on the complexity of the design, how much you are willing to pay, and other external factors out of your control like supplies and resources available to the jeweler. 

In reality, there are a few different phases when it comes to making an engagement ring. 

There is the initial design process done between the buyer and the seller, followed by the manufacturer stage, where all the hiccups can occur. 

Design

During this stage, you and the design team at the jewelry store can start working on the design. 

This can take up to a week because of the back and forth. 

Sometimes this can take several weeks if the buyer isn’t entirely sure what they are looking for. 

With Computer Aided Designers, the process can be sped up a lot faster with 3D designs being constantly made up. 

Manufacturer Stage

This process of actually making the ring usually takes around five weeks if it is going to be made from scratch. 

Some designers will guarantee less time, and that doesn’t necessarily mean less quality. 

Here are all the factors that can add or subtract time from the process of making a ring. 

• Sizing. The most important thing is that the ring fits your partner’s hand. This can take anywhere from a day to a week as the jewelry store alters the engagement bands size to fit your partner’s finger. 
• Setting alteration. If you are bringing in a family gemstone that you need to be reset, this will only take a few days. This, however, is different than having to set a completely new gem to ensure that it fits the ring. This is where it can take more than three weeks, especially if the design is more elaborate. 

When Should You Start Looking At Engagement Rings?

You should start looking at engagement rings as early as feasibly possible. That way, you will afford yourself plenty of time to consider your options, compare jewelers, and leave plenty of time for your ring to be ordered, made, and/or altered. 

While you could theoretically start looking a couple of weeks before you engage – this is not usually advised. 

Besides, you’ll limit your options this way. 

While there is an abundance of rings on the market, it is not as easy to choose one as to pick up one in the store. 

If you start looking at a custom ring, then this means even more time dedicated to the process. 

Here are a few timetable tips that can make the hunt for the perfect ring go a lot easier. 

1. Spend a few days looking at different shapes and cuts online first. That way, you know what gemstones you do and don’t like and can have a band color in mind before going into the store completely blind. 
2. Once you have a rough outline in mind, remember to keep an open mind. You will want to visit a few different stores that have good reviews, especially if you are looking to do something custom. 
3. Choose your top two or three jewelry stores and work with them on a design. If you are going with a custom ring or even some alterations in the sizing and setting. If you are looking for a premade ring with little to no changes, you can narrow it down to a few of your favorites across some stores.
4. If the element of surprise is not something you or your partner want, you could always pick the ring out together. If you do go this route, doing so a few months in advance of proposing is never a bad idea. It is likely that your bride has looked at engagement rings before, so checking out her Pinterest board or even asking what her favorite cut is can be incredibly useful here too. 

How Long Is Too Long To Wait For An Engagement Ring?

How long is too long to wait for an engagement ring is going to come down to context. If you are after a simple design, you should not have to wait longer than a few weeks. If you are after a custom-made, bespoke design with alterations, you need to be willing to be a little more patient.

However long you are willing to wait for an engagement ring is entirely up to you. 

Having said that, most of the machinery and technology these days can really speed up the process when it comes to ordering and making an engagement ring. 

While it is more common to find the turnarounds for all engagement rings around two weeks, it is not unheard of to wait a few more weeks for your special order. 

In some rare cases, you may be waiting a few months if it is an incredibly expensive and rare gem and design. 

However, if it is not this case, you really shouldn’t need to wait more than a few weeks. 

The only other time this is the case is when you’ve gone to a specialty jewelry store, and something is on backorder because they have many more rings to do before yours. 

Here are some good questions to ask your jewelry at the beginning of the process to get an adequate time frame for the ring you are going to order. 

• Is there a wait time as of right now because of demand – is there a backlog or several rings in front of you in the queue. 
• Are there certain designs/gemstones that typically take longer
• What can I expect in turnaround times once we have finalized the design together?
• Are there any insurance policies for hiccups in the process? If something goes wrong, how much time will be added?

Have Some Patience

As mentioned, what is more exciting than proposing to the love of your life. 

Not much! 

That’s why finding the ring to make that statement can be one of the most stressful things you do. 

Sometimes getting an engagement ring is as easy as walking into the store and walking out a little while later with a ring in hand. 

OK, this is not so common.

Perhaps even not preferable.

You do owe it to your partner to dedicate some time researching the different styles, gemstones, cuts, and color options.

Besides, chances are the first ring you see is not going to be the best ring for your partner.

You may even change your mind after a few discussions/visits to different jewelers or having seen a few more rings.

If you are looking to go the custom-made ring route, then you do need to plan well ahead.

The design process can take a while. 

Sometimes up to a month depending on how hard it is to align your vision with what the jeweler promises to deliver. 

Thankfully though, once the design is in place – it usually only takes a few weeks for a ring to be made.

Unless you are unlucky, of course, or a lot is going on.

Take the pandemic, for instance. 

This is why it is so essential to leave room for hiccups and keep in mind that the more complicated the design is, the longer it will take. 

Having said that, so long as you go through a reputable jeweler, they should be able to provide you with timely and fair estimations and updates along the way. 

Next up: How Long Does It Take To Get A Ring Resized? [What To Expect]