Custom Design
How Much Does a Custom Engagement Ring Cost? An Honest Mead Jewelers Answer
Published: May 3, 2026
The honest answer: every custom engagement ring at Mead Jewelers is different, so we can't print one price on the website. What we can tell you is what affects the price, and what it's like to design a ring with us. Once you know that, you'll walk into your first visit knowing what to expect.
We're Mead Jewelers, a family-run jeweler in Enid, Oklahoma. We've been making custom rings since 1968. We don't run sales. Our quote is our quote, and we'll explain every part of it.
This post walks you through the whole process. Read on if you want to know how a ring really gets made.
How a custom engagement ring gets made at Mead Jewelers
This is the part most people don't get to see. We thought it would help to walk you through it.
Step 1: We sit down and talk
You come in with whatever you have. Pinterest boards, screenshots, a photo of your grandmother's ring, or even old jewelry you'd like to trade in toward the new design. We ask questions. We listen. We learn what you wear every day, what feels right on your hand, and what the ring needs to mean.
This visit is free. You don't owe us anything for it.
Step 2: We sketch it on paper
Before any computer gets involved, we sketch your ring by hand. You see the shape, the stones, the band, all in pencil. If something feels off, we change it. The whole point of a sketch is that it's easy to change.
Most rings take one or two sketch rounds before we move on.
Step 3: We send it to our CAD studio for a 3D drawing
Once you love the sketch, we send the design to our CAD studio. CAD stands for "computer-aided design." The studio turns your sketch into a 3D drawing on a computer. You see your ring from every angle before any metal is cut.
We'll do two or three rounds of changes here if you want to fine-tune anything. Want the band a little thinner? The stones a little closer together? This is the time. We'd much rather fix something now than have you live with a ring you don't love.
Step 4: The ring is cast and the side stones are set
Once you approve the 3D drawing, the design goes to our trusted manufacturer. They cast the ring in your chosen metal, gold or platinum. At the same time, they set the side stones, if your design has any.
This is the slowest step. Casting and setting take care and time.
Step 5: Jay sets the center stone
When the cast ring comes back to our store, Jay Mead sets the center stone himself. Jay is our Master Bench Jeweler and a GIA Graduate Gemologist (which means he's trained to grade and identify diamonds). The center stone is the most important moment in the ring's making, and it's the part we always keep in our own hands.
Step 6: You pick up your finished ring
Most custom rings take four to six weeks from start to finish. We'll call you when yours is ready. You come in. We hand it to you in person.
That's the whole process.
What affects the price of a custom ring
Four things drive what your ring will cost.
1. The center stone
This is the biggest variable. A larger stone costs more than a smaller one. A natural diamond costs more than a lab-grown diamond, even if they look the same to the eye.
For a sense of scale: a 1-carat lab-grown diamond runs about $800 to $1,500 in today's market. A 1-carat natural diamond of the same quality runs about $4,000 to $7,000. We'll show you both at your visit.
2. The metal
14k gold (yellow, white, or rose) is our most-asked-for metal. It's strong and looks great. 18k gold costs more and is a little softer. Platinum costs the most and is the heaviest and most durable.
For most rings, the metal choice changes the price by a few hundred dollars.
3. The setting
A simple setting with one stone is the most affordable. A halo setting (lots of small diamonds around the center stone) costs more because there's more work at the bench. A three-stone setting or a hidden halo costs more still.
If you fall in love with a fancy setting, that's fine. We'll just walk you through what it adds.
4. The side stones
Many settings have small diamonds along the band. These add up faster than people think. Forty tiny diamonds can equal half a carat of weight, and that has a real cost.
Got old jewelry? Put it to work on your new ring.
Many of our clients come in with jewelry they don't wear anymore: outdated rings, broken chains, mismatched earrings, pieces they inherited but won't use. We can help you put that metal and those stones to work toward your new ring.
Two ways we can help:
Trade it in for credit toward your custom design. We weigh the metal, look at any stones, and give you 20% more credit than we'd pay if you sold the same items outright. That credit goes directly against the price of your new ring.
Sell it outright for cash. If you'd rather walk out with money instead of credit, we buy old jewelry every day. Bring it in and we'll weigh it and give you a quote on the spot.
Either way, you're not stuck with a drawer full of jewelry you'll never wear again.
Why people choose Mead Jewelers for custom design
A few things that matter to our clients:
A real Master Bench Jeweler. Jay Mead sets every center stone himself, right here at our store.
You see your ring before it's made. A pencil sketch and a 3D drawing, both before any metal is cut. You get to change your mind.
Two generations of the same family. Mead Jewelers has been in our family since 1968. We see our customers around town. We see them again at anniversaries, at upgrades, at the next generation's engagement.
Plain English. We explain everything in real words. We'll never make you feel like you should already know something you don't.
Common questions
How long does a custom engagement ring take?
About four to six weeks from the time you approve the design.
Do you offer lab-grown diamonds?
Yes. We'll show you lab-grown and natural side by side, with prices, and let you choose.
Can I bring in a family ring or my own diamond?
Yes. We re-set heirloom stones into custom designs all the time. Sometimes the original stone becomes the new center stone, and sometimes it becomes a small side stone. Either way, we treat heirlooms with care.
Can I trade in old jewelry toward my new ring?
Yes. We weigh your old jewelry and any stones, and we give you 20% more credit than we'd pay if you sold those same items outright. That credit goes against the price of your custom design.
Will I see what the ring looks like before it's made?
Yes. You'll see a pencil sketch and a 3D drawing of the ring, both before we cut any metal.
Do you make custom wedding bands too?
Yes. Many of our clients design a matching custom wedding band at the same time as the engagement ring. Designed together, they fit together cleanly.
Ready to start?
Two ways to begin:
Use the ring builder. Our custom ring builder lets you choose a center stone, setting style, and metal online. When you're ready, hit submit. We'll follow up to set a time to talk.
Come in or give us a call. Walk in or call 580-234-8434. Bring whatever you have. We'll sketch your idea on paper and go from there.
Mead Jewelers
3322 W Owen K Garriott Road, Enid, Oklahoma 73703
580-234-8434
Tuesday through Friday 10–5:30, Saturday 10–3
Two generations of jewelers. Custom design since 1968. Honest answers, included.