Wedding Ring Workshop
Design & Materials Guide
To create your rings, we’ll start with a strip of metal that matches the desired shape and width of your band.
To ensure we provide the right materials for your workshop, we’ll need the following four details:
Material
What type of metal would you like to use for your rings?
Shape
Would you prefer a curved band or a flat style?
Width
How wide would you like your band to be?
Size
The size of your ring or the measurement of your finger in millimeters.
With this information, we can prepare the materials needed for your ring-making workshop!
There’s also some important information to review about:
Engraving
Textures, Finishes & Shaping
Timeframes
Budget
Choosing Your Ring’s Material
Golds Comparison
Yellow Gold
White Gold
Red Gold
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is a versatile and highly workable material, making it an excellent choice for jewellery design. Its malleability allows for easy shaping, texturing, and polishing, whether you're crafting bold experimental pieces or timeless, polished bands. With its ability to achieve a stunning, mirror-like finish, sterling silver offers both elegance and accessibility. However, as a softer metal, it may develop signs of wear over time, adding character to its timeless appeal.
18ct Yellow Gold
18ct yellow gold boasts a rich, vibrant golden hue, making it the most vividly yellow of all gold alloys. Its versatility allows for either a soft brushed finish or a high-polish shine, depending on your preference. Composed of 750 parts pure yellow gold mixed with other metals, it offers both beauty and durability.
9ct Yellow Gold
9ct yellow gold is a blend of pure yellow gold, silver, and other metals, resulting in a softer, more subtle yellow tone compared to 18ct yellow gold. Like its counterpart, it can be polished to a brilliant shine or given a brushed or textured finish for a more understated look.
9ct White Gold
Crafted from a combination of pure yellow gold and silver, 9ct white gold features a light silver shade with a subtle warmth. Its delicate tone makes it a versatile and elegant choice for jewellery.
18ct White Gold
18ct white gold is an alloy of pure yellow gold, palladium, and other metals. The palladium contributes to its stunning dark grey hue, offering a warm tone with exceptional strength and durability. This makes it an ideal option for robust and stylish jewellery pieces.
9ct Red Gold
Also known as rose gold, 9ct red gold is a striking alloy of pure yellow gold, copper, and other metals. The copper content creates a deep, warm red hue, which is more pronounced in 9ct red gold compared to its 18ct counterpart.
18ct Red Gold
18ct red gold has a softer, more golden-red tone than 9ct red gold. Its higher pure gold content lends it a refined elegance, whether polished to a high shine or finished with a brushed satin texture. However, 18ct red gold can be more challenging to work with for textured or hammered designs, so we recommend considering 9ct red gold or consulting with us for specific projects.
Platinum & Palladium*
Working with platinum and palladium is a unique challenge, even for seasoned jewellers. These materials differ significantly from silver and gold, requiring specialised tools and techniques. At our workshop, we use a combination of hand fabrication and casting methods to help you create stunning platinum or palladium bands.
Here’s how the process works: During your workshop, you’ll craft your rings in silver, going through every step—shaping, forming, and finishing. Afterwards, we’ll cast your silver rings into platinum or palladium. The images below showcase examples of silver rings made during a workshop alongside their platinum counterparts, which have a darker hue.
14ct Gold*
Creating 14ct gold rings involves a similar casting process, as only a limited selection of 14ct gold wire is available in the UK. During your workshop, you’ll design and shape your rings in silver, and we’ll cast them in 14ct gold afterwards, ensuring a beautiful and high-quality finish.
By combining hands-on craftsmanship with expert casting, we ensure your rings are both personal and perfectly polished, ready to shine on your special day.
*Important Note: If you choose to apply a textured finish to your silver rings, keep in mind that the texture will appear slightly more subtle in the final platinum or palladium versions due to the casting process.
Additional fees apply for casting and finishing, as well as for the materials needed to complete your rings. We’ll provide a detailed cost estimate once we know more about your design preferences. The casting process also requires extra time, so please allow at least 12 weeks between your workshop and your wedding day. If you’d like to add engraving, we recommend planning for an even longer timeline.
Choosing Your Ring’s Shape
D Shape
The D shape is the most classic wedding band design. It features a curved exterior and a flat interior, offering timeless elegance. This style is available in silver, 9ct, and 18ct gold, with widths ranging from 1.5mm to 6mm. The depth is standardised at approximately 2mm at its thickest point and cannot be adjusted.
Flat Shape
This shape is defined by straight sides with a flat exterior and interior, creating a modern and minimalist look. It’s available in silver, 9ct, and 18ct gold, with widths ranging from 1.5mm to 8mm. Typically, the starting depth is 2mm, but the band can be made thinner during your workshop if desired.
Oval (Court) Shape
The oval or court shape is rounded on both the interior and exterior, offering a softer and more comfortable fit. This style is only available in 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm widths, with a depth of around 2mm at the centre. For a similar style, you can modify a D shape or flat band during your workshop to resemble the court shape.
Round Shape
Also known as a halo band, the round shape is crafted from a piece of round wire. It works best for smaller rings with widths of 3mm or less, as wider sizes may feel too bulky and uncomfortable between the fingers.
Choosing Your Ring’s Width
Ring Width Options
Flat Wedding Band Widths
Width Options
The width determines how wide your band will be. Available sizes include:
D Shape: 1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm
Flat Shape: 1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm
Oval (Court) Shape: 3mm, 4mm, 5mm
The depth is typically around 2mm at its thickest point and cannot be altered, except for flat-shaped rings, which can be thinned during the workshop.
Determining Your Ring’s Size
A simple way to measure your ring size at home
Cut a strip of paper to the same width as the ring you plan to make (e.g., 3mm).
Wrap the paper around your ring finger until it fits comfortably.
Use a pen to mark where the paper overlaps.
Lay the paper flat and measure the distance from the start to the mark in millimeters (mm).
Send us the measurement in mm when booking
Engraving Options
Pair of silver rings with initials engraved "K" and "D" on a white surface.
Two gold rings, one simple and one with floral engravings, on a light background.
Two silver rings, one plain and one with a floral design, placed on a white surface.
Stack of three rose gold rings on a white surface
Gold ring with engraved wave pattern on a white surface.
Close-up of a textured silver ring on a white surface
Two gold rings, one smooth and one with textured edges, on a gray background.
Traditional Hand Engraving
Hand engraving is a time-honoured technique performed by skilled artisans. This traditional style adds a bespoke, personal touch to your rings.
Best suited for:
Custom patterns and intricate designs
Our signature star or floral-inspired motifs
Classic script and numerals
Timeframe:
Please allow at least 8 weeks between your workshop date and when you need your rings.
Pricing:
Hand engraving starts at £80 per ring for inscriptions such as words or numbers. Custom patterns and bespoke designs incur additional costs.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving offers a precise, modern alternative and can even be completed alongside hallmarking.
Best suited for:
Initials
Dates
Words and meaningful inscriptions
Fingerprint engraving
Timeframe:
Your rings will typically be ready approximately 4 weeks after your workshop date.
Pricing:
Laser engraving starts at £35 per ring.
Textures, Finishes & Shaping
Textures & Surface Finishes
From these basic ring shapes, you can create a variety of styles, from sleek and polished to uniquely textured designs. Choose from polished, brushed, hammered, sculpted, or hand-textured finishes. During your workshop, you’ll have the chance to experiment with test metal and practice rings before applying your chosen finish to your wedding bands.
Shaped Bands to Fit Around Engagement Rings
If you need a wedding band to complement the shape of your engagement ring, we can help you create a custom band that flows seamlessly around the setting. You’ll practice shaping in copper before working on your actual ring. For shaped bands, it’s best to choose a width of 3mm or less for more intricate curves or dips. The maximum width for shaped rings is 4mm.
Additional design options include:
Twisted Bands: Start with a flat shape to create a twist.
Sculpted Bands: Shape and file the band to include dips or forms, allowing the wedding band to sit closer to the engagement ring.
Explore the possibilities with shaped bands by browsing the included images for inspiration and ideas.
Timeframes
Hallmarking & Laser Engraving: Allow 4–6 weeks after your workshop.
Hand Engraving: Typically takes six weeks or more to complete.
Tight Schedule?
If your wedding date is fast approaching, let us know in advance. You can take your finished rings home on the same day as your workshop without hallmarking.
Budget
Each workshop is tailored to your unique needs, so pricing will vary based on the materials you choose, the design, shape, width, and ring size.
The total cost for your workshop includes:
Workshop experience: £550
Materials: Based on your selection (see below)
Extras: Optional add-ons like engraving or postage
Below is a general guide to help you estimate material costs:
Material Costs
Silver:
£20 per ring
9ct Gold:
2mm wide: starting from £160
3mm wide: starting from £210
4mm wide: starting from £260
5mm wide: starting from £290
6mm wide: starting from £380
18ct Gold:
2mm wide: starting from £310
3mm wide: starting from £400
4mm wide: starting from £560
5mm wide: starting from £650
6mm wide: starting from £850
Optional Extras
Engraving: See Engraving section for details.
Postage: Special delivery of finished rings: £8.50
Ready to make your perfect custom ring?
Be part of something truly special. Create rings filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Book your Wedding Ring Workshop today and take the first step in crafting the story of a lifetime.