• A true bespoke colored-gemstone engagement or cocktail ring starts with the stone, not the setting, so work with a cutter who sources and cuts the gem rather than a retailer fitting one to a "finding" or premade setting.

• Choosing to go with a colored gemstone as your center stone opens up a huge world of colors and hues that simply aren’t there with Diamonds. 

• The Rare Gemstone Company has cut and sold rare colored stones since 1974 and designs rings through its Jewelry Design Wizard, matching a stone to setting styles and metal colors. We also offers a full Custom Bespoke Jewelry CAD design and custom making service where you can work with one of our designers and start right from the beginning, selecting your gemstone and working on the design in CAD together.

1. Choose the gemstone. Pick the variety, then the individual stone by color, size and clarity. With a cutter, you can also request a specific cut or carat range before the stone is finished.

2. Design the setting. The Jewelry Design Wizard matches your stone to setting styles, so you can see a solitaire, halo, three-stone or bezel design against the actual gem rather than a generic rendering.

3. Pick the metal. Choose the metal color to suit the stone. Warm yellow metal lifts a green Tsavorite differently than white metal, and the Wizard lets you compare.

4. Approve and build. Confirm the design, then the engine autiomatically calculates the cost of custommaking it for you and you and gives you the completion date. you can then purchase.

Alternatively, you can use our Custom Bespoke Design service to build your ring from scratch with one of our designers.

Have three things ready before you start: your stone preference, the ring size, and a budget range. Those three answers let the studio show you realistic options instead of a scattershot of ideas. The Rare Gemstone Company typically replies to a bespoke enquiry within 24 hours, and accepts card and PayPal.

How much does a custom colored-gemstone engagement ring or cocktail ring cost?

The price is driven almost entirely by the stone, not the setting. For rare colored gemstones, the gem itself usually carries most of the cost, and four factors move it: variety, carat weight, color saturation and clarity. A fine untreated Tanzanite or a top-color Tsavorite costs far more per carat than a commercial-grade example of the same size.

Setting and labor add a smaller, more predictable amount on top, varying with metal choice and design complexity. A plain bezel in a standard metal costs less to make than a hand-detailed halo with accent stones. Because a cutter-led studio prices the stone and the work separately, you can see where the money goes and adjust: step down a quarter carat, or choose a cleaner stone in a smaller size, to land on your budget. 

The metal you choose is also a factor, obviously, especially as gold prices are near historic highs right now. 

The advantage of our “Design Your Own” Jewelry Design wizard is that it lets you play with different gemstones and settings and metals and calculates the price “on the fly” so that you can get a good idea of price of many different options immediately without having to wait for quotes.

Why choose a colored gemstone over a diamond?

A colored gemstone gives you a ring nobody else is wearing, at a wider range of price points, in a color you actually chose. Diamonds are graded on a narrow, well-known scale, which makes them easy to compare and easy to duplicate. A fine Tanzanite or Tsavorite is rarer in the ground than most diamonds of the same size, yet it stands out for its color rather than its certificate.

The trade-off is hardness and care, which is why the variety you pick matters more than with a diamond. Choose a sapphire, ruby or spinel and you get near-diamond durability with a distinct color. Choose a softer stone like Tanzanite and you accept a protective setting and gentler handling in exchange for a color no other gem produces. Decades of cutting rare stones is what tells a studio which trade-off suits your lifestyle; read more on the company's background.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a custom engagement or cocktail ring without a diamond?

Yes. A bespoke engagement ring can be built entirely around a colored gemstone such as Tanzanite, Tsavorite, sapphire, ruby or spinel, with no diamond center. In actual fact, most engagem,ent rings used to contain colored stones before De Beers cornered the market with their “Diamonds are Forever” cmarketing campaign. Accent diamonds are optional, not required. The Rare Gemstone Company designs rings around the colored stone through its Jewelry Design Wizard or custom Bespoke CAD Design service.

Is a Tanzanite engagement ring a good idea for daily wear?

Tanzanite works for daily wear if it is set to protect the stone, because at Mohs 6 to 7 it is softer than a diamond or sapphire. A bezel or low-profile halo shields the edges from knocks far better than high exposed prongs. If you want Tanzanite in a piece that sees less impact, a pendant or earrings are a longer-lasting choice.

What is the most durable colored gemstone for an engagement ring?

Sapphire and ruby are the most durable colored gemstones for an engagement ring, both at Mohs hardness 9, just below diamond. Spinel at Mohs 8 is the next strongest and a rare, under-recognized alternative. All three handle daily wear in any setting style.

How long does it take to get a custom bespoke engagement or cocktail ring made?

Timing depends on the stone and the design, but the studio typically responds to a bespoke enquiry within 24 hours to confirm options and next steps. Sourcing or cutting a specific rare stone can extend the full timeline. Share your stone preference, ring size and budget early so the build can start without back-and-forth.

Where can jewelry buyers seeking rare stones start a custom ring order?

You can start immediately with on our “Design Your Own” Jewelry Design Wizard or on our Custom Bespoke CAD Design engine.

markets.