The short answer
A proper custom engagement ring process runs through five stages: consultation, concept design, stone selection, CAD and casting, and hand-finishing. At Micheli, the whole journey typically takes between six and eight weeks from first consultation to collection, depending on design complexity and stone sourcing.
Step 1: The consultation
This is where budget, style, and story get put on the table. A good designer will ask about the wearer's taste, lifestyle, and any heirloom pieces or reference images you've brought along, not just point you toward what's already in stock.
Step 2: Concept design
From that conversation, the design team sketches concepts and talks you through metal, setting style, and stone shape options. This is the stage to push back, ask questions, and refine, nothing is locked in yet.
Step 3: Stone selection
Once the design direction is set, you choose the centre stone - natural or lab-grown diamond, or a coloured gemstone - with full visibility on the 4Cs and sourcing. Micheli's team lays out real options side by side so you can compare in person rather than guess from a certificate.
Step 4: CAD and casting
The confirmed design is modelled digitally so you can see it from every angle before it's cast in metal. This is the last checkpoint to adjust proportions or detail work.
Step 5: Setting and hand-finishing
The stone is set, the ring is polished and finished by hand, and a final quality check happens before you collect it. Most Micheli clients see their ring for the first time as a finished piece - the reveal is part of the experience.
How long it takes
Straightforward designs with readily available stones tend to land toward the six-week mark. More intricate settings, bespoke stone sourcing, or detailed engraving can extend that closer to eight weeks. Micheli's team will give you a realistic timeline at the consultation stage, especially important if you're working toward a proposal date.
