Every Friday afternoon we get the same email: "I need a ring in three weeks." Sometimes it is possible. Usually it is not. The honest answer is that a bespoke commission runs eight to twelve weeks from approved sketch to hand delivery, and the weeks where things slip are almost never the weeks clients expect. This is the week-by-week schedule we actually run, and the points where we ask clients to be patient.
Week 1: consultation and stone sourcing
The first sitting is 30 to 45 minutes. We measure the finger, talk about daily wear, and lock a budget range. If the center stone is being sourced to spec rather than chosen from stock, this is the week it leaves. Sourcing a 1.00 ct round brilliant with a specific color and clarity usually takes 7-14 days; we send three options with lab reports within that window. Read more on what to bring in what to bring to a design consultation.
Weeks 2-3: CAD and revisions
Once the stone is on order and the direction is agreed, we build a CAD model. You see two views: top and side, with the finger size and the stone measurements to scale. We allow two free revisions. A revision that moves a stone shape or changes the band width adds about three days. A revision that starts a new layout from scratch adds a week. We cover the CAD step in from hand sketch to CAD, and the wax step in wax carving to casting.
Weeks 4-5: wax and casting
Approved CAD becomes a wax, which we ship to the caster. Casting itself takes 2-3 days once the wax arrives, but the queue at the caster is usually 7-10 days. This is the week clients email us twice. We do not have an update, because the piece is physically on someone else's bench. We send a photo the moment it comes back from casting so the silence ends.
Weeks 6-8: setting, finishing, polish
The caster returns a raw casting. Our bench jeweler files it up, sets the stones, solders any joints, and sends it for polishing and rhodium plating if the metal is white gold. Stone setting is the precision step: prongs are tipped under magnification, and the ring is checked in a tumbler and on a mandrel for roundness. We photograph the piece at this stage and send it for approval before the final polish, because a prong that looks right in a photo can still be tweaked.
Weeks 9-10: final fitting and delivery
The final sitting is short. You try the ring, we check the fit, and we do any last-minute sizing on the spot if the finger measures half a size off. We also stamp the karat, inspect under magnification, and hand you the care card and the invoice. We keep the CAD and the wax on file for a year, so a resize or a matching band later starts from a known model. The broader process is documented in consultation to delivery.
Where the timeline actually slips
Three points account for most delays. First, stone sourcing: a specific cut or clarity can take twice as long as quoted. Second, revisions after casting: a change that is free in CAD costs a recast after casting, which adds two weeks and a fee. Third, finger size uncertainty: a ring sized from a guess rather than a measured finger often needs a resize, which adds a week. We measure fingers in the first sitting for this reason. We also note that holiday weeks in November and December add roughly 30% to every stage, because casters and platers close.
We align our disclosure language with the FTC Jewelry Guides, which means timelines, stone treatment and karat stamps are all written on the invoice, not just said in the room.
FAQ
Can you rush a commission in three weeks?
Sometimes, if the stone is in stock, the design is simple, and we skip a CAD revision round. Rush fees run 25-40% on top. We will tell you honestly in the first sitting if a date is achievable, rather than finding out in week 6.
What if my finger size changes between order and delivery?
Most rings are sized on the day of the final fitting, so a half-size shift is free. A full size up or down after the ring is set costs a small resize fee and adds three to five days.
Do I see the piece before it is finished?
Yes. We send a CAD render before casting, and a photo of the set but unpolished piece before the final finish. That is the last chance to adjust prong height or shoulder shape without a recast.
What happens if the stone arrives later than expected?
We build the setting to the stone's measured dimensions, so the casting and finishing can run in parallel with the stone sourcing. The ring is held at the setting bench until the stone lands, which usually keeps the overall schedule intact.
Working backward from a date? Tell us the date at the first sitting. We will draw the schedule backward, flag the risk points, and tell you whether to order off-the-shelf instead. We quote both paths in writing. Trade retail partners: our client-timeline template lets your sales team set the same expectations we set, without promising dates we cannot keep.
