Our first consultation with a couple took 90 minutes and ended with no quote. They walked in knowing they wanted "an engagement ring, something not too big," and nothing else. No finger size, no budget, no reference photos, no sense of which metal. We spent the whole meeting explaining options instead of narrowing them. That meeting taught us what we now ask clients to bring before they sit down, and it cuts the next appointment in half.
The four things that shorten a consultation
A finger size reference. Borrow a ring the wearer actually wears on that finger and bring it. We measure on the mandrel for free, but a ring in hand removes the awkward "what size are you?" moment that many couples avoid. If you only know one ring size from a different finger, bring it-we can adjust from there.
Two or three reference photos. Screenshots from Instagram, a saved Pinterest board, or even a photo of a friend's ring. They do not have to be the final design. They tell us whether the wearer leans toward solitaires, halos, vintage milgrain, or clean modern lines. We would rather see ten rough ideas than one polished "I know it when I see it."
A rough budget range, not a number. "Between $3,000 and $5,000" lets us show stones and settings that actually fit. "I have no idea" forces us to guess, and we will either overshoot wildly or show pieces that feel cheap. The IGI grading context we use for lab-grown and natural stones is a useful anchor, but the budget range is what turns a tour into a quote.
Any heirloom you are considering using. If a grandmother's diamond, a mother's wedding band, or a loose stone from a broken piece is in play, bring it. We inspect it on the spot and can tell you whether it resets cleanly, needs a re-cut, or belongs in a pendant instead of a ring. For the full journey after the sitting, see consultation to delivery timeline.
What you do not need to bring
You do not need to know your ring size to the half size. You do not need to decide between 14k and 18k before you arrive. You do not need CAD drawings, measurements of your hand, or a typed brief. Those are exactly what we produce in the meeting. What we cannot produce, and what you should bring, is the emotional side: the story the ring is meant to tell, the metal the wearer already reaches for every morning, and the lifestyle constraints (a job with a gym, a job with gardening, a job with frequent hand-washing).
How we run the sitting
A focused consultation is 20-30 minutes. We start by looking at the reference photos and the finger size, then pull 3-4 settings in the right metal. We put them on the correct finger (we carry half-size mandrels) so the wearer sees proportion, not just a drawing. We then quote two directions in writing within 48 hours. If you are commissioning remotely, the same meeting happens over video-see designing by video. And if you are still deciding on timing, our note on realistic lead times sets the calendar before the conversation starts.
What we do with what you bring
The reference photos get pinned to a mood board the designer keeps for the commission. The finger-size ring gets measured, photographed and returned at the end of the sitting. The heirloom gets logged, inspected and stored in our safe until the CAD is approved. By the time the meeting ends, the client leaves with a one-page summary of the agreed direction, not a pocket full of notes. That summary is what the written quote within 48 hours is built from, so nothing discussed on the day gets lost.
FAQ
Do I need to bring the person receiving the ring?
Not for a surprise proposal. We can size from an existing ring and choose the setting from photos. If the recipient is willing, a joint sitting is faster and avoids a remake.
Is the consultation free?
Yes. The first 20-30 minute sitting is no-obligation, and the written quote that follows is also free. A deposit is only taken when you approve the CAD.
Can I bring in jewelry I already own to trade against?
Yes. We test the metal, weigh it, and offer a credit toward the new commission. The credit is based on scrap value, not retail, so expectations are set on the spot.
What if I have no reference photos at all?
We pull a tray of 8-10 settings across styles and let the wearer try them on. The act of putting rings on usually narrows the taste faster than any description.
Ready to design a piece that actually fits? Book a 20-minute sitting with our design lead. Bring a ring for sizing, two screenshots, and a budget range. We will sketch two directions and send a written quote within 48 hours. Trade retail partners: our consultation prep sheet is designed to be handed to customers at your counter, so every brief arrives with the facts we need.
