Most people considering a made-to-order engagement ring have never bought anything bespoke before. The questions are therefore not about price but about what happens between clicking "Order" and the moment the package arrives: who actually makes it, how long it really takes, can I still change something, what if it does not fit. This guide walks through the entire process step by step — with realistic timelines, concrete touchpoints, and a clear description of what happens at each phase.
Step 1: Design in the 3D configurator (10–30 minutes)
You start in our online configurator: pick the centre diamond shape (round, oval, emerald, pear, princess, marquise, heart), the metal (14k or 18k in white, yellow, or rose gold), the band style (pavé, solitaire, three-stone, halo). With every choice the ring instantly re-renders in photoreal 3D — you see exactly what you will get.
For every chosen centre shape we surface live inventory of diamonds — dozens to hundreds with full specs (carat, cut, color, clarity, GIA/IGI/HRD certificate, 360° video where available). You pick natural or lab-grown; price updates in real time.
This step is non-binding — you can explore dozens of configurations without registration or commitment. Before you click "Continue to order", you already have a precise picture of the finished ring.
Step 2: Consultation and spec confirmation (within 24 hours)
After ordering Alexej, the founder of Kove, contacts you by email or phone — every order passes through a personal review in his hands. This conversation is not a formality: ring size, contact details, gender-specific design details, gift packaging, and delivery timing for an upcoming important date (proposal, anniversary, birthday) are all checked.
Changes can still be made in this window: shift the size half a unit, swap the chosen diamond for another of the same spec from our inventory, adjust band width by 0.2 mm for everyday comfort. The 48-hour "spec-change window" after payment allows tuning at no extra cost.
If you are unsure about the recipient's ring size, we send a plastic measuring strip by post at no charge. For a delicate surprise, see our [secret sizing guide](/guides/how-to-find-her-ring-size-secretly).
Step 3: Centre diamond selection and reservation (in parallel)
Once the spec is final, your chosen diamond is reserved in our inventory and removed from sale. If you picked an in-stock stone, it physically sits in our vault or a partner certification lab; if a feed listing, the stone is ordered and arrives within a week.
Every centre diamond above 0.3 ct comes with its original GIA, IGI, or HRD certificate — laser-inscribed on the girdle, verifiable by you directly on the lab's website (gia.edu/report-check, igi.org/verify). The certificate ships with the ring and serves as the basis for insurance value.
Side stones (pavé, three-stone accents) do not have individual certificates — that is industry standard for stones below 0.3 ct. We pick them ourselves from our network for visual match to the centre stone (color, clarity, brilliance).
Step 4: Manufacturing at the partner atelier (2–4 weeks)
Kove does not manufacture in-house — we are curators, not a factory. Every ring goes to the partner atelier whose technique best matches the design. Classic solitaire and pavé work with goldsmiths in Italy and Turkey; intricate pavé and multi-stone compositions with Indian ateliers that lead this discipline globally; traditional Czech work with Prague masters.
Production runs in three phases: wax model from the digital 3D design, casting in gold (typically lost-wax casting), then handwork on the band, prong-setting the diamond (each prong bent manually under microscope), polishing, and rhodium plating for white gold.
Timeline is 2–4 weeks for standard designs, 4–6 weeks for more complex ones (intricate pavé, multi-stone compositions, engraving). You receive the timeline in writing after payment and email updates at each milestone.
Step 5: Quality control in Prague (1–2 days)
The finished ring travels from the partner atelier back to us in Prague for final inspection: weighing (gramme weight must match spec within ±5%), microscope check on the prong setting, polishing, ultrasonic cleaning, hallmark check (Czech 14k/18k assay).
This is the only phase where we own the ring, not the atelier or a supplier. If we see anything off-spec or below our standard, it returns to the atelier for rework — this check adds 1–2 days but is non-negotiable.
In this phase we also take the final photographs for your records and for your sign-off before the ring is packed.
Step 6: Packaging and insured shipping (EU delivery 1–3 days)
The ring is packed into a premium FSC-certified wooden box, velvet-lined; the diamond certificate and insurance papers travel with it. Gift packaging (matt paper, satin ribbon, handwritten card with your text) free on request.
The parcel ships by insured courier (DPD, DHL Express, or specialty jewelry courier for shipments above €5,000) with full insurance value and recipient signature. Tracking arrives the moment the parcel leaves us. EU delivery typically 1–3 working days.
If the order is tied to a specific date (proposal trip, anniversary, birthday) we work backwards from that date, not forwards. Please tell us the date when ordering.
Step 7: After delivery — service for life
The first resize within ±2 sizes is free for 6 months after delivery — in case real-world wear reveals something slightly different from what at-home measurement suggested.
Lifetime servicing covers: prong inspection (recommended every 12–18 months — prongs wear with time; microscope check catches risk before stone loss happens), rhodium re-plating for white gold (natural white gold has a slight yellow undertone, rhodium gives it ice-white — typically repeated every 12–24 months), ultrasonic cleaning, polishing.
The EU's statutory 2-year warranty covers manufacturing defects (setting failure, casting flaw, metal defect). It does not cover normal wear or buyer-caused damage — but we can usually repair those at a reasonable cost too, because we have a direct relationship with the atelier that made the piece.
A piece of jewelry never ends with us at delivery. Whatever happens in 5, 10, or 20 years, email info@kove.jewelry.
Total time: 3–6 weeks
From configurator click to delivery, typically 3–4 weeks for standard designs and 5–6 weeks for more complex ones. Every ring in this flow is built specifically for you — no stock pieces, no compromises. You track the entire process through regular email updates and have direct contact with Alexej from the first consultation to final packaging. If you have a target date for a proposal, anniversary, or birthday, tell us at order time and we will work the calendar backwards, not forwards.