How to Design the Perfect Custom Wedding Band

How to Design the Perfect Custom Wedding Band

Go for it!  You deserve a ring that is unique to you! 

Pictured is Two Kings Unite - Minter + Richter Designs Brides Magazine Shot

A great way to start designing your custom wedding bands is to simply look through our website while keeping the below questions in mind.  In the end, the below missing info is what we would need in order to make you a custom invoice or give you a quote.  You can even copy and paste the below form to us in an email at sales@minterandrichterdesigns.com and you will be on your way to designing your custom wedding band! As you flip through the pages of our website, make a note of what inlay materials catch your eye or speak to you.  Keep in mind that any inlay material you see on the entire site can be swapped out for any of the inlays you see on any other ring.  So, you can mix and match styles, formats, and inlay materials all you like.  In other words, if you really like the layout of this ring, but wish any or all of the inlays were made out of any other material, we can do that.

Ring A - ____________________________ (name or description of ring – or name of ring on website you are basing your design upon)

apx. size - __________ (we would base your sizers around this size.  Custom Sizers are highly recommended, see below in signature for info.)

width - __________ mm

Finish on metal - _______________________ (satin?  Sandblasted?  Mirror?)

Shape of edges - __________________________ (rounded?  Flat?  Pinstriped?)

Any interior anodizing?  If so, what color? - ___________________ (blue, green, bronze, sunset, pink, purple)

engraving phrase - _____________________________________________ (if desired)

 

Ring B - _________________________________ (description of ring – or NAME OF RING on our website you are basing your design upon)

apx. size – _____________ (we would base your sizers around this size.  Custom Sizers are highly recommended, see below in signature for info.)

width – _____________mm

Finish on metal - _______________________ (satin?  Sandblasted?  Mirror?)

Shape of edges - __________________________ (rounded?  Flat?  Pinstriped?)

Any interior anodizing?  If so, what color? - ___________________ (blue, green, bronze, sunset, pink, purple)

engraving phrase - __________________________________________ (if desired)

Instagram Handle - ______________________ (Do you want to get tagged with a pic of the ring while we are making it?)

Wedding hashtag - ___________________________

wedding date - _________________________

latest must have by date - __________________

Do you want a Lifetime Care Option?  If so, which level? _________________ (STANDARD Level, PREMIUM Level – see below in signature for info.)

Full STREET shipping address - ______________________________________________

 

Choose either STANDARD or PREMIUM LEVEL of Lifetime Care Options: PURCHASE ONCE AND YOUR RING IS COVERED FOR LIFE!

 

PREMIUM LIFETIME CARE ($275) - WE WILL MAKE YOU A NEW ONE FOR FREE IF YOU LOSE IT!!!

Covers all damage on your custom wedding band for life

Covers a onetime free re-make of your custom wedding band should you ever lose your ring.

Not available for Meteorite INLAY Rings.  Premium is available for rings with crushed meteorite.

Unless waived for special circumstances, must be purchased as part of the original transaction.

Includes return shipping of your custom wedding band

 

STANDARD LEVEL OF LIFETIME CARE ($200)

Covers all damage for life

Does not cover loss of ring

Includes return shipping of your custom wedding band

 

FAQs

 

Q: How do I get sized for my custom wedding band?

 

A: WE STRONGLY SUGGEST PURCHASING MINTER & RICHTER CUSTOM SIZERS to guarantee you get the absolute perfect fit for your custom wedding band. The industry-wide standard for ring size carries many variables (different measuring tools, ring widths, ring materials and design). Factory-made bands are sized LESS accurately than our custom wedding bands. Therefore, getting sized at a factory jewelry store does not guarantee that the size will be correct. We offer Sizing Exchanges for life for half price. But getting Custom Sizers ensures that you will not need a sizing exchange. A sizing exchange is 50% the cost of the original if you were not sized on our custom sizers.

 

  1. Minter & Richter Custom Aluminum Sizers ($45 for a set of 3 sizers): If you have a general idea of what your ring size might be, we can make you a set of custom aluminum sizers (plain aluminum bands) in three different sizes at your preferred width. This allows you to spend time wearing each sizer for a day or two and finding out which one offers the most comfortable fit. Finger size can fluctuate slightly throughout the day due to water intake, temperature, etc. so this is an excellent way to get an accurate representation of exactly how your final ring will fit. We request that customers purchase their final ring(s) at the same time as the sizers. We will ship you the sizers along with a SASE for convenient return (domestic only – international must pay for return shipping). Once you confirm your ring size we begin making your custom wedding band!

(**Please note that sizers can add approximately 2 weeks to order processing.)

 

If you have come this far, it is clear you have decided to turn away from the same old-same old boring wedding rings you see on so many fingers as you walk down the street.  Your love is unique, so you need a unique wedding ring or custom wedding band to symbolize that love.  At Minter & Richter Designs, when we say “custom”, we truly mean it!  Not only can your wedding ring be completely of your design, it can even hold within it material that is personal to you and you only.  Our nature-inspired wedding rings are a great example of that.  That is truly a custom wedding band.

Following are the top five things we think you should consider when designing your own custom wedding band with Minter & Richter Designs.

Rings in a Box

CHOOSE YOUR METAL

No matter what you hear from those factory jewelry stores, here at Minter & Richter Designs we will tell you the truth.  The two best base metals for Custom Inlaid Wedding Rings are Inox Steel and Titanium.  Both are just as hard and durable as each other.  Neither will shatter like Tungsten Carbide.  Neither will deform like gold and silver and platinum.  That is what makes them perfect for long-term durability.  Their differences are to be found in their color and weight.  


Titanium has warm gray undertones, easily recognized in Minter & Richter Designs rings like Sleek & Simple and is extremely lightweight.  Inox Steel is slightly heavier (though nowhere near as uncomfortably heavy as a gold ring) and has the bright white color of platinum or white gold as you can easily see on rings like Beluga.

Titanium Wedding Ring Set

 

Inox Steel Blue Box Elder Wedding Ring

CONSIDER WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR HANDS ALL-DAY

What you do all day in your life and work might affect your choice of inlay material.  It is important to take a little time to think about what you do with your hands all day every day.  If you are a person who digs through gravel all day, swims to the bottom of the sea and back, or even hangs out in a hot tub for hours on end, you may want to consider choosing materials like stone or mokume gane or resin that are all naturally resistant to moisture and scratches than, for example, wood or antler.  Still, if you really love wood, you may want to think about whether you will wear a silicone ring or not for those times when you know you are going to be hard on your hands.  Minter & Richter Designs woods are all stabilized under 65,000 pounds of pressure and impregnated with acrylics, but on planet Earth stone is still less permeable than wood and that’s just facts.  Titanium Wedding Bands are as durable as wedding rings can get, so it is the perfect metal for a custom wedding band.

Stone Wedding Rings
Body of Heaven - Stone Wedding Rings

What you do all day might affect your choice for WIDTH.  It is easy to get caught up in all the wonderful colors and materials on our website, but you may want to think about how much width will work for your lifestyle before you order a 12mm ring with 5 wide inlays, which is gorgeous to behold but isn’t practical for everyone.

Wedding Ring Set with 5 Inlays
Bright Lion Wedding Rings with 5 Inlays

Do you ride a bicycle or motorcycle constantly?  Is your hand always in a grip formation to the point where that extra width will annoy you?  Are you a pianist or a guitarist?  Lots of musicians discover that they prefer a narrower band so as not to impede their playing.  Are you a policeman or an armed robber?  People who find they need to draw their gun quickly often take that into consideration when choosing a width.  Are you a chef?  People who have their hands in steamy conditions for hours on end often choose a narrower ring so as to avoid moisture build-up beneath the custom wedding band.  While it is true that the wider the custom wedding band is the more you can see, it is also true that narrower bands still provide a lot of pop and color.  3.5mm4.8mm6.4mm , and 7.9mm all provide plenty of space to see your ring in all its glory.

 3.5mm wide Wedding Ring 

3.5mm

4.8mm wide wedding ring 
4.8mm
 6.4mm wide wedding ring 6.4mm
7.9mm wide wedding ring 
7.9mm

The great news is that Minter & Richter Designs is here to help you choose a width.  Once we know your approximate size and the custom wedding band style you are considering, we will send you Custom Sizers in a variety of widths that will be proportional to your approximate ring size as well as to the ring you are having custom-made for you.  Minter & Richter Designs is the only company in the country that makes its own Custom Sizers.  Factory-made sizers tend to size smaller than accurate and do not accommodate for width or fluctuation.  We do everything custom from beginning to end.  Whether you purchase from Minter & Richter Designs or not, do not trust factory-made sizing systems.  If a company sends you factory-made sizers, that means that they are not hand-making your ring custom for you.  They know that if the size does not work on the ring they send you, they can just pull another from the shelf.  That is not the way we do it here.  We make each ring totally custom for you, so we really do care that it fits perfectly for you the first time.  So, while our Custom Sizers may not be gorgeous, they are super reliable.  And that is the most important thing.

Custom Ring Sizers

CUSTOM SIZERS for your custom wedding band


CHOOSE HOW MANY INLAYS YOU WOULD LIKE

The word “inlay” refers to any material that is in the ring that is not made of your base metal (either Inox Steel or Titanium).  You may want a simple ring with just one inlay, or you may want to up the excitement with two inlaysthree inlaysfour inlays or more!

ONE INLAY One Inlay
Two inlays in a wedding ring 
Two Inlays
 Three inlays in a wedding ring 
Three Inlays

Four Inlays in a wedding ring Four Inlays

 

CHOOSE YOUR INLAY MATERIALS

Now for the fun part!  We have literally thousands of materials you can choose from, but more than that, at Minter & Richter Designs, you have the entire planet and even beyond at your disposal.  Because each custom wedding band is truly custom and truly made from stem to stern by a single master craftsman (rather than a factory full of makers and machines of mass production), there really is no limit to what we can put in your ring.  Whether you like the natural pull of a wooden wedding ring, the deliriously beautiful colors of a stone wedding ring, the outer space awesomeness of meteorite wedding ring, the exciting tones of a copper ring and a bronze ring, the call of the wild from  an Antler wedding ring or Horn, the prehistoric shock of dinosaur bone rings and woolly mammoth tusk ring, or even just the sand from your favorite beach, Minter & Richter Designs can make your ring dreams come true.

CHOOSE YOUR FINISH

The term “finish” refers to the process applied to the metal in your custom wedding band, which creates shine or texture.  There are 4 finishes available for inlaid rings - Mirror FinishSatin FinishSandblasted FinishGlassbead Blasted.

Mirror Finish Mirror Finish
 Satin Finish Wedding Ring 
Satin Finish
 Sandblasted Finish 
Sandblasted Finish
 Glass Bead Blasted Finish Glass Bead Blast Finish

For rings that have more available real estate on the exterior, you can consider stronger finishes like wire wheelhard brushed, or hammered!

Wired Wheeled Finish 
Wire Wheeled Finish
Hammered Finish Ring Hammered Finish

And don’t forget, unlike almost every other titanium ring store in the country, Scott and I are real people, we are not a factory, so we are always here and happy to help you.  It is easy to contact us.  You can call us in our studio at 617-326-6671 with any questions.  If we don’t answer right away, that simply means we are in a Ring Consultation and we will absolutely call you back if you leave your number and email address slowly and clearly.  You can also email us at sales@minterandrichterdesigns.com .  You can also click on BOOK YOUR VIRTUAL SESSION or BOOK IN-PERSON VISIT at the top of this page.  You can even book a Design Session and Shop tour by clicking here!  We would love to help you design a ring that is 100% unique to you just like we did for this beautiful couple below.

Their Rings!

 

Ring Sizing

Q. How do I get sized?

A. The only accurate and guaranteed way to figure out the perfect size and width for your ring is to take part in our Custom Sizer Program.  We will make you a range of three sizes around your approximate size and at your chosen width for you to wear around until you are sure.  Walk in factory jewelry stores do not size accurately as they do not accommodate for width or size fluctuation. Read about our Custom Sizer Program.

Q. What are possible widths?

A. Since numbers are infinite, so are widths.  But our most popular widths are:

1/8” = 3.5mm
3/16” = 4.8mm
7/32” = 5.6mm
¼” = 6.4mm
5/16” = 7.9mm
3/8” = 9.5mm
½” = 11mm


Q. What if my ring doesn't fit?

A. All of our rings come with a lifetime sizing exchange guarantee. So if the ring doesn't fit, or your size changes down the road, we can offer to make a new ring at 50% the cost of the original. The original ring will need to be returned to us in exchange for the new one.

If you got Custom Sizers from us, you can get a free sizing exchange within the first 30 days after purchase. 

Q. How can I surprise my partner with a ring?

A. Here are 6 helpful tips for ring sizing without your partner knowing.

Ring Services

Q. When will I get my ring?





A. For a standard NON rush order, we ship three to four weeks after purchase.  Our fastest service SHOTGUN rush order ships 10-14 business days after purchase.  All we need from you is your wedding date and latest-must-have-by-date and we will meet it.  We have NEVER missed a date and will not start with yours!  Read more about our various shipping options here.

FEDEX DOMESTIC SHIPPING: $25 Ground. OVERNIGHT $35. All packages are sent FEDEX Signature NOT required. If you would like Signature Required, there is an additional $10 charge. Once we send you your tracking number, it is your responsibility to call 1-800-GO-FEDEX and instruct them whether you would like your package left on your porch or if you would like to pick it up at your local FEDEX facility. If your package is stolen off your porch, we are not responsible. We are happy to make you a new ring, but it will be at full cost.

INTERNATIONAL FEDEX SHIPPING: $50. All packages are sent FEDEX Signature NOT required. If you would like Signature Required, there is an additional $10 charge. Once we send you your tracking number, it is your responsibility to call 1-800-GO-FEDEX and instruct them whether you would like your package left on your porch or if you would like to pick it up at your local FEDEX facility. If your package is stolen off your porch, we are not responsible. We are happy to make you a new ring, but it will be at full cost.

Please note that international buyers (outside of the USA) may experience longer shipping times due to customs and may be charged additional fees.  Most countries charge import duties and VAT taxes based on the declared value of the merchandise.  These duties are generally randomly assigned and do not occur that often.   If it does happen, however, all additional charges are the sole responsibility of the buyer and Minter & Richter Designs shall not be obliged to pay for it. 

We ONLY use FedEx for the shipment of our rings. FedEx cannot deliver to a PO Box. Therefore, we can only accept Full Street addresses with your order.

 

Q. Can I get my titanium band engraved?





A. Absolutely!  Engraving is $45 for up to 30 characters.  You can add engraving to any band during the checkout process. Learn more about our engraving services here.

All About Titanium

Q. Will my titanium custom wedding band last?




Titanium bands are jewelry without compromise - strong, impermeable and lightweight, they offer the best of both worlds: beauty and durability. Each of our rings are carefully handcrafted from a single billet of pure titanium and all of our inlays are securely stabilized to preserve their natural durability. With a unique ability to take on a variety of finishes as well as its glorious color and shine, titanium is the perfect material for the perfect custom wedding band!

We have sold our rings to professional chefs, firemen, surfers, and trapeze artists, and have only heard back from them how thrilled they are with their choice and how amazed they are that their ring can withstand their lifestyle. Having said all of this, we back all our rings 100% and will always fix or replace an inlay should it need it. Titanium absolutely can scratch.  The only material on earth that really doesn’t scratch is a diamond, which will shatter instead. If you are particularly concerned about how rough you are on your hands, you may want to be sure to opt for one of our Lifetime Care Options at checkout.

Q. How waterproof are the inlays on my custom wedding band?

A. When we choose an inlay material, we do so with two things in mind: durability and beauty. Many of the woods we use for our wood inlays are ultra stabilized under a patented high pressure process, making them as impermeable to water as humanly possible and incredibly resistant to scratches.  Having said all this, wood is definitely less durable than, say, stone or resin or mokume gane, etc.  If you are particularly concerned about your lifestyle and wood inlays, you may want to be sure to also get our fabulous Band Balm.  If wax can protect your car, it can also protect your ring.  Our most durable inlays are M3, Resin and Stone.

Q. Can titanium custom wedding band be cut if I’m in an accident?

    A. Absolutely. This urban folklore was started by the greedy gold industry to scare you away from buying Titanium. Never in the history of mankind has an EMT or hospital amputated someone’s finger just because they were too lazy or unable to cut off their Titanium ring. Titanium can be easily cut. After all, we do it all day long every day just to make the rings!

    Check out what Snopes has to say about this crazy rumor! 

    Q. What is Anodization?

    A. One of the most magical things about Titanium is that it can be anodized a variety of colors.

    Anodization is the process that produces those fabulous accent colors you see on our bands. By passing electricity through titanium in a conductive bath, a transparent titanium-oxide layer is formed on the band’s surface. The amount of voltage in the bath determines the thickness of the oxide and color produced. Each iridescent color is seen through the refraction of light on the transparent oxide layer. Because the colors are optically created, they may look different depending on the time of day, viewing angle and light source. Anodization is not permanent, and will eventually fade and wear over time. This is why we only anodize on the interior and protected groove of our bands.

    How is my custom wedding band made?

    Learn about all the parts of the ring here.

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