Frequently Asked Questions

Every piece is priced to the design, so there's no single answer, but we work to a wide range of budgets and will always be transparent about what's achievable with yours. Tell us your budget and we'll show you what's possible, with no pressure.

A custom ring means she gets exactly what suits her, nothing mass-produced, nothing compromised. It often costs the same or less than retail, with a piece that's entirely unique to your story. Read more

Our entire process is built to remove that risk, from collaborative design to a life-size model you approve before anything is cast. In seven years we've never had a "no." Read more

Lab-grown and mined diamonds are chemically and visually identical, the only real difference is origin and price. Lab-grown diamonds cost significantly less for the same size and quality, while mined diamonds carry the appeal of being naturally formed. Both are real diamonds. Read the full comparison here

A diamond's value comes down to Cut, Carat, Colour, and Clarity and, just as importantly, Cost (number 5). Cut has the biggest impact on sparkle, which is why we guide every client on balancing all five for the best stone within their budget. Read more

The main choices are yellow, white, and rose gold (in 14k or 18k) and platinum. It comes down to skin tone, lifestyle, and the look you love. Platinum and 18k are more durable for everyday wear, while 9k is more affordable. Read more

You can borrow a ring she already wears and have us measure it, trace its inner circle, or quietly ask a close friend or family member. We're happy to guide you through the most discreet way to get it right. Read more

1. Kindly send an email to hello@ringartisan.com or WhatsApp +27 66 244 6846 with an idea or inspiration image.
2. We will then ask all the necessary questions and make any professional opinions on your bespoke fine jewellery piece.
3. Once both parties are comfortable that the design is in line with the client's needs quotations with different options will be discussed with you. 
4. After you’ve accepted the quotation you would like to continue with, a formal quotation will follow. 

Note: 70% of the Formal Quotation is payable. Approximately 2-3 weeks later you will receive a CAD Design of your luxurious piece. (The CAD design is a visual representation of what your ring will look like once completed) Once the CAD Design has been approved by you, the manufacturing process will start. 

Once the manufacturing is complete, we will send you a photo/video of your bespoke jewellery piece. The last 30% of your quote is payable before you can collect your item or we can courier (insured) your item to you.

The complete process from start to finish usually takes 6-12weeks, depending design iterations. If you'd like your ring before the minimum timeline, please discuss it with us. This may incur a rush order.

Yes, this includes an hour discussion with our designer, trying on different rings and metals, as well as looking at the different stone options. 

The consultation fee is R400.00. This fee is credited to your account once your order has been placed. 

Kindly note: Currently only available at our Stellenbosch studio. We also cater for virtual consultations.

All visits are by appointment only, please WhatsApp us to arrange an appointment or book online here.

Yes. We work with clients across South Africa and worldwide through virtual consultations over video call. The process is exactly the same collaborative, personal, and guided from first sketch to final delivery, with your piece couriered to you fully insured. Book here.

Custom manufacturing usually takes 6–12 weeks, depending on the number of design iterations. A rush order can shorten this for an additional fee, just ask us. For Ring Artisan pieces already available on our website or in studio, allow 2–6 weeks.

Yes, and it's more common than you'd think. Many women want a ring that reflects where they are now, not just where they started. We can redesign your existing ring, reset your current stone, or design something entirely new. Your original ring's story stays with you.

Absolutely. A push present, a first anniversary piece, a significant birthday: these are some of our favourite commissions. Whether it's a redesign of an existing piece or something entirely new, we'll help you mark the moment. WhatsApp us to start. This costs nothing and quietly signals to a whole audience that they're welcome.

At Ring Artisan, customisation is our specialty. Please read our blog post: Her Dream Ring, Without the Stress with Ring Artisan. For further inquiries regarding personalised orders, please reach out to us with your ideas at 066 244 6846 or email at hello@ringartisan.com

Ring Artisan is pleased to offer jewellery remodeling services for your existing pieces. We take pride in rejuvenating old jewellery to give it a new lease of life. To initiate the process, please share photos of your current jewellery items along with any design inspirations for your envisioned pieces. Subsequently, we can provide you with an estimated quotation.
Please note that we are unable to reset any moissanites that were not originally supplied by RA.

At Ring Artisan, we acknowledge the sentimental attachment you may have to your gold possessions, which is why we offer a trade-in value for your gold. Regrettably, we are unable to utilise your exact existing gold, as it would first need to be refined and then re-alloyed to ensure a quality product.

We offer in-store measurement services for determining your ring size. If you are unable to visit our location, we advise seeking assistance from a reputable jeweller proficient in sizing rings.

Please be aware that we follow UK sizing standards.

It is highly advisable to ascertain your ring size before placing an order. Any resizing required after the purchase will be at the client's cost and may compromise the integrity and longevity of the metal.

1. Payment can be made via PayJustNow on our website.

2. RA offers a three-month interest-free payment plan.

Please be advised: The jewellery item will only be released upon full payment. 

Minor alterations are feasible in the design; nevertheless, additional costs may be incurred based on the extent of modifications.

Opting for a complete redesign subsequent to the initial CAD design submission will result in supplementary charges for a new CAD design.

Our Craftsmanship Guarantee

Every piece that leaves the Ring Artisan studio is made to be worn for a lifetime. We stand behind the quality of our work with a lifetime craftsmanship warranty covering the structural integrity of your jewellery, because a ring that took weeks to design and craft deserves to be protected long after it leaves our hands.

What our lifetime craftsmanship warranty covers
Our warranty covers defects in workmanship, meaning anything that fails as a result of how the piece was made, not how it was worn. This includes:

Claw failure. If a claw breaks or weakens under normal wearing conditions, we will repair or replace it at no charge. Claws are the primary security mechanism for your stone and we take their integrity seriously.

Split or cracked shanks. The band of your ring is engineered to withstand the pressures of daily life. If a shank splits or cracks under normal conditions, this is a manufacturing concern and we will address it.

Pavé and micro-set stone loss. Small stones set in pavé or micro-pavé settings can work loose over time through the natural movement of metal. If a pavé stone is lost under normal wearing conditions, we will replace it.

What normal wear looks like
Normal wear is what happens to a ring lived in every day and it is completely expected. Tiny surface scratches that develop on the metal over months and years. A very gradual softening of sharp edges on the band. A slight dulling of the finish that responds immediately to a professional clean. These are not defects. They are the natural patina of a piece that is loved and worn, and they do not affect the structural integrity of your ring in any way.

If you bring your ring in for its annual inspection and clean, which we offer complimentarily, we can address surface wear, refinish the metal, and tighten any settings showing early movement before they become a concern. A well-maintained ring worn with reasonable care will look exceptional for decades.

What the warranty does not cover, and why
The warranty does not cover damage resulting from harsh wear. Harsh wear is distinct from normal wear, it refers to activities and exposures that subject your jewellery to forces, chemicals, or conditions it was simply not designed to withstand.

Physical impact and abrasion. Gold is a precious metal precisely because it is rare and beautiful, but it is also naturally soft. Gold is malleable by nature. Wearing your ring while lifting weights, doing manual labour, gardening, or any activity involving repeated impact or abrasion will, over time, thin the shank at pressure points, deform the band, loosen settings, and scratch or chip stones. This is not a quality issue, it is physics.

Chlorine and pool water. Chlorine is the single most damaging substance to gold jewellery. It reacts with the alloys used to strengthen gold, causing the metal to weaken and become brittle from the inside out, a process that is invisible causing the metal to weaken and become brittle over time, which is why we recommend always removing your ring before swimming in a pool or sitting in a hot tub.

Salt water and the ocean. Salt water accelerates corrosion of metal and is particularly damaging to fine settings, where the claws securing each stone are very small. A single swim is unlikely to cause immediate visible damage, but repeated exposure compounds over time in ways that are difficult to reverse.

Household chemicals and cleaning products. Bleach, ammonia-based cleaners, and harsh soaps degrade both metal and stone surfaces. Remove your jewellery before cleaning, washing dishes, or using any chemical product at home.

Sleeping in your jewellery. The pressure and unconscious movement that occurs during sleep, repeated every night, gradually pushes the shank out of round, stresses settings, and causes the kind of slow structural fatigue that isn't visible until it becomes a problem. Take your ring off before bed.

Beauty and skincare products. Perfume, hand cream, sunscreen, and hairspray leave residue that builds up in settings, dulls stones, and in some cases contains ingredients that react with certain metals and gemstones. The rule is simple: jewellery goes on last when getting ready, and comes off first when removing products.

How the difference plays out over time
A ring worn with reasonable care: removed for gym, gardening, cleaning, and swimming, stored in its box when not worn, and brought in annually for a professional inspection, can look as beautiful in thirty years as it does on the day it is collected. Surface scratches polish out. Settings stay tight. The metal retains its integrity.

The same ring worn through every activity without removal will show measurable structural wear within two to three years. This is not a reflection of how the ring was made. It is simply the result of exposing a precious, finite material to repeated stress beyond its design tolerance.

Maintaining your warranty
To keep your craftsmanship warranty active, bring your piece to the studio once a year for a complimentary inspection and clean. We check every claw, assess the shank for wear, clean the stone, and refinish the metal. It takes less than a week and keeps your ring in the condition it deserves to be in.

Warranty cover is forfeited if the piece is taken to another jeweller for repair or alteration. This exists because work performed using different techniques, alloys, or tools can compromise the structural integrity of the original piece in ways we cannot assess or guarantee.

To make a warranty claim
WhatsApp us at +27 66 244 6846 or email hello@ringartisan.com with a photo of the piece and a brief description of what you have noticed. We will advise on next steps and arrange for the piece to come in for assessment.

You will immediately forfeit your warranty with RA.

Do not hesitate to send us an email to hello@ringartisan.com

Once your order has been placed please allow us 10-15 business days for all orders placed directly from our website (not applicable for custom made jewellery items) 

If we have the item in stock, the shipping will take 3-5 business days. 

We do not ship after Thursdays as we feel it is too risky for the parcel to be stored in a warehouse over the weekend.

Yes, coverage extends up to a specified limit. Any amount exceeding our coverage threshold will necessitate the customer to procure additional insurance for the surplus amount.

If your ring needs resizing, we advise that you book your ring in at our Stellenbosch studio. We will be able to assist you to measure the correct ring size.

Kindly contact 066 244 6846 to arrange an insured courier for collection if you are not able to visit our Stellenbosch studio.

Resizing starts from R500.00, with a lead time of 10 working days. 

Ring Artisan ships worldwide.

We recommend a professional deep clean once a year, or every six months if you wear your piece daily. The rest (refrain from swimming, gym, gardening, sleeping in jewellery) is fine.

With a bit of dishwash liquid and a soft bristle toothbrush gentle brush your ring to get any build up off the stone or metal.

Do not use any chlorine based products as this could cause harm to your stone as well as your metal.