Getty
For many, the thought of going into a shop to spend more money than they've ever spent on one piece of jewellery before, is daunting enough. Selecting from rows and rows of seemingly similar (yet vastly different) sparkling stones can be overwhelming.
But suggest that a prospective groom doesn't even choose from anything in front of him, but instead dreams up his own design - as Prince Harry did - and it can quite frankly be enough to push him over the edge. Even if the bride offers her assistance (more and more couples are now opting to choose a ring together), it can still seem an impossible task, no matter how clear an idea you might have of what you want.
So where to start? When choosing to design an entirely unique ring, it's important to find a talented expert who does the right amount of hand-holding, while still inspiring you to design an ambitiously individual piece of jewellery. We spoke to some of Bazaar's favourite bespoke jewellers to get your creative juices flowing...
3. Mappin & Webb
White gold and diamond ring, Mappin & Webb
If you feel like starting completely from scratch is a step too far, Mappin & Webb’s “By Appointment” service offers a simple, straightforward design system to create a made-to-measure engagement ring.
Customers can choose from seven signature ring settings and select their preferred type of gold and stone, before refining the size, cut and colour of diamond. You can go into a store to create your design, or play jewellery designer from the comfort of your sofa, fiddling with carat and sparkling settings with Mappin & Webb online tools.
Visit mappinandwebb.com.
