When one thinks of personalized or bespoke accessories, jewelry engraving remains to be on top of the list. Customizing jewelry can take on many forms, but for those who would want to take ready-made pieces to another level, a few jewelry engraving tips can make your jewelry piece even more stunning.
If you are looking for a way to inscribe love verses, initials, or even unique symbols on your rings, here are a few things to remember. You can engrave your own jewelry with these simple tips.
Looking at the Tradition of Jewelry Engraving
This technique in jewelry making has had a long history, one that dates back to the Roman period. While many tools and techniques have been developed since then, the first ways of engraving jewelry have been far less sophisticated and more time-consuming. Thus, it required a lot of patience and honed skill, especially in creating images and engravings on metal plates.
Designing prints and making impressions on metals may be considered as one of the earlier techniques. Specifically, in Egypt BC, some practiced gemstone engraving to create cameos. Important, influential, and wealthy people became the models for cameos. Later on, in 3000 BC, engraved seals overtook the trends, followed by ornaments of carved gemstones.
For the most part of history, when people ask, “What do you engrave on jewelry?” then the most common answer would be jewelry for the wealthy. Now, you can get wedding ring engraving quotes Latin in any piece of jewelry you have.
Engraving Jewelry 101: More Than Hallmarks
Among all the jewelry, rings are a traditional favorite for any engraved jewelry. Since rings are often exchanged and even shared between a couple, the engraving adds a personal touch. Yet did you know that jewelry engraving can also be done for other accessories?
Those who love charms and lockets may have also thought of having their pendants engraved. This is a common practice, especially for gift-giving. Some parents use engraving as a way to capture their children’s early art. Since a pendant’s surface is much bigger than rings, you can get creative with what you can engrave on them.
Don’t be limited to the inner surface, especially for rings. Engravings inside the band may be an excellent way to customize wedding bands. Still, for some semi-fine jewelry and even fashion jewelry, you may want to consider engraving on the outer surface. Think of it more as a design or a one-word motto. For those who wish to have their own mantra but don’t feel like having it tattooed on themselves, a one-word mantra on a ring is a definite go!
Bracelets, whether they are flat band bracelets or those with a leveled band in the middle, can also be engraved. If you are a fan of friendship bracelets, this is a fine way to elevate the woven friendship bracelets to a more personalized and chic level.
Engraving Expertise: It Takes One to Engrave One
Hand engraving may be among the most personal techniques to add inscriptions to a piece of jewelry. Not only will a jewelry maker need to know how to engrave a ring, but also the right tools to properly engrave on softer metals.
The most common tools used include shaped steel cutters with a sharp edge and a square graver. Some use scrapers to clean the edge of the metal surface after they have engraved the design. Those working with bigger designs will also have a scorper. This tool scrapes larger metal chunks and can come in a variety of shaped edges.
Others would prefer to use machines to engrave designs into a jewelry piece. Even this kind of engraving requires certain skills. After all, you will be working with a precious item. This is even more pronounced for bespoke jewelry; one of a kind pieces will be harder to replace, and you have to uphold your customer’s trust in your skill and reputation.
Important Things to Ask Before Engraving
After knowing the different techniques and ways of jewelry engraving, you need to understand some aspects of your jewelry piece. Many factors can affect engraving quality, including metals, band width, and even customization options. If you are are trying to discover unique ring engraving ideas, make sure that you also take note of these considerations first.
How Big is The Ring?
By “big,” you need to consider the width of the actual band. Jewelry engraving on a very thin band can be tricky. You will need a steady hand and a skilled engraver to do so. However, generally, jewelry makers recommended that the ring should have at least 3mm width for proper engraving. With 3mm, you can engrave initials or a symbol. For longer lines like a quote, it’s best to go with a ring with a 5 to 7mm width for a better inscription.
What is the Metal of the Ring?
You can now choose from a wide array of metals when it comes to engagement and wedding bands. Yet don’t forget that some metals are not meant for inscriptions. While gold can accommodate nice lines, given an appropriate ring band, harder metals will have a harder time accommodating such customization.
Some jewelry makers may not advise silver jewelry engraving because of its reflective metal. Harder metals like platinum and titanium may also be more difficult to engrave. The sturdier the metal, the less depth the engraving can penetrate. This may lead to the markings wearing away easily, given the lack of depth.
How Do You Engrave Neatly?
Technical skills matter at this point. Thus, the first step should be to go to your trusted jeweler. It helps if your jeweler can be transparent with the engraving methods that they prescribe to.
Some jewelers may use machine engraving, which will require a pattern for the inscription. Others engrave rings by hand. Another more modern technique in engraving uses laser machines. This is more expensive, given the high customization quality, but this can allow you to go as far as choosing a quote from a foreign language.
Each engraving style will have its own pros and cons. Laser machines are there for precision, quality, and high customization at a high price. Hand engraved rings are more personal and can add personalized touches, depending on the skill of the jewelry maker. Machine engraving is more precise and less expensive but adheres to the limits of templates.
Should I Engrave Engagement Ring?
Wedding bands typically get engraved with the initials of the couple. Yet there are those who may also want dedications on engagement rings or a one-liner for the person they give it to.
Whether or not you choose to have an engagement ring engraved may depend on the metal of the ring and the width of the band. Note that engagement rings tend to be on the thinner side of the band. Unless it is a bespoke piece, you will need to either have the band made thicker or go with a very simple symbol engraving that can fit perfectly.
How Much Does Engraving Cost?
It’s also good to consider how much this technique will cost. Others are already put off by the idea. Engraving seems like an extra that just eats into the budget. However, when done properly and with the right jeweler, that little extra will boost the value of your rings for you and your partner.
Essentially, the cost of engraving factors in the type of technique used. Machine engraving may be the most efficient though it limits the styles one can get. Expect higher costs for laser engraving, as these will include machines that allow for precise templates.
If you have a trusted jewelry maker, try inquiring how they engrave their pieces. Some offer hand engraving, and while these are also still limited, you may be able to get a package when you buy the ring and have it engraved in one place.
What Should I Get Engraved on My Engagement Ring?
Once you check the list above and see that your ring still qualifies for engraving, the next step is choosing what you will have engraved. Note that the same process goes for wedding bands, though you may find this easier to accomplish, given the general look and feel of a wedding ring.
Does Font Matter?
Yes, it matters a lot. It’s not necessarily the exact kind of font, but rather the style of the font. Engravers work with very precise tools while engraving on a very hard and thin surface. There is literally very little room, if any, for mistakes. As such, you need to remember that more than the jeweler’s technical skills, your request should also be reasonable.
Everyone may have been attracted to the look and feel of The Ring in The Lord of the Rings. The elegance of cursive writing makes the ring even more beautiful, if not romantic, should it be made into a wedding band. However, the reality of jewelry engraving is a bit more complicated. For clean and clear engraving, you need to choose a clean font. Anything fancy such as Gothic script will turn out illegible at best.
While some engravers do have the fine skills to pull off cursive engraving, you should also remember that readability on a 5mm ring will be very limited. If you want to read the inscription on your own ring, you may be better off choosing a font that lays out the text neatly across the band.
What Are Good Engraving Quotes?
It’s almost ironic–engraving messages can be anything you want, but you are also limited to the tiny space that can be engraved on. Thus, you can go two routes when it comes to engraving.
The first is to opt for the popular but still powerful engraving messages. Simple words like “soul mate,” “always,” “yours,” and “eternity” are very apt for wedding bands. Some can go further with phrases, such as “I’m always with you,” “To have and to hold,” or “All my love” are big favorites. These will work if your rings are bespoke. Even fairly common engravings can still hold powerful and personal messages with a customized ring.
If you opt for a ready-to-wear ring, it might be better to have a more personal engraving. Go with nicknames that you have for each other. You can also consider special dates, memorable phrases, or even unique symbols whose meanings are personal to only the two of you.
Can Long Text Fit?
Generally, most couples go with a common trend of using biblical quotes for wedding bands. Since this adheres to the Christian tradition of marriage, having quotes about love and marriage in a wedding ring may be a good tradition.
If the text is longer, you may want to consider the more expensive option. Laser engraving allows for more precision and thinner fonts. Work around space constrictions by going with shortcuts. For Bible verses, go for the source instead of the actual text. Or use your unique love language in symbols to further personalize your ring engraving.
What are Ring Engraving Ideas for Husband?
While these personalized engravings may appear to be very sentimental and more for the female market, there are ways to give the same option for your husband. This will be perfect for matching rings, whether they are wedding bands or even promise rings.
Differentiate your own ring with fonts. You can go for cursive fonts for yours and have a more straightforward and clean font for your husband’s. Top this off with a charming matching or complementary dedications, and you have the perfect pair of wedding bands.
Engraving your fine jewelry pieces is a way that gives them an extra value that does not depend on monetary standards. Adding a personal touch or a unique message makes a piece of jewelry, even more, a symbol of your feelings to the one you are gifting it to. If you are still on the fence, deciding if engraving is for you, make sure to consult with your partner and your jeweler, so you can be safely guided towards perfecting that fine jewelry.