Engagement Rings in San Diego 

She’s the love of your life––your soulmate, your forever. And now you're ready to take the next step in your relationship by proposing and starting your forever together. But where do you start? One of the most important factors when proposing is finding the perfect engagement ring that she’ll cherish for a lifetime.

In San Diego, there are endless options for engagement rings, from classic solitaires to modern halo designs. If you're looking for the perfect engagement ring in San Diego, you found the right place. In this article, we'll guide you through everything you need to know about finding the perfect engagement ring in San Diego. From jewelry stores, to the most important factors to consider when choosing a ring.

San Diego Jewelry Stores

Perhaps you've been browsing fine jewelry stores looking for engagement ring styles. There are many reputable, fine jewelers in San Diego that sell pre-made rings, but they all have the same issue in common: regardless of the quality, your ring won't be as special and unique as the one you put the effort into designing yourself to be one-of-a-kind for your future wife..

The problem with jewelry stores:

1. High retail markup. The overhead of a jewelry store is very high when you factor in high retail rent, keeping inventory on hand, and paying commissions to sales staff. This all gets passed on to you, the consumer.
   
   
2. Limited to inventory on hand. Often, even the most helpful salespeople are paid on commission and need to sell you a ring that they have in inventory. If you have a style in mind that you know your future wife would love, you're limited to the size and quality of stones in that setting based on what the store has in stock.
   
   
3. Mass-produced. The pre-made ring you get from a jewelry store is the same one thousands of other women will wear. This is a special moment and a ring she'll wear for the rest of her life; a cherished heirloom. Your engagement ring should be something truly special and unique.
   
   
4. Quality. Another issue with mass-produced rings is that there can be some compromises in quality. You can often see when attention to detail has been neglected. You'll see gaps and spaces when the overall design should be seamless. We often see this even with custom designed rings at these retail jewelry chains. 

Popular San Diego Jewelry Stores

• Robbin's Brothers

• Robère’s Jewelers

• Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers

• Charles Koll

• David and Sons Fine Jewelers
  
  

A retail jewelry store serves many fine jewelry needs. If you are looking for the perfect piece of jewelry like necklaces and bracelets these stores will serve your needs.

But an engagement ring is something sacred. You want the perfect diamond in a beautiful ring setting that will make her feel special… one created exclusively for her.  And you don’t want to overpay for it.

If you really want the ideal ring for your future wife, consider getting one custom-made. You'll get the exact ring she wants.

A lot of jewelry stores offer custom rings these days but outsource the making of it. That means a lack of control for the final result and possible miscommunication. Alternatively, you could go directly to the source… work one-on-one with the artisan and master diamond setter who will custom create this one of a kind ring from scratch, exclusively for the love of your life.  Now THAT would make her truly feel special.

Enter… Vanessa Nicole Jewels.

What Makes An Engagement Ring Perfect?

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing an engagement ring, which is why Vanessa Nicole Jewels can help you custom design an amazing, one-of-a-kind diamond engagement ring of her dreams. 

It allows for your custom engagement ring to be significantly more meaningful and it will show you put extra thought into making it spectacular. (Bonus points for you!)  

By working one-on-one with Vanessa, the maker & owner, you can be sure that her reputation is highly valued, therefore it brings high accountability to ensure you have an AMAZING experience.

Master Diamond Setter, Vanessa Nicole, will guide you through the entire process to create the perfect ring your future wife is guaranteed to love. She has a deep understanding of how to help you create a ring to match her style.

At a baseline, the perfect ring would be made with exceptional quality materials and designed with masterful craftsmanship in a design your future wife will love. But what makes an engagement ring extraordinary is the effort you put into it. 

The story behind it; how you put your energy and thought into this ring because you believe that’s what she deserves.

How To Create A Custom Ring She'll Love

Vanessa has been working with clients for years with her unique proprietary process. She'll collaborate with you to get an idea of your soon-to-be fiance's style and preferences. With a 100% 5-star online rating with Google & Yelp, her work and the exceptional experience she provides for her clients speaks for itself.

One of the first things you’ll notice when you visit Vanessa Nicole Jewels is that you cannot buy anything pre-made. There is no “buy now” button.  They intentionally only accept clients after you’ve filled out a brief Questionnaire and communicated directly with Vanessa so she can get to know a bit about you, your future wife and understand exactly what you’d like to make.

One San Diego client said:

And another...

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Engagement Ring

Before you start selecting an engagement ring, there are a few important factors to consider. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What is your budget? Engagement rings can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, so it's important to set a realistic budget before you start shopping.
  
  

• What style does your partner like? Does your partner prefer a classic, timeless style, or something more modern and unique?
  
  

• What color & type of metal do you prefer? Engagement rings can be made from a variety of metals, including yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum.
  
  

• What type of center stone do you want? Diamonds are the most traditional choice for engagement rings, but other gemstones like sapphires are becoming more popular.
  
  

• What size and shape of stone do you want? From classic round diamonds, to oval, to unique pear-shaped stones, there are many options to choose from.

Choose Your Engagement Ring Setting Material

Settings for engagement rings can be crafted from either gold or platinum, depending on the desired hardness and color of the metal. For those leaning towards gold, there is a greater variety of colors to choose from: white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold. Among these choices, yellow gold is a popular pick because it flatters many different skin types. White gold and platinum are also excellent choices for complementing the colorlessness of the center diamond.

Select Your Ring's Center Diamond Cut and Size

Diamonds come in many shapes and sizes, each with its own unique appeal. The term "cut" refers to the shape the diamond has been cut into and includes popular cuts such as cushion, round, princess, oval, emerald, pear, marquise, and radiant. Vanessa sources brilliant cut diamonds that sparkle from across the room.

Choosing the right cut for your engagement ring is a matter of personal preference. To help you make the best choice for you, we've put together a complete diamond ring guide with videos on the different diamond cuts or shapes.

Overwhelmed? When you meet with Vanessa, she'll guide you through this decision-making process without much stress. 

Design The Custom Ring Setting

This is where we get to have fun. The setting is the band that holds and showcases the beautiful center stone. It's a reflection of your fiance's style and makes the ring truly special because you made the effort to make it one of a kind.

Vanessa asks you a series of questions to get an idea of your fiance's taste and fashion sense. This is the piece of jewelry she will be wearing every day for the rest of her life, so we want it to be perfect.

The Ring Design

Once Vanessa has an idea of the design of the ring, she creates a CAD (Computer Aided Design) rendering for you to review. This is a 3-D depiction of your ring.

After you've reviewed it and made any adjustments, Vanessa sources the center stone to fit the quality, cut, shape, and budget for the diamond that you've determined.

The next step is making a wax mold of the ring. This is an exact replica of what the final ring will look and feel like, allowing for any final adjustments to be made. 

Your Own, Unique Custom Engagement Ring

After you're happy with the design, Vanessa casts the ring in your choice of yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum.

Finally, she hand-sets each diamond into the setting, ensuring a perfect fit and flawless result.

The end result is the highest quality, beautiful diamond engagement ring that is as unique as your love.

Wedding Bands

With some styles of engagement rings, it can be difficult to find a wedding band that fits the engagement ring seamlessly. It's helpful to have an vision for how the pair will look and fit together on the hand while you're looking for the design of your engagement ring. Vanessa can help design wedding bands that match perfectly with your engagement ring without having to shop for them.

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Best Custom Engagement Rings in San Diego, CA

Vanessa is a Jeweler and Master Diamond Setter who apprenticed under a Russian Master Jeweler.

Her work is flawless and much more detailed and intricate than what you would find if you purchased a wedding ring from a retail fine jewelry store or shop online.

You can view her finished ring videos here.

A Photo Gallery of Finished Engagement Rings can be viewed here.

But, How Do I Know If She'll Like Her Ring?

This is a question we get all the time. After all, you don't want to go through the time and expense to find out she doesn't love it.

There's a reason for Vanessa's perfect 5-Star Reviews:

1. She takes the time to uncover the style and taste of the recipient. She's worked with hundreds of men to help them collect information.
2. She has a Happiness Guarantee. If she doesn't absolutely love it, you can contact Vanessa within 2 weeks of presenting it and she will redesign the ring with her involved. Although this has never happened because so far we have a 100% success rate!

Aside from her 5-Star glowing reviews and 100% happiness guarantee, what should you look for in a custom diamond engagement ring jeweler?

What Makes An Engagement Ring Perfect?

1) Quality

If you're going to invest in a piece of jewelry you'll wear every day for the rest of your life, you want it to be the best quality. We could state that our craftsmanship is unparalleled, but instead, we’ll just drop these below:

"I knew in my mind how it was going to look, but the final product was so much better than I could have ever hoped… every other ring in traditional jewelry stores look like cheap toys in comparison!" –AJ W.

"Vanessa! Holy crap the ring is AMAZING!!!!! Just spectacular – Can't thank you enough.  The ring has exceeded my expectations and Sabrina will love it." –Joe M.

"VANESSA!!!!!!!!!! ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU AND I KNOW THAT’S NOT EVEN ENOUGH!!!! You have an amazing talent and I am so pleased, impressed and completely in love with the masterpiece you created!!! It is EXACTLY to a “T” what I have always dreamt of!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" –Megan K.

"When I say, ‘Vanessa nailed it,’ Vanessa absolutely nailed it. My ring looks exactly like the picture I said was my dream ring. And it's of spectacular quality and SHINE!!  I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend her.” –Alicia C.

Learn about the factors that go into selecting a quality diamond in our diamond guides.

Reviews From Outside of San Diego

Vanessa's service extends beyond San Diego. She works with clients across the country. You can read their experience working with Vanessa and her process here: More Reviews.

If you're ready to get started on designing the perfect ring for your true love, contact us today. We'll walk you through our simple process and answer any questions you may have. Let's get started!

Meet Vanessa Nicole, Custom Ring Jeweler & Designer