Ive had recent issues witha custom wedding ring so I know where you are coming from! I spoke to a company in hatton Garden in london (another jewellery quarter) and they designed rings. I also found a fantastic company based down south that design jewelry. Both are very reasonable. I will post the names on your wall. I havejust sent my e ring to the second company as I got a better feeling talking to them and looking on their website!

Thank you ladies. I really appreciate your advice.

Little Kettle - Would you mind posting the details on my wall/sending a message please?

I'm so exhausted of looking at engagement rings that nothing is making me get the 'I LOVE IT!' Feeling anymore, they're just all blurring into one ring! X

we got ours from birmingham j quarter. my H2B found a ring he liked in a local jewellers but it was £975 for a palladium ring with a bit of rose gold plating which was far too expensive. we took it to a great shop in the quarter and showed them a picture and they agreed to make it for £450 and make it out of white gold and rose gold and make it stronger and longer lasting than the more expensive one that was just rose gold plated. they really were great and also offered to re-size clean and rhodium plate my engagement ring for free there too. cant recommend them enough. there are loads of shops there that will replicate a ring for you. a lot of shops there just buy rings in but a few shops offered to replicate rings there for us. i can try pop a link on your wall if you like for our jewellers. i also bought my ring there too cus i liked the service and the people even though i had seen it cheaper elsewhere x

I've heard good things about Et5y, but have never used it myself.

As far as custom pieces go, I decided to have my 9ct white gold cluster ring copied in platinum because a) I didn't want to have the hassle (and cost) of re-dipping it frequently for life and b) I wanted better quality stones.

My design is intricate: it's a 0.66 TCW cluster, with 7 centre stones surrounded by a micro-pave halo, and pave-set stones on the shoulders; the basket setting has hearts running around it.

I approached several jewellers in Hatton Garden, and on average, was quoted £2500, due mainly to the cost of the metal (it's a large setting) and the labour (more intricate = more work = more time). Finally, I got a quote for £1770 for the ring in platinum with D VVS1 excellent-cut stones, and went with them. They drew up the design, and within about 2 weeks, had the cast ready; at this point, I hadn't even paid a deposit! I went to see the cast (they'll send photos if it's easier) and was happy, so decided to go ahead.

The finished piece is stunning; there are some small differences (basket isn't as curved/wise; this was due to my wanting it altered slightly so that my wedding band wouldn't have to be too odd a shape), but it is beautifully made, and the quality is fantastic. I am SO please with it, esp for the price; I saw a cluster ring in EJ which has less metal, is only 0.49 TCW, and has MUCH lower quality stones, and it's £230 more. It's been valued at £2850 which is about right given the other quotes I got. There are pics in my album if you'd like to take a look.

In short, I would HIGHLY recommend approaching someone in either the Jewellery Quarter or Hatton Garden; you will be able to work with them from start to finish to get what you want (most use CAD now so you can see the ring in 3D before they 'print' the wax mould and make the cast), you can specify the quality of stones you want, etc, and you will get way more ;bang for your buck'.

If you'd like the name of the company I used, just drop me a message; I also approached a couple others who I would recommend too.

Thank you all so much.

Could you pop the details on my wall please Barbie86? x

Thank you :)