Do you live in Saint-Jérôme and have a saved photo of an engagement ring you love? Yes, an image can serve as the starting point for a custom project. It is not, however, a manufacturing blueprint: it shows a look, rarely the dimensions or construction details. The goal is to translate what appeals to you into clear criteria. Before requesting a quote, prepare a few references and distinguish the essential features from those you would be willing to adjust.
Gather 3 to 5 images rather than a long collection of screenshots. Ideally, include a ring viewed from above, a side view and a photo of it worn on a hand. Add a short note for each image: “I like the discreet prongs,” “I prefer this rounded band” or “I want the stone to sit lower.” If you know the source, save the link. These details help communicate your preferences without asking for an identical reproduction of another jewellery house’s creation.
Be careful with proportions in photos: a close-up can make a small stone look prominent, while a slender hand can make a diamond appear larger. Ask for the centre stone’s dimensions in millimetres and the band’s width, rather than relying only on carat weight. For example, two stones of the same weight can have different face-up surface areas depending on their shape and proportions. If a measurement is missing from your reference, flag it as something to determine rather than guessing.
Your daily life in Saint-Jérôme matters just as much as your inspiration board. Do you often wear gloves in winter? Do you work with your hands? Would you like to keep the ring on during everyday activities, while removing it for tasks that could put it at risk? Write down 2 or 3 practical considerations to share with the jeweller. A very high setting or protruding details deserve a discussion about comfort and snagging. If you plan to wear a wedding band, mention it from the outset: the space around the setting affects your pairing options.
To receive a realistic proposal, send your photos along with a budget and 3 ranked priorities. You might put the overall silhouette first, the stone’s presence second and the band’s details third. Specify whether your budget includes taxes: at AUCLAIRE, taxes are extra. Then ask what the proposal includes and which adjustments would change its price. This approach helps you understand the trade-offs, without assuming that a ring seen online can be recreated at the same cost using different materials or construction.
The 3D rendering then helps you check how your inspiration translates into a three-dimensional design. At AUCLAIRE, a 3D rendering is provided before manufacturing in Montréal, which takes 3 to 4 weeks. When reviewing the rendering, ask to see the top and side views, then check the setting’s height, the prongs and the band’s proportions. A rendering is not a photograph of the finished piece: reflections and the colour displayed can vary. Have the selected dimensions and the timeline for your project clarified before giving your approval.
For a project being sent to Saint-Jérôme, also clarify how you will receive the jewellery and which documents come with it. AUCLAIRE offers free, insured delivery throughout Québec. Centre diamonds are GIA- or IGI-certified, and every piece comes with an AUCLAIRE certificate of authenticity. These documents serve different purposes: the gemological report describes the diamond, while the certificate of authenticity accompanies the jewellery. Before ordering, also clarify the terms applicable to your custom project, including those of AUCLAIRE’s exchange within 30 days, with no refunds.
You do not need to have drawn the perfect ring to get started. From Saint-Jérôme, simply prepare your images, your budget, the ring size if you know it and your main preferences. You can then take a gentle first step: ask the AUCLAIRE workshop, a family-owned jewellery house in Montréal, for three options featuring a GIA- or IGI-certified centre diamond. By explaining what you like about each reference, you will give the workshop a useful starting point for exploring your project, while keeping the wearer’s comfort and personality in mind.
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