I make custom engagement rings in Austin, TX as one jeweler who meets by appointment, with no showroom and no team behind a counter. The person you talk to on day one is the same person who inspects your ring before it's handed to you. You'll find plenty of stores in Austin with long glass cases and a sales staff, but I work differently.
Here is who I am, how a custom ring comes together with me, and what to ask any Austin jeweler before you commit.
Who you'd be working with
I'm Karmen Archuleta. I hold credentials from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in diamonds and gemstones, and I'm an Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP). Before starting KLA Fine Jewelry, I was a Territory Manager across Texas for a diamond and gemstone manufacturer. That job showed me how stones are sourced and priced long before they reach a store.
I don't run a storefront, carry a large inventory or employ sales staff. Without that overhead, I can price my work without the traditional retail markup. I'm also not trying to move whatever is sitting in a case, so your ring starts from what you want, not from what's in stock. You can read more about my background on my about page.
How an in-person appointment works in Austin
Consultations are complimentary and carry no obligation. Austin-area clients can meet with me in person by appointment. If you're outside Austin, or simply prefer it, we can do the same consultation over video. Most of my out-of-town clients work with me that way.
Bring pictures to the first conversation. Screenshots, saved posts, or a photo of a ring you noticed on a friend's hand all help. A rough budget helps too. You don't need to know setting names or stone shapes, you don't need a ring size yet, and you don't need to have decided between natural and lab-grown. Sorting those out is my job.
I'll ask you four things:
- Who the ring is for, and whether it's a surprise
- A budget range, even a loose one
- Any date you're working toward
- Pictures of anything you love
The quickest way in is the short form at /start. It takes under two minutes. I read every request myself and reply within 24 hours. If I'm not the right jeweler for what you want, I'll tell you that too.
Custom engagement rings and wedding bands
Most people come to me for an engagement ring. Many leave with the wedding band planned too. If you design the two together, the band can be shaped to sit cleanly against the engagement ring instead of being forced to fit later.
If you'd rather start from something already designed, my shop has a Classic Solitaire Ring at $3,499. It has a GIA certified center stone and a six-prong, low-set basket, in 14k white gold, 14k yellow gold or platinum. There's also a Pavé Half-Eternity Band at $1,299. It carries stones across the top half only, which makes it easier to resize, and it sits flush with a solitaire. Either piece can be adapted, and I'll price any change before you commit.
I also make men's bands and pieces built from a saved picture. The full process is laid out on how custom works.
Heirloom redesign
A grandparent's diamond or a parent's wedding band can often become something you'll actually wear. I look at the piece closely and tell you plainly which stones can be reset and which are better left alone. Some old stones and settings are worth preserving as they are, and I'd rather say so than take something apart that shouldn't be.
Heirloom stones can also be paired with a new center stone that I source. The old and new go into one design you approve in renderings first.
GIA certified stones, and seeing the report first
Every center stone I place is GIA certified. You review its GIA report before you approve the stone, not after the ring is made.
When we go over a report together, I'll show you three things:
- The report number. GIA lets you look up a report by its number on its own website, so you can confirm the document matches GIA's record.
- The grades. Cut, color, clarity and carat weight are listed. I'll explain where each one shows to the eye and where it doesn't.
- Any inscription. If the report notes a laser inscription on the stone's girdle, that inscription ties the physical diamond to its paperwork.
I offer both natural and lab-grown diamonds. I'll lay out how they differ in cost, resale and sourcing, and then the choice is yours. I won't steer you toward either one.
CAD renderings and a realistic timeline
Once you've chosen a stone, my CAD design team and I build renderings of your ring from every angle. We adjust them until the design is right. Nothing goes into production until you say yes, and a design change at this stage costs you only a little time.
Here's how the timeline usually runs:
- Tell me your vision. This is the consultation, in Austin or over video. It usually takes about a week to get on the calendar.
- See your stones. I source GIA certified options inside your budget and talk through the trade-offs with you. This takes one to two weeks.
- Approve the design. We review renderings and make revisions. This takes one to two weeks.
- Production. I make, set, inspect and film the ring. This takes four to six weeks from design approval.
From first conversation to finished ring, plan on roughly six to eight weeks.
This kind of planning is worth doing with any jeweler. Ask up front how long production takes, then work backward from your proposal date and add extra time. Designs with matched side stones tend to take longer. If you have a date, tell me early and I'll tell you honestly whether it can be done.
Delivery and what comes with it
Your finished ring arrives with a detailed appraisal in the box. It's ready for your insurer the day you receive it, so you're not waiting for one to be emailed. Austin-area clients can collect in person. Everyone else gets complimentary, fully insured shipping, and sizing is complimentary too. If you plan to insure the ring, ask your insurer what documentation it requires. This page is general information, not insurance advice.
Repairs, including pieces I didn't make
I repair jewelry wherever it came from. That includes ring sizing, replacing missing or loose stones, and fixing broken bracelet and necklace clasps. Send me a photo and a few words about what happened, and I'll tell you what the piece needs before any work begins. For anything I've made, bring it by twice a year and I'll check the prongs at no charge.
Reviews and portfolio
My portfolio shows finished client pieces, photographed in my hand the day each one was completed. They include an emerald three-stone in 18K yellow gold, a 3.55ct oval in a cathedral setting, and a platinum round diamond eternity engagement ring. You can read what clients say about the process on my reviews page.
Ready to start?
Send me the pictures you've been saving and a rough budget. I'll reply within a day with what's possible. Start your ring here, or ask for a complimentary consultation in Austin or over video.