Welcome to Hayes

PREDETERMINE BUDGET This is always the best place to start. It’s quite easy to get swept up in the dazzling beauty of diamonds and gemstones so having a maximum budget decided on from the start will allow us to create your dream ring without getting carried away. CHOOSE TYPE AND SHAPE OF STONE Types can include: traditional earth mined diamond, lab grown diamond, unique gemstone (ex. Sapphire). Shapes can include: oval, emerald, round, cushion, etc. DETERMINE METAL TYPE Our engagement rings are typically made from 14k, 18k gold (yellow or white) or platinum. Once these 3 key things have been decided, our designer can guide you through the more nuanced details of the stone’s 4 C’s (specifically for diamonds), ring design & overall aesthetic. STONE'S 4 C’s Most import of the 4 C’s - Cut (with Carat coming in a close second). The cut, different from the shape, will determine how much sparkle or brilliance the stone will have as well. The stones Cut will also determine how the Colour and Clarity present in each stone. Carat refers to the weight of the stone. It’s important to note that 1ct oval diamond will look bigger than a 1ct circle. They both weigh the same but their sizes and dimensions are different. Colour is important for overall aesthetic. Colours vary from warm hues to cool tones. It will be easier to see the colour differences in stones cut in the emerald and oval shapes because they generally have greater surface areas. There are many factors to be aware of when considering colour choice. Our designers can ensure that you’re choosing the best option for your specific ring design. Clarity refers to amount and type of inclusions (dark spots) within the diamond. Most of the time these inclusions are not visible to the human eye but can be seen under magnification- usually 10x or 30x. We always help our clients find the clarity that best matches budget while still looking as clear as possible. RING DESIGN AND OVERALL AESTHETIC The design of the ring includes things like the type of band, the stone’s setting, and whether or not there will be any accent stones. Accent stones could be a halo, hidden halo, pave band, etc. The design is where we can stick with traditional ring designs or get creative to create a ring unique to you and your partner. When is comes to overall aesthetic we are considering the personal style and personality and preferences of the person who will be wearing the ring. Are they refined and elegant? Maybe their style is more flashy and vibrant. We want to create a ring that is an extension of the person who is wearing it so that it will be worn proudly for life. FINALIZING THE DESIGN Once our designers have gathered enough information to get a clear idea of what your dream ring will look like, we can get to work creating a digital rendering of your dream ring. From here you will confirm the design or we can make tweaks before getting the ring into production. Once in production, the crafting of the ring can take between 3-6 weeks depending on how intricate the design is.