EXPLAINER · PROCESS
Custom in three clear steps.
A bespoke engagement-ring commission, in plain English. Three steps. The time each takes. The cost at each gate. The decisions you have to make. The ones you do not.
Why three steps, and not five.
Most custom rings get described in industry jargon: "concept phase", "CAD iterations", "casting", "stone setting", "polishing", "quality check". Each of those is a real production step but they are not decisions you make. They are decisions Prodiam makes for you. The three steps below are the only three that need you in the room: what stone, what design, when you pay. Everything else is the bench's job, not yours.
STEP 1 · 60 MINUTES
Spec choice.
A 60-minute consultation, in person at the Bedfordview viewing room or by video call through the Virtual Studio. By the end you will have agreed:
- The stone spec. Carat band, colour, clarity, cut, shape. Darren shows you what each grade looks like on a real stone under the loupe so the choice is concrete, not abstract.
- The setting style. Solitaire, halo, three-stone, pavé band, hidden halo, bezel, east-west. You will see real pieces in each style on the bench.
- The metal. 18kt white, yellow, or rose gold, or platinum. Each costs differently; you see the price-per-gram on the day and the impact on the final number.
- The budget. Quoted to the rand. Stone, setting, GIA fee, all in. No "from" prices, no surprises.
You leave with two or three candidate stones quoted on the day, a setting style chosen, and a metal selection. There is no deposit at Step 1. You can walk away with the quotes and think about it.
STEP 2 · 5 WORKING DAYS
Design sign-off.
Prodiam's CAD designer renders the ring with your chosen stone and sends a photoreal preview by email within 5 working days of Step 1. The preview shows the ring from three angles, with measurements in millimetres marked, and the stone shown to scale.
You get two rounds of free revisions. Common changes at this stage are claw count (four vs six), shoulder profile, band width, and whether the gallery (the underside of the head) is open or closed. Each revision is rendered within 2 working days of your feedback.
On sign-off you approve the final CAD and pay a 50% deposit. The setting commission price is fixed at this point and will not change unless you do.
STEP 3 · 10 to 15 WORKING DAYS
Factory cut and set.
The stone is cut in-house at Procut DCW (Suite F1W6B, same building) to GIA Excellent grade. The setting is cast, polished, and rhodium-plated if white gold. The stone is mounted on the Prodiam Trading bench (Suite F1W6). The finished piece is sent to GIA in Carlsbad if you want a full grading report, or graded in-house against the original report if you do not.
Total Step 3 time is 10 to 15 working days from CAD sign-off. You receive a photo of the finished piece by email before collection or dispatch. Final 50% payment is due on completion.
Collection is in person at Bedfordview, or insured Brink's dispatch within South Africa, or insured Ferrari Group internationally. Insured shipping is at cost and is quoted on the final invoice.
What you actually commit, and when.
| Stage | Time | You pay | You decide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Spec choice | 60 minutes | R 0 | Stone, setting, metal, budget |
| Step 2: Design sign-off | 5 working days | 50% deposit | Approve final CAD |
| Step 3: Factory cut and set | 10 to 15 working days | 50% balance | Collection or dispatch |
| Total | ~21 working days | One price, two payments | Three decisions |
What is not in the three steps (but you sometimes see elsewhere).
- "Consultation fee." Step 1 is free, and remains free if you walk away.
- "Design lock-in deposit." No deposit until you have approved a final CAD you want to commit to.
- "Premium" or "express" tier pricing. Prodiam runs one tier of work. The 21-day timeline is the standard timeline.
- Subcontracted cutting or setting. The stone is cut on-site by D and D Diamonds CC. The setting is made on the Prodiam Trading bench. No third-party bench involvement.
- "Stone upgrade fees" if you change your mind on the spec. As long as you change spec inside Step 1, before deposit, the new quote is just a new quote.
Ready to book Step 1?
Email darren@prodiam.co.za with a rough budget band and shape preference. In person at Bedfordview by appointment, or via Virtual Studio from anywhere. Reply within one working day.