If you're looking to order a moissanite ring or any custom jewelry from Alibaba: buckle up! I had no idea what the process looked like, but I'm ultimately thrilled with my results on my recent lab ruby ring project. Here's what surprised me about the process:
1) It took way longer than I expected. Maybe I'm spoiled by Prime's two-day shipping, or even the fact that most in-stock jewelry ordered from a US seller would be here within a week or two, but I was totally unprepared for the long timeline it took to get my project completed. Because of the time zone difference between the US and China, it took the sellers a full day to respond. Have a bunch of questions? Expect to add several business days to your project. Overall, It took about six weeks from start to finish, which isn't unreasonable for a custom project, but if you're expecting a super fast turnaround, it's just not going to happen.
2) The quotes came back nearly identical from the vendors I requested. I asked both Starsgem and Tianyu for quotes for my ring, and they came back within $40 of each other. When browsing the /r/moissanite subreddit, it seems like the only really significant cost savings comes from going with an Indian-based moissanite dealer, although that comes with some concerns to overall quality.
3) The level of customer service was excellent. I imagined my process to be somewhat of a vortex: I toss in my idea for a ring, and out comes the finished product. In reality, my rep Emily was incredibly thorough and sent me way more pictures and videos than I anticipated getting. I was pleasantly surprised that she sent a video of my lab ruby unmounted (and without any of my prompting) so I could approve it before it was mounted. She also sent me a pic of the carat weight of the ruby unset, which was a "nice to have" as a jewelry lover, and something I wouldn't have thought to request.
4) Ring envy started to sink in. Even though I picked a three-stone design that I loved (shoutout to the original
diamond and ruby Diamonds By Lauren ring that I fell in love with) browsing the /r/moissanite subreddit started to have me doubting my design. I saw countless pavé baskets, creative sidestones, and swoon-worthy ideas that made my ultra-simple setting feel very plain in comparison.
I could've put more pavé on it! I kept thinking to myself.
Or added a hidden gem! Truly, some of the projects on reddit are awe-inspiring in their creativity, but that "instagram effect" of seeing everyone else's projects can make it harder to determine what you really love. Fortunately, I resisted and stuck with my original design, which ended up being perfect for me: simple, elegant and easy to wear. I think it also helped that I had considered the original DbL ring for more than a year. Picking a design you've loved for a long time will help you avoid trends and get something that fits
your style.
5) It's super addicting. As soon as I got my ring in the mail I was both delighted and already thinking about my next project.
I know! I know! But there's something deeply satisfying about being able to custom design a piece exactly to your specifications, and have it come out stunningly beautiful.
A reddit user asked:"So, does pretty much everyone who purchases custom-made Moissanite rings from China (Tianyu, SG, Mona,etc) end up selling them within weeks or months of receiving them?" I thought the question was both poignant and hilarious given the number of repeat offenders I've seen listing rings left and right on LoupeTroupe and (now defunct?) DiamondBistro. So, there's something to be said for getting addicted to the process and cycling through projects. Hopefully, I can continue to plan my projects carefully and not get swept up in the instant gratification of custom work.
What do you think? Did anything surprise you about the custom jewelry process, or are you still resisting the siren's song of a custom moissanite ring? (And if you are, kudos to you!)
