Engraving brings a touch of something unique and a deeper meaning to jewelry. It allows us to add a personal touch to jewelry or to connect it to important moments in our lives. Whether you choose initials, a date or a symbol, engraving turns your jewelry into your own personal good luck charm as well as a treasured keepsake for life.
What is engraving?
Engraving is a traditional technique used in jewelry making. It is carried out with the help of mechanical or laser tools and allows for the precise engraving of words or symbols into precious metals. The art of engraving flourished during the Renaissance and at that time, engravers were inspired by art and natural themes. In the 19th century, jewelry engraving developed into richly decorated ornamental engravings while rings, medallions and pocket watches were also engraved with monograms. In the course of the 20th century, engraving started to be popular mainly on the back or inside of jewelry, the way we know it today. This type of engraving allows the wearer to keep the personal message to themselves while not disrupting the overall design of the jewelry.
What engraving techniques are there?
Hand engraving - done by an experienced engraver using special tools. Hand engraving requires experience, an eye for detail, and it is usually time consuming. The advantage of it is the ability to create unique designs which carry the imprint of handcrafted work.
Machine engraving - This method uses a diamond tip or mechanical cutter, where a rotary motion creates deeper grooves in the surface of the jewelry.
Laser engraving - This is the most modern method of engraving that we also use at the KLENOTA Jewelry Studio. It works on the principle of a precise laser beam that burns a design into the surface of the jewelry. The engraving can be subtle or more pronounced, depending on the desired effect. Laser engraving is also ideal for smaller designs and texts.
Engraving wedding bands
Engraving the inside of the wedding band is a lovely way to remember the day and can give the ring greater significance. The actual engraving remains hidden from other people and this means that it can be either a very classic or a very original engraving. The most common themes are the partners’ initials, the wedding date, short quotes or personal messages and symbols of love. We offer free engraving with all our wedding rings and you have up to 60 days from the time you receive the rings to request this from us. Read more about all our services in our guide to choosing wedding rings.
Engraving options: a sufficiently wide band is important for all engravings. The ring needs to be at least 1.4 mm wide and if you would like it to be engraved with special symbols, then it needs to be a minimum of 2 mm wide. The width of the ring also depends on the type of font to be used for the engraving. We offer two fonts as standard, one suitable for thinner bands (from 1.4 mm) and the other for bands which are 1.7 mm or wider. Another factor to take into account is legibility, and this is something which can be difficult with smaller texts. It’s therefore always a good idea to let us know what you have in mind and we can advise you on the best options. If you’d like to know more, we cover this topic in more detail in our engraving section.
Adjusting the size: Keep in mind that it is not so easy to adjust the size on rings that have been engraved. Any such changes after the ring has been engraved can distort or deform the engraving. It’s therefore a good idea to carefully select the correct ring size before having the ring engraved.
Time required: We make wedding rings to order within three weeks of purchase. When requesting an engraving, please allow an extra week in addition to this timeframe.
Engraving on other jewelry
A wedding is not the only event that we can have a personalized piece of jewelry made for. We can also embellish any other jewelry that has a smooth surface with an engraving. Engraving a pendant such as a heart or a round medallion is particularly popular. You could have your child's date of birth, your name or the name of your love engraved. Jewelry with an engraving can also be a tasteful and very personal gift for your loved ones. At the KLENOTA Jewelry Studio we have a lot of experience with engraving jewelry, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any special wish you might have. Or feel free to send us an enquiry via the “need help” button on every product page or simply let us know what you are after when ordering the jewelry and we will get in touch with you.
