Proposing at Christmas or New Year's? When to Start Your Engagement Ring
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio, Toronto · Updated September 27, 2026
Short answer: Start now. A custom ring takes about 11 weeks from deposit to your door, and we quote 10 to 14 weeks to cover diamond sourcing and extra design rounds. Count back from December 24 and 11 weeks lands on October 8. For a New Year's Eve proposal it is October 15. If you are short on time, a Ready To Order Ring takes about 8 weeks.
Our calendar for Christmas and New Year delivery is already filling up. If a holiday proposal is the plan, here is the math.
How long does a custom engagement ring take?
About 11 weeks from deposit to your door. Roughly 3 weeks of design (the CAD file, then a 360 render you approve), about 6 weeks at the bench in Toronto, and about 2 weeks of insured shipping. Diamond sourcing runs alongside the design.
We quote 10 to 14 weeks because a hard to find stone, a design round you did not plan on, or heavy hand engraving can each add time. The full breakdown is in our timeline guide.
When should I start for a holiday proposal?
| Proposal date | Start by (11 weeks) | Safe start (14 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| December 24 | October 8 | September 17 |
| December 25 | October 9 | September 18 |
| December 31 | October 15 | September 24 |
These dates are for the ring arriving at your door, so give yourself a few days of buffer on top. If you are reading this in October, you are still in time, but the design stage cannot drag. Come to the call with a photo, a budget, or both.
What slows a ring down?
- The diamond. A standard lab grown oval is quick to source. A custom cut, a bowtie-free oval or a Portuguese cut can take longer to find.
- Design rounds. Most rings take 2 to 3. Each extra round adds about a week.
- Hand work. Full band hand engraving adds bench time.
- Shipping in December. Carriers get busy before the holidays, so do not plan on the ring arriving the day before.
What if I am already too late?
Two options. Our Ready To Order Rings skip the design rounds and take about 8 weeks, so a Christmas proposal still works if you start by the end of October. You still pick the diamond and metal.
Or move the date a little. A proposal in January with the ring you actually wanted beats a rushed one in December.
Why not rush it?
Because the design stage is where the ring gets good. Rushing it means approving a render you are not sure about. Starting early costs nothing and leaves room to change your mind.
Planning a holiday proposal? Let's lock in your timeline.
A free 30 minute video call with Clint or Karina. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.
Book a free callSee our processQuestions we get about this
When should I order an engagement ring for a Christmas proposal?
For a custom ring, by early October. It takes about 11 weeks and we quote 10 to 14, so mid to late September is the safe start. A Ready To Order Ring takes about 8 weeks, so late October still works.
How long does a custom engagement ring take to make?
About 11 weeks from deposit to delivery: around 3 weeks of design, 6 weeks at the bench and 2 weeks of shipping.
Can I get a custom ring in time for New Year's Eve?
Yes, if you start by about October 15. Earlier is safer, since carriers slow down over the holidays.
What if the ring will not be ready in time?
Choose a Ready To Order Ring, which takes about 8 weeks, or push the proposal into the new year and keep the custom design.
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