Good vs Bad Hand Engraving on an Engagement Ring
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio, Toronto · Updated October 4, 2026
Short answer: Good hand engraving has depth and texture. Every petal and leaf is carved on its own, the design flows around the band, and it keeps its detail after polishing. Bad engraving sits all on one level, repeats the same motif like a copy and paste, and looks flat once it is polished down. Ask to see real close up video of finished engraving, not renders.
Here is good hand engraving versus bad hand engraving, using the sunflower ring we just built.
Read the video transcript
I'm going to show you good hand engraving versus bad hand engraving with our sunflower ring we just built. So bad hand engraving, it kind of looks like it's all one level, very repetitive with the design, after you polish it down, it looks a bit flat. There's no detail, there's no texture, none of it. Now, good hand engraving, look at our sunflower ring we just built. Every single petal, every single leaf, all hand carved in there, it all looks like it's flowing together. It's not just a copy and paste all up the band. Look at the detail inside the bulb, inside the leaves, all really bringing the engraving to life because it's all done by hand. No two rings are going to be the same, they're all going to be unique. That is how you can tell good engraving versus bad engraving.
What bad engraving looks like
- Everything sits on one level, with no depth.
- The same motif repeats all the way up the band.
- After polishing it looks flat, with no texture or detail left.
What good hand engraving looks like
- Every petal and leaf is carved by hand, so each one is slightly different.
- The design flows as one piece instead of a pattern stamped over and over.
- There is detail inside the details. On our sunflower ring you can see texture inside the centre of the flower and inside each leaf.
No two hand engraved rings are the same, and that is the point.
Hand, cast, mixed or laser?
Not all engraving is hand engraving. Cast engraving is built into the mould, which is consistent but less personal. A mix starts with a cast pattern and adds hand detail on top. Laser engraving is precise and best for fine text or dates inside the band. More on each on our hand engraving page.
How to check before you buy
- Ask for real video of finished pieces, not CAD renders.
- Look at it after polishing. That is where flat engraving shows.
- Ask who does it and whether it is carved by hand, cast, or both.
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Book a free callGet a 60 second estimateQuestions we get about this
How can I tell if engraving is done by hand?
Look for small differences between repeated elements and real depth. Machine or cast patterns repeat exactly.
Does engraving wear down over time?
Deep, well cut engraving holds up. Shallow engraving can soften with wear and polishing.
Can you engrave white gold or platinum?
Yes. It is less common than yellow gold, which is part of why it stands out.
How much does a hand engraved engagement ring cost?
A fully custom ring from us starts at about $4,000 USD, and most of the rings we build land between $4,000 and $5,000. Our Ready To Order settings start at $1,299 CAD, plus the diamond. The centre stone moves the price most: in September 2026 a 2 carat lab grown diamond ran about $2,500 CAD and a 3 carat about $2,700 CAD. Hand engraving adds bench time, and the more of the ring it covers, the more it adds. Real numbers are in our cost guide.
How long does hand engraving take?
It is part of the build rather than a separate wait. A full band takes an engraver much longer than a single vine, so plan it in from the start.
Can you engrave a ring after it is made?
Inside the band, yes. Detailed engraving on the outside is best designed in from the start, so the band is thick enough to carve.
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