How Long Does Hand Engraving Take on a Ring?
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio · Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer: Hand engraving happens during production, after the ring is cast, inside our usual 10 to 12 weeks from deposit to your door: around three weeks of design, six weeks at the bench and about two in transit. A fully engraved band takes more bench time than a vine on the bridge, so plan on the longer end of that window. Text inside the band is lasered and doesn't change the timeline.
How long the engraver works on your ring matters less than whether engraving pushes back the date you get it. Planned from the start, it usually doesn't.
Where does engraving fit in the timeline?
Design comes first: about three weeks of CAD and renders, with the engraving drawn onto the model so you see where it sits. Once you approve, the ring is cast and spends about six weeks at the bench, and that is when the engraver cuts the pattern by hand from the agreed drawing. Finishing and a final polish come after the cutting, then about two weeks in transit.
Riley and Tyler's ring: engraving on the band, the gallery rail and the half bezel around a 4.52 carat Dutch marquise.
What makes engraving take longer?
- How much is carved. A vine on the bridge is a short job. A band carved on three sides is many times the cutting.
- Design changes. Each extra design round adds about a week, so settle the pattern at the drawing and 3D stage.
- Detail. A design like Daryll's band, with 22 different flowers across it, means drawing each flower onto the metal and cutting it petal by petal.
Daryll's 2.51 carat marquise: 22 different flowers, each cut by hand.
Does engraving add time to a custom ring?
It fits inside our standard window of 10 to 12 weeks from deposit to door. For a fully engraved band, plan on the longer end of that range. If you have a proposal date, check it against the order-by dates on our timeframes page and tell us the date before you pay anything. US rings can take about two weeks longer for customs.
Why can't engraving be done in an afternoon?
Because each line is a separate cut, and the engraver works under magnification on a curved surface the size of a fingertip. Rushing that is how engraving ends up shallow and uneven.
How long does engraving inside the band take?
Text inside the band is laser engraved, so it is quick and does not change your timeline. It is free up to 10 to 12 characters. Send it to us in writing and we confirm the spelling before it is done.
Have a date in mind? We will tell you if your engraving fits.
A free 20 minute video call with our team. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.
Book a free callGet a free estimateFrom our collection
Radiant Hidden Halo Floral Engraved
Marquise Bypass Vintage Engraved
Marquise Tulip Leaf Engraved with Double Band
Emerald Hand Engraved
Questions we get about this
How long does it take to hand engrave a ring?
It is done during production, inside our 10 to 12 weeks from deposit to door. A fully carved band takes more bench time than a small motif, so it sits at the longer end.
Does hand engraving delay a custom ring?
It fits inside our 10 to 12 weeks. A fully engraved band sits at the longer end, and each extra design round adds about a week.
Is engraving done on the finished ring?
It is done during production, after the ring is cast, working from the drawing and 3D design we agreed with you.
How long does inside band engraving take?
It is laser engraved and quick, so it does not change your timeline.
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