Proposing on Valentine's Day? When to Order the Ring
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio · Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer: Count back from February 14. A custom ring takes 10 to 12 weeks from deposit to your door, so our deposit-by date for Valentine's Day is November 1. A made to order ring takes about 8 weeks, so order it by November 15. Shipping to the US can take about two weeks longer for customs, so start sooner there. Closer than that? Tell us your date before you pay anything and we will say honestly whether we can make it.
Valentine's Day is one of the two big proposal dates we plan around, and the ring has to be started in the fall. Here is the math, as of October 2026.
What are the order-by dates?
| Path | Time to your door | For February 14, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Custom, one of one | 10 to 12 weeks | Deposit by November 1 |
| Made to order | About 8 weeks | Order by November 15 |
| Shipping to the US | About 2 weeks longer for customs | Start a couple of weeks earlier |
From our timeframes page, October 2026. These are estimates, not promises.
The live dates for the next two proposal seasons are always on our timeframes page.
What happens between now and February?
- Week 1: a free estimate and a 20 minute video call. Your deposit starts the design.
- Weeks 1 to 3: a CAD file you mark up, then a 360 render you approve. Most rings take two or three rounds. Your diamond search runs alongside: we send you two stones, each with a 360 video and its IGI certificate, and you pick.
- About 6 weeks at the bench: made by hand, then a close-up video before you pay the balance.
- About 2 weeks in transit: free insured FedEx with a signature, across Canada and the US.
What can slow a ring down?
- The diamond. A standard lab grown oval is quick to find. A custom cut, a bowtie-free oval or a Portuguese cut can take longer.
- Extra design rounds. Each one adds about a week.
- Hand work. Full band hand engraving adds bench time.
What if I have missed the date?
Tell us your date before you pay anything, and we will say honestly on the call whether we can make it. Our made to order rings skip the design rounds, which is the fastest route. For holiday timing, see proposing at Christmas or New Year's.
Anything to know before paying the deposit?
Custom rings are made for one person, so once a rendering or diamond sourcing deposit is paid, it is non-refundable. That is why the estimate and the call are free: ask every question first. If the size is a secret, the tricks are in finding a ring size without asking, and if it is a little off, resizing is $200 CAD shipped.
Proposing on Valentine's Day? Let's lock in your timeline.
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
Dutch Marquise 6 Tulip Split Shank
Cushion Tulip with Diamond Petals
Cushion Tulip Six Petal Split Shank
Marquise Six Petal Tulip Split Shank
Questions we get about this
When should I order a ring for a Valentine's Day proposal?
For a custom ring, pay the deposit by November 1. For a made to order ring, order by November 15. Start a couple of weeks earlier if the ring ships to the US.
How long does a custom engagement ring take?
About 10 to 12 weeks from deposit to your door: around three weeks of design, six weeks at the bench and about two weeks in transit.
Can I still order after November 15?
Tell us your date before you pay anything and we will tell you honestly on the call whether we can make it.
Do US orders take longer?
Yes. US rings can take about two weeks longer for customs.
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