If you're shopping for an engagement ring, you’ve probably seen “custom” and “customized” used like they mean the same thing. Spoiler: they don’t. One’s a true original, imagined just for you. The other starts with a design you can tweak to your taste.
At Gem Breakfast, we offer both: fully custom rings cooked up from scratch, and signature styles you can customize with your own flavor. Because not everyone wants to design a ring from the ground up—and that’s more than okay.
This guide breaks it all down: what custom vs. customized really means, the pros and cons of each, and how to pick the path that fits your taste, timeline, and creative appetite.
Custom vs Customized: What’s the Difference?
Here’s your cheat sheet to help you decide — remix a signature Gem Breakfast favorite or dream up something entirely new?
Customized rings are like ordering your favorite dish with a few tweaks. At Gem Breakfast, that means starting with one of our signature designs and making it yours — swap the stone, pick your gold, choose the finish, prongs, maybe a secret engraving. It’s a proven recipe, with room for your personal flavor.
Custom rings begin with a blank slate and your wildest ideas. Asymmetrical layouts, offbeat stones, hand-carved bands — nothing’s off-limits when you start from scratch.
Both options are delicious — it just depends on what you’re craving. Either way, your ring is crafted with ethically source gems, thoughtful design, and all the signature Gem Breakfast magic baked right in.
| Customized | Custom | |
| Starting point | A signature setting we’ve already designed | A blank page |
| Options | Choose your center stone, side stones, gold color, prongs, hand-engraving | Design every detail from scratch, including layout, proportions, hand-engraving, and unique elements |
| Process | Streamlined, quicker timeline | Collaborative, multi-step design journey |
| Outcome | Unique to you, but based on a tried-and-true design | One-of-a-kind, never repeated |
Pros and Cons: Customized vs Fully Custom Rings
Customized Rings
Perfect if you already love one of our signature settings and want to make it your own.
Pros:
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Faster timeline: You skip the full design process and move right into stone selection.
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Less decision overwhelm:Ideal if you're unsure where to start.
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Tried-and-true favorites: These styles are fan obsessions for a reason — they just work.
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Still personal: Add hand engraving, change up the finish, customize the prongs, pick a rare gem — you’ve got options.
Considerations:
- Less design freedom: The base stays the same, but the details are yours.
- Not a total one-off: Someone else may have a similar style — but never the same. Every Gem Breakfast ring is crafted to order with one-of-a-kind stones and personal touches.
Custom turned customizable engagement ring with pear cut champagne diamond and white kite diamond side stones
Custom Wicked-inspired toi et moi ring with pink and green heart cut sapphires
Fully Custom Rings
For when you want a ring that no one else has ever seen before. You dream it. We cook it up.
Pros:
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One-of-a-kind: Every detail is designed around you. No templates, no repeats.
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Symbolism: From secret engravings to meaningful motifs, your ring can be full of personal storytelling.
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Creative freedom: Cluster settings, asymmetrical layouts, hand-carved bands, multi-stone compositions, or something sleek and minimal made to your exact proportions.
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Wow-factor:These are the rings that get passed around the dinner table and gasped at in group texts.
Considerations:
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Takes longer (8–12+ weeks)
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Requires more decision-making, though we’re with you every step of the way
Not sure which path is right for you? Book a free consultation - virtual or in our San Francisco studio and we’ll help you find the flavor that fits.
How to Know What You’re Actually Getting
Not all “custom” is created equal. Some jewelers use the word loosely — so if you're not sure what you’re signing up for, ask these questions:
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Is the design truly one-of-a-kind or based on an existing style?
If it starts with a template, it's likely customizable. -
Can I change the layout or just the details?
Small tweaks = customized. A total reimagining = custom. -
Will I see sketches or CAD previews before it’s made?
Full customs usually include design previews. Customizables typically don’t. -
How long does the process take?
Shorter timeline? You’re probably customizing. More steps and stages? That’s a full custom build.
Our Two Delicious Paths: Custom and Customized at Gem Breakfast
Let’s dig deeper into what each option actually looks like.
Customized Rings
These are our signature designs — fan favorites that Gem Breakfast fans just can’t get enough of.
A few of our most-requested and recreated designs:
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Stella: Our sleek, ultra-sleek signature solitaire setting made for every shape and size of diamond or gemstone.
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Bella: Identical to Stella from the top with a tulip-shaped basket. Fits only round or oval shaped diamonds or gemstones. Learn more about the difference here.
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Mirella: An oval center stone with a delicate half-halo of white diamonds. Classic with a twist.
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Starlet: The custom emerald cut green sapphire with white kite side stones that took on a life of its own to become one of our most requested designs.
Need helping deciding? Take our Quiz:Are You a Stella, Bella, or Mirella?
Customizable Stella setting
Customizable Bella setting
Customizable Mirella setting
Customizable Starlet setting
Once you choose your setting, you’ll get to:
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Pick your gemstone (diamond, Montana sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, etc.)
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Choose your gold (peach, yellow, rose, or white)
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Select your finish (matte, high polish, brushed)
- Pick your prong shape, style, and quantity
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Add personal touches like hand engraving, meaningful inside-band messages, or a surprise ring booty detail.
Pro tip: Seen a custom ring in our gallery that you can’t stop thinking about? We can customize and recreate any of our past designs with your favorite flavor of stone, gold, and details. Just ask.
"Had a custom Celeste Major ring made to include my two little girls’ birthstones side by side. When I wear it, it makes me think of them as two one-of-a-kind stars in a sky full of stars. It makes a great mom’s ring that I will pass down to them one day."
-Anna
Fully Custom Rings
This is your blank-page moment — where your vision becomes a ring that’s never existed before. Here’s how it works:
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Book a free consult— virtual or in our San Francisco studio
- Share your ideas — inspo pics, Pinterest boards, love stories, wild dreams — bring it all
- Design & refine — we sketch your vision and build CAD (computer-aided design) previews so you can see your ring digitally from every angle. You’ll review, tweak, and perfect every detail before we move to production.
- Source your stones — we hand-select rare and ethical gems just for you.
- Craft your ring — cast, set, and polished by our local San Francisco artisans, made to your exact specs.
- Add the extras — hand-engraving, hidden design elements, or anything else that makes it yours.
Learn more about the full journey in our Custom Process Blog.
"I worked with Sara to create a custom engagement ring for my partner that had deep meaning in every detail. Since I didn’t know a lot about creating custom jewelry I leaned into the ideas and suggestions Sara had. Together we made the most amazing ring that had the constellations that where visible the night I met my partner. Sara gave me the wonderful suggestion that I put my birthstone on the inside of the ring. It wasn’t a detail that I had thought about but ment a lot. During my first consultation with Sara I was very open about how having ethical stones ment a lot to both my partner and I. She was right onboard. I didn’t have a timeline that I needed the ring done by which gave us time to think about every little detail. She helped me pick the right color of lab ruby for the baguette stone and helped me figure out what size stone would look best and still be masculine. Sara was always very quick to answer my emails and just a pleasure to work with. She was able to stick to my budget really well. Over all with the talent and compassion of their team Gem Breakfast really outdid my expectations. I can’t wait to propose so that my partner can design my ring with you!"
-Skylar
When One-of-a-kind custom turns cult classic customizable
Some rings are just too good to make once.
Take our Starlet — originally a fully custom design starring an emerald cut green sapphire and kite-shaped white diamonds. A few viral posts later, and she’s become a fan favorite. Now? It lives on as a customizable option — same delicious silhouette, new stones, new stories.
Same with our pear-cut champagne diamond ring with kite sides.It started as a one-off custom for a client with a vision. But over time, we’ve made many iterations — each one with its own gems, choice of gold, and added details. Same vibe, new flavor every time.
It's how we keep our custom soul while serving up your most-requested dishes — with room for your own twist.
FAQs: Custom vs Customized Engagement Rings
What’s the difference between custom and customized engagement rings?
Custom rings are designed from scratch around your vision. Customized rings use an existing design that you tailor to your taste.
Are customizable rings still considered high quality?
Absolutely. All Gem Breakfast rings are crafted to the highest standards — custom or customized, they're artisan-crafted with intention and expertise.
How long does it take to make a custom engagement ring?
Fully custom rings typically take 8–12 weeks. Learn more in our custom timeline blog →
Can I customize a ring if I don’t know exactly what I want?
Yes! Customized rings are great for clients who love a style but want their own spin. We help you choose stones, metals, and all the details that make it your own.
What’s the cost difference between custom and customizable rings?
At Gem Breakfast, there’s no upcharge for custom design since every ring is already made from scratch. The price all depends on your choice of stone, setting, and other details.
Is a custom engagement ring worth it?
If you want a ring that tells your story and doesn’t exist anywhere else, 100% yes. You can see our top 20 custom rings here →
Can I turn a ring I love into my own version?
Yes! That’s exactly what our customizable path is for. We take a fan-favorite style and make it you.
Are customizable rings still one-of-a-kind?
While the base design is repeated, your version is unique in your choice of stone, gold, finish, and size. No two are ever identical.
How long does each path take?
Custom rings usually take 8–12+ weeks. Customizable rings are sometimes ready sooner depending on the stone you choose.
Ready to Cook Up Your Dream Ring?
Whether you're craving a full custom experience or want to remix a signature style into something uniquely yours, we’re here to help you find the flavor that fits.
Start here: