The holiday season is a time for twinkling lights, family gatherings, and memorable moments you’ll cherish forever. For many couples, it’s also the perfect time to ask the biggest question of all.
At Diamond Castle Jewelers, we’re honored to be part of that moment. And when it comes to designing a custom engagement ring, everything starts with the people behind the counter: Kevin and Paul Ansara.
Meet Your In-House Metro-Detroit Diamond Experts
When you walk into Diamond Castle, you’re not just browsing cases—you’re stepping into a family business where your story matters.
Kevin Ansara, owner of Diamond Castle Jewelers, is your go-to diamond expert. With years of experience and deep knowledge of GIA-certified diamonds—both natural and lab-grown—Kevin helps you understand exactly what you’re looking at. He breaks down the 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat), explains the differences between natural and lab-grown diamonds, and guides you to the stone that fits your budget, values, and style. Right beside him is his twin brother, Paul Ansara, a key operator in the store and a familiar face beloved by customers.
Together, Kevin and Paul make the custom design process feel less like a transaction and more like a collaboration.
Step 1: The Design Consultation
Every custom engagement ring begins with a conversation.
You’ll sit down with Kevin (and often Paul) to talk about:
- Your partner’s style: classic, modern, vintage-inspired, minimalist, bold.
- Metal preferences: yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum.
- Stone preferences: natural or lab-grown diamond, preferred shapes (round, oval, emerald, pear, etc.).
- Budget and timeline—especially important for holiday proposals.
Bring inspiration: photos, Pinterest boards, screenshots, or even sketches. Kevin and Paul take all of this and begin shaping it into a real design plan.
Step 2: Choosing the Diamond
Next comes the heart of the ring: the diamond.
Kevin walks you through different options, explaining how factors like cut and clarity affect the look and price far more than just carat size. If you’re interested in lab-grown diamonds, he’ll show you how they offer the same beauty and durability as natural diamonds, often at a lower price point—giving you more room for size or design details.
Because every stone is GIA-certified, you can trust what you’re getting. Kevin helps you compare diamonds side-by-side so you can see the differences with your own eyes.
Step 3: Bringing the Design to Life
Once the diamond and overall design concept are chosen, the fun really begins.
A typical custom ring design process includes:
- Sketches & Concept
- Kevin and Paul help translate your ideas into a rough visual concept.
- You decide on the setting style: solitaire, halo, three-stone, hidden halo, side stones, vintage details, etc.
- CAD (Computer-Aided Design)
- Your concept is turned into a detailed digital model using CAD software.
- This shows you the ring from multiple angles, including how the stone sits, how the band curves, and how the details come together.
- If you want changes—thicker band, slimmer profile, different prong style—this is the perfect stage to tweak.
- Wax or Resin Model (Sometimes Used)
- In many traditional jewelry workflows, a wax or resin model is created based on the CAD file.
- This gives you a chance to see the ring’s scale and proportions in real life before metal and diamonds are involved.
Step 4: Casting, Setting & Finishing
Once the design is approved, the ring moves into production—all handled in-house at Diamond Castle.
- Casting the Metal
- The chosen metal (gold or platinum) is cast into the shape of your ring.
- Stone Setting
- The diamond is carefully set by skilled hands, whether it’s a classic prong, bezel, pavé, or halo design.
- Side stones and accent diamonds are added with meticulous attention to symmetry and security.
- Polishing & Detailing
- The ring is polished to a high shine and any special details—milgrain edges, engraving, textures—are finished.
Throughout the process, Kevin and Paul oversee the work to ensure that what ends up in your hands truly matches the vision you started with.
Step 5: The Final Reveal
This is everyone’s favorite part.
When you come in to see the finished ring, you’re not just picking up a piece of jewelry—you’re seeing your ideas, your love story, and the expertise of a trusted local jeweler all wrapped into one.
Whether you’re planning a Christmas morning proposal, a New Year’s Eve “midnight yes,” or a cozy moment under the holiday lights, you’ll leave knowing the ring on their finger was designed just for them, right here at Diamond Castle Jewelers.
A Season of Sparkle—and Giving Back
This holiday season, while we’re busy helping you design the perfect engagement ring, we’re also focused on bringing joy to our community.
Now through December 14, Diamond Castle Jewelers is proud to partner with the Southwest Oakland Toys for Tots chapter. We’re collecting new or gently used toys in our showroom to help brighten the holidays for local children in need.
If you’re stopping in to talk about a custom ring or pick out holiday jewelry, consider bringing a toy to donate. Together, we can make this season sparkle a little brighter—for everyone.
