Need more info?
Frequently Asked Questions
Designing a bespoke ring is exciting, but it’s also something most people have never done before. Whether you’re exploring ideas with our Ring Designer or working with us one-on-one, we’re here to guide you through the process.
Below you’ll find answers to some of the questions we’re asked most often. If there’s anything we haven’t covered, we’d love to hear from you.
General
Hart & Halo specialises in one-of-a-kind Sapphire engagement rings and bespoke jewellery, thoughtfully designed around the people who wear them.
We believe creating a ring should feel just as special as wearing it. That’s why every project is a collaborative journey. Whether you know exactly what you want or have no idea where to begin, we’ll guide you through the process, helping you choose the perfect centre stone before designing a ring that’s completely your own. Natural Sapphires are our speciality, but we also work with Diamonds and selected coloured gemstones.
Our style is relaxed, personal and genuinely fun. No pressure. No sales tactics. Just beautiful jewellery with plenty of conversation along the way.
Every ring we create is made just for you, so pricing depends on the design, the size and quality of the centre stone, the accent stones and your choice of metal.
As a guide, most of our bespoke rings fall between $4,000 and $7,000 NZD.
Once we understand what you’re looking for, we’ll provide a free, no-obligation quote before we move into the design process.
Because creating a bespoke ring should be every bit as enjoyable as wearing it.
From your very first message, you’ll work directly with Celeste, the founder of Hart & Halo. There’s no salesperson, no account manager and no being passed from person to person. Just one person getting to know you, your story and the ring you want to create.
Rather than asking you to choose from rows of existing designs, we’ll help you discover the perfect centre stone before designing a ring around both your style and your story. Every project is a genuine collaboration, with as many design refinements as needed until it feels exactly right.
Natural Sapphires are our speciality, and because every Sapphire is unique, every ring naturally becomes one of a kind too.
Most of all, we want the experience to feel relaxed, personal and genuinely enjoyable. No pressure. No sales tactics. Just thoughtful advice, honest conversations and beautiful jewellery that’s one of a kind, by design and by nature.
Hart & Halo is based in Auckland, New Zealand, and we work with clients throughout New Zealand, Australia and beyond.
Most of our clients design their rings with us through Instagram or Facebook Messenger and are surprised by how personal it feels. Ideas flow naturally, questions get answered as they pop up, and together we gradually shape the perfect ring. Email usually comes into the mix as we share quotes, designs and the finer details.
If you’re local to Auckland, we’d love to welcome you to our home studio. If you’re not, don’t worry – some of our favourite rings have been designed entirely over Messenger.
Every Hart & Halo ring is proudly made right here in Auckland, New Zealand.
We work closely with a trusted team of highly skilled local jewellers who bring each of our designs to life with exceptional care and attention to detail. Keeping our production close means we can stay involved throughout the process, oversee the quality of every ring and work directly with the people making it if any adjustments are needed.
Whether your ring is heading across Auckland, elsewhere in New Zealand, to Australia or further abroad, it receives the same personal attention from design through to final inspection.
The result is a beautifully crafted heirloom, made to be worn and loved for generations.
The bespoke process does take time, and we recommend allowing 8 – 10 weeks as a safe overall timeframe.
Once your design has been approved and your crafting payment milestone has been reached, most rings are completed in around 3 – 4 weeks. The design stage can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how much time you’d like to spend exploring your ideas. There’s no rush – we’ll keep refining the design until it feels just right.
If you’re working towards a proposal, anniversary or another special date, let us know as early as you can. We can often fast-track the process when needed and will always be upfront about what’s achievable.
Designing Your Ring
Creating a bespoke ring is a collaborative process, and we’ll guide you through each step, making the experience as enjoyable as the finished ring itself.
We’ll start by helping you choose your centre stone, any side stones, and settle on the overall style and layout. Once you’re happy with the direction, we’ll create a detailed CAD design for you to review. This is where your ring really comes to life. We’ll work through the finer details together, refining the proportions, setting and metalwork until everything feels just right.
Once you’ve approved the design, your ring is crafted by our trusted Auckland jewellers before its final quality checks and independent valuation.
That’s actually where many of our favourite projects begin.
The easiest place to start is by collecting photos of rings, details or colours that catch your eye. Pinterest, Instagram or even screenshots from Google are all incredibly helpful. A picture really does tell a thousand words, and it gives us a much better understanding of your style than trying to describe it.
Don’t worry if you like different elements from different rings – that’s completely normal. We can combine ideas, offer suggestions and help shape them into a design that’s uniquely yours.
There are no wrong answers, because there isn’t one “right” ring. The thought you’ve put into creating something so personal will always mean far more than following someone else’s idea of what the perfect ring should be.
Absolutely.
If you’ve found a ring you love, send it through. It gives us a great starting point and helps us understand the style you’re drawn to.
Sometimes we’ll recreate a design quite closely. Other times we’ll suggest changes to better suit your chosen Sapphire, improve the proportions or make the ring more practical for everyday wear.
The finished ring should feel like yours, not just a copy of someone else’s.
As many as we need to create something you absolutely love.
Our aim isn’t to rush you through the process. It’s to make sure you feel completely confident before we begin crafting your ring. We see the design process as a collaboration, and we’ll keep refining the details with you until you’re genuinely happy with the design. Some clients make just a couple of small tweaks, while others enjoy exploring every little detail. We’re happy either way.
If a project ever changes significantly from the original brief, we’ll simply talk it through with you before any additional design work or costs are considered, so there are no surprises.
Absolutely. While most clients are happy to move straight from the approved CAD design into crafting, some appreciate the chance to see and hold something physical before taking that next step.
For an additional $100 NZD, we can create a life-size 3D printed model of your ring for you to try on. It lets you experience the size, proportions and overall feel of the design before it’s crafted in precious metal. While it doesn’t include the gemstones, it’s a great way to confirm you’re happy with the design before we begin crafting.
Please keep in mind that choosing this option will usually add at least one week to your project timeline.
Knowing how your ring will be worn helps us make better design decisions from the very beginning.
For an engagement ring, will you be wanting a straight wedding band to sit flush alongside it in the future? If so, we’ll design the setting slightly higher to create the space needed.
If you’d prefer a lower-profile ring that may be a little more practical for everyday wear, that’s ok – we can design a beautifully fitted wedding band that follows the shape of your engagement ring.
How your ring will be worn also influences the gemstones and setting style we recommend. For rings that will be worn every day, we’ll usually suggest durable gemstones like Sapphire or Diamond, or design extra protection into more delicate stones where needed.
Ring Sizing & Materials
We work with 9k, 14k and 18k yellow, white and rose gold, as well as platinum.
Each metal has its own look, feel and practical benefits. During the design process we’ll explain the differences and help you choose the option that best suits your style, lifestyle and budget. There isn’t a single “best” choice – just the one that’s right for you.
If you’d like to learn more before we chat, take a look at our Types of Metals guide.
Yes. There are two ways we can use your ‘old gold’ in your future piece.
The first is to melt down and reuse your original gold. This allows the sentimental metal to become part of your new ring. Although additional gold is often needed to create the finished design and because we can’t be certain of the exact alloys in older jewellery, we can’t guarantee the finished ring in the same way we can when using newly alloyed metal.
The second option, and the one we generally recommend, is to credit your existing gold towards the cost of your new jewellery item and replace it with the same weight of freshly alloyed precious metal. This preserves the value of your old jewellery while allowing us to create a ring using materials whose composition we know and can confidently stand behind.
We’ll happily talk you through both options and help you decide which is right for your project.
Most Hart & Halo rings are designed to be worn and enjoyed every day. We’ll consider your lifestyle, chosen gemstone and setting style throughout the design process so your finished piece is as practical as it is beautiful.
We work exclusively with solid precious metals – 9k, 14k and 18k gold, along with platinum – all of which are suitable for everyday wear. Every design is carefully considered to ensure it’s both beautiful and practical for the way you’ll wear it.
If you’d like to learn more about the differences between each metal, take a look at our Types of Metals guide, or we’ll happily talk you through the options during the design process.
The easiest way is to visit your local jeweller and have the correct finger professionally sized. It’s quick, free and the most accurate option.
If that’s not possible, don’t worry. We’ve put together a detailed Ring Sizing Guide with alternative ways to measure your finger, along with tips to help you get the most accurate result. If you’re still unsure, we’re always happy to guide you through the process.
And if you’re planning a surprise proposal, get in touch. We’ve helped plenty of nervous proposers estimate a ring size without giving the game away.
Don’t panic – it happens more often than you might think.
Most rings can be resized, and if your new ring isn’t quite right, we’ll help you find the best solution for your particular design.
For clients in New Zealand and Australia, we offer one complimentary resize within 60 days of receiving your ring.
For New Zealand clients, we’ll organise the resize and cover the return shipping. For Australian clients, we can often arrange the resize or fitting of sizing beads through one of our trusted jewellery partners. In some cases, your ring may need to be returned to New Zealand, and we’ll discuss any postage costs with you before anything is arranged.
For clients outside New Zealand and Australia, resizing can still be arranged where practical, although the resize and any associated shipping costs will be charged.
If your ring has been engraved, it will usually need to be re-engraved after resizing. The cost to re-engrave a resized ring is $100 NZD.
Most rings can comfortably be resized by one to two sizes.
Larger adjustments are sometimes possible, but they’ll depend on the design and how the stones are set. If we think resizing could compromise the strength or appearance of your ring, we’ll always let you know and discuss the alternatives.
Absolutely. Whether it’s a date, initials or a private message only the two of you understand, we’re happy to engrave your ring to make it even more personal.
If an engraved ring ever needs to be resized, it will usually need to be re-engraved afterwards. The cost to re-engrave a resized ring is $100 NZD.
Sapphires
Sapphires are our speciality and make up the vast majority of the rings we create. We love them because they’re beautiful, durable and available in an incredible range of colours.
We also work with a selection of other coloured gemstones where they’re the right fit for a particular design. If you have something specific in mind, we’d be happy to talk through the options.
We’re genuinely passionate about Sapphires. Their incredible range of colours, natural beauty and durability make them our favourite gemstone to design with, and the reason they’re at the heart of almost everything we create.
Our personal preference is for natural Sapphires because every stone has its own unique character and story. Some have been heat treated to enhance their colour – a widely accepted industry practice – while others are completely untreated.
That said, your ring should reflect your priorities, not ours. If you’d prefer a lab-grown Sapphire or another coloured gemstone, we’re more than happy to create something beautiful with that too. Our role is to help you explore the options and create the ring that’s right for you.
If you’d like to learn more about why we love Sapphires, take a look at our Why Sapphires? guide.
Unlike Diamonds, where the choice between natural and lab-grown is largely about their origin, the decision with Sapphires is about both their story and their individuality.
Natural Sapphires form slowly under unique geological conditions over millions of years. Trace elements, pressure and heat variations paint each crystal with its own colour patterns and create inclusions that gemologists often describe as the stone’s fingerprint. No two natural Sapphires are ever exactly alike. We like to think that natural Sapphires have a personality that only nature can write.
Lab-grown Sapphires are real Sapphires. They share the same chemical composition, crystal structure and durability as natural Sapphires, but they’re created to order in a carefully controlled laboratory environment rather than forming naturally over millions of years. That controlled environment produces a very different result. In our experience, lab-grown Sapphires tend to be more uniform in colour and character, whereas natural Sapphires each have their own unique personality and visual identity.
If you asked for our recommendation, we’d usually steer you towards a natural Sapphire. For us, that individuality is the very reason we fell in love with natural Sapphires in the first place. That said, the right choice is always the one that best suits your priorities, and we’re happy to create a beautiful ring with either.
Absolutely. In fact, this is how many of our projects begin. Tell us what colours, shapes or budget you have in mind and we’ll curate a selection of beautiful Sapphires for you to choose from.
Responsible sourcing is something we take seriously.
We source our Sapphires through trusted suppliers with whom we’ve built strong, long-term relationships. Many work closely with the mines and mining communities where the stones originate, while others source directly from the local gem markets where miners bring their stones to sell. These relationships give us confidence in both the quality of the Sapphires and the people behind them.
We also recognise that every country operates differently. Rather than expecting every mining community to operate exactly as we do in New Zealand, we believe in working with reputable suppliers who share our values while continuing to support local livelihoods.
If you’d like to learn more about our approach, take a look at our Ethics page.
Every finished Hart & Halo ring comes with an independent valuation, which includes details about the gemstones in your ring, such as their identity, cut, colour and other key characteristics.
Some of our Sapphires also come with their own independent gemstone certificates, depending on the supplier they’ve come from. While we don’t routinely certify every loose Sapphire before a project begins, we have complete confidence in the trusted suppliers we work with and the stones they provide.
If you’d like a particular Sapphire to be independently certified before you purchase it, we’re more than happy to arrange this. Just keep in mind that it will involve an additional cost and may add a little extra time before your project begins.
Absolutely.
Before we ever ship a Sapphire, we’ll provide as many photos and videos as you need in a range of different lighting conditions. We take great care to ensure they’re true to life, so you can make your decision with confidence. In fact, our experience is that if you fall in love with a Sapphire through a photo or video, you’ll love it even more when you see it in person.
If the Sapphire is already part of our collection, we’ll send it to you in a fully transparent gem box so you can admire it from every angle. As long as the security seal remains intact and the box hasn’t been opened, you’re welcome to return it for a full refund if it’s not the one.
For Sapphires we’ve specially sourced just for you, the process is a little different. These stones are purchased specifically for your project and involve significant international shipping, insurance, customs and import costs. If you decide not to proceed after viewing the stone, we’ll happily help you find another Sapphire, but a $500 NZD restocking fee will apply to cover a portion of those costs.
Our goal isn’t to pressure you into keeping a Sapphire – it’s to make sure we find the right one. We’ll work with you until we do.
Absolutely. While most of our clients go on to create a bespoke ring with us, you’re also welcome to purchase a Sapphire on its own. Whether you’re a collector, planning a future project or simply fall in love with a particular stone, we’re happy to help.
If you do decide you’d like a bespoke ring later, we’ll happily hold your Sapphire securely in our vault for as long as you need while you work through the design process. There’s no time limit and no pressure – once you’ve found the perfect Sapphire, you can take your time creating the perfect ring around it.
Absolutely. Some of our favourite projects involve giving sentimental gemstones a new life.
Whether it’s an heirloom diamond that’s been passed down through generations, a Sapphire from an old ring, or another meaningful gemstone, we’d love to explore how it could become part of a new design that better reflects your style today.
Before we begin, we’ll carefully assess the gemstone to make sure it’s suitable for resetting. While removing stones from existing jewellery is usually straightforward, there is a small risk of damage during the process, particularly with older or more delicate gemstones. We’ll always discuss this with you beforehand so you can make an informed decision.
Diamonds
Absolutely. While Sapphires are our speciality, we’re equally happy to create a beautiful ring around a Diamond if that’s what speaks to you.
We source Diamonds directly from trusted suppliers, giving us access to thousands of certified options. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or would like some guidance, we’ll help you understand the differences and curate a selection that suits your style and budget.
Every Diamond we present is independently certified by either GIA or IGI, and we’ll provide the images, videos and certification you need to choose with confidence.
Natural and lab-grown Diamonds have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure and optical properties. The biggest differences are their origin, rarity, price and the story behind them. What matters to you is a deeply personal decision.
Natural Diamonds were created by nature, completely spontaneously. Over billions of years, extraordinary pressure, heat and time combined to create something unique that existed long before any of us did. Every natural Diamond is the result of countless events aligning over billions of years, entirely by chance.
Lab-grown Diamonds are different. They’re created by people in a laboratory that replicates those same natural conditions. They have the same physical, chemical and optical properties as a natural Diamond, but they’re produced on demand rather than by nature, and can be grown in a matter of months.
For some people, the story of a natural Diamond is part of its magic. For others, it’s difficult to justify paying significantly more for a Diamond that looks and performs exactly the same as a lab-grown alternative.
Our advice is simple: choose the one whose story resonates most with you. We love the romance of natural Diamonds, but we also think lab-grown Diamonds offer exceptional value. Whichever you choose, you’ll have a beautiful Diamond that will last a lifetime.
We source our natural Diamonds through trusted suppliers who comply with the Kimberley Process, the international certification system designed to prevent conflict rough Diamonds from entering the legitimate supply chain.
We offer both natural and lab-grown Diamonds, and we’re happy to talk through the sourcing of either option during the design process.
Each of these gemstones has its place, and the right choice depends on what matters most to you.
If you’re looking for a natural white gemstone at a more accessible price point, White Sapphire is our recommendation. While it doesn’t have the same brilliance as a Diamond, it offers a beautiful natural alternative for those wanting to stay within a budget.
If you’re open to lab-grown gemstones, we’d generally recommend a lab-grown Diamond. It has the same physical, chemical and optical properties as a natural Diamond, offers exceptional brilliance and durability, and is now available at price points that make it an outstanding option for many clients.
We can also source Moissanite for those who prefer it, and we’re happy to talk through how it compares so you can decide which gemstone best suits your priorities.
Shipping & Returns
We recommend allowing around 8 – 10 weeks from beginning your project to receiving your finished piece. Once your design is approved and your crafting payment milestone has been reached, most rings are completed in around 3 – 4 weeks.
If you’re working towards a proposal, wedding or special occasion, let us know as early as possible. We can prioritise urgent orders.
Occasionally, sourcing a particularly rare Sapphire may take longer. If that’s ever the case, we’ll tell you upfront so you can decide how you’d like to proceed.
Shipping outside of NZ is done through FedEx and usually arrives within a week.
We use trusted courier partners with tracked and insured delivery services to ensure your jewellery arrives safely.
The courier we use may vary depending on your location, but every shipment is fully tracked and insured while it’s in transit.
For security reasons, we aren’t able to ship to P.O. Boxes.
All deliveries require a signature. If you instruct the courier to leave your parcel without one, it will be at your own risk.
Absolutely.
As soon as your jewellery is dispatched, we’ll send you tracking details so you can follow its journey all the way to your door.
Yes. Every Hart & Halo piece is fully insured while it’s travelling to you.
Once it has been delivered and signed for, responsibility passes to you, so we recommend arranging insurance before your ring arrives.
Every Hart & Halo parcel is fully insured while it’s in transit.
In the unlikely event that your parcel is lost or arrives damaged, we’ll work directly with the courier and insurer to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. You won’t be left trying to sort it out on your own.
Your ring will include any gemstone certifications available for your chosen stones, along with a complimentary valuation from an independent registered valuer.
This valuation can be used when arranging insurance for your jewellery.
Absolutely.
The outside of your parcel is completely unbranded, so nobody will know what’s inside.
Once you open it, though, that’s where the Hart & Halo experience begins.
Yes. We regularly ship throughout New Zealand and Australia, and we’re happy to send our jewellery almost anywhere in the world.
Orders to New Zealand and Australia include all applicable local taxes and duties. For other countries, import duties and taxes may apply depending on your local customs requirements. If you’re unsure, just ask and we’ll happily help explain what to expect before you order.
Orders delivered within New Zealand and Australia include all applicable local taxes and duties.
For deliveries to other countries, customs duties, import taxes and local fees vary depending on your country’s regulations and are generally the responsibility of the recipient. If you’d like an idea of what to expect before ordering, just ask. We’re happy to help.
Because every Hart & Halo piece is custom designed and handcrafted specifically for you, we’re unable to offer refunds once your jewellery has been made if your circumstances or plans change.
We don’t ask you to trust us blindly. We involve you so thoroughly in the journey that, by the time we begin crafting, you already know it’s your ring.
Long before we begin crafting, you’ll choose your Sapphire, collaborate on your design, and approve photorealistic renders of your finished ring. We’ll keep refining things until you’re genuinely excited to give us the go-ahead.
Our goal isn’t simply to make a beautiful ring. It’s to make your beautiful ring.
If your new ring needs resizing, please contact us within 60 days of receiving it. For New Zealand clients, we’ll arrange and cover the return shipping. For Australian and international clients, we’ll talk you through the safest and most practical option for your location.
If you ever need to return your jewellery for a repair or any other reason, please get in touch with us first at hello@hartandhalo.co.nz. We’ll guide you through the safest return process to ensure your jewellery is fully protected in transit.
Guarantees
Every Hart & Halo piece is handcrafted in New Zealand, and we proudly stand behind the quality and workmanship that goes into creating it.
Your jewellery is covered by our lifetime workmanship warranty against manufacturing defects. If you believe there may be a fault with your piece, please contact us and we’ll arrange for it to be safely returned and assessed by our jewellers.
If the issue is found to result from our workmanship, we’ll repair it for you at no cost. If a repair isn’t possible, we’ll work with you to find the most appropriate solution, which may include remaking, replacing or refunding the piece, depending on the circumstances.
Our warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, accidental damage, loss, improper care, alterations completed by another jeweller, or damage caused by impacts or activities that jewellery is not designed to withstand. If your piece needs work that isn’t covered by the warranty, we’ll explain what has happened and provide a quote before carrying out any repairs.
Fine jewellery benefits from regular care, so we recommend having your ring professionally inspected at least once every 12 months and following the care advice on our website. If a problem develops because recommended maintenance has not been carried out, that particular repair may not be covered by the warranty.
Nothing in this warranty limits any rights you may have under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act or other applicable consumer law.
We believe beautiful bespoke jewellery should also represent fair value.
Every completed Hart & Halo piece comes with a complimentary valuation prepared by an independent New Zealand jewellery valuer. This gives you the documentation needed to arrange appropriate insurance and provides independent confirmation of the replacement value of your finished piece.
We are confident that the valuation will be at least equal to the amount you paid Hart & Halo for your jewellery. If it isn’t, we’ll refund the difference.
Please note that this is an insurance replacement valuation rather than an estimate of resale value, and applies to the independent valuation arranged by Hart & Halo when your piece is completed.
Payment options
We accept direct bank transfer and major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Yes. In fact, we believe we offer one of the most flexible ways to pay for bespoke jewellery in New Zealand and Australia. You largely set the pace: as each payment milestone is reached, we move on to the next stage of creating your piece.
In simple terms:
50% before we begin crafting – generally reached within the first two months.
50% before delivery – payable as and when suits you, provided the balance is paid in full before your piece is sent.
Rather than requiring full payment upfront or locking you into fixed monthly repayments, our payment milestones follow the progress of your project.
Generally, a 10% deposit gets your project underway, although the exact milestones may vary depending on your piece. We’ll confirm everything with you before you commit.
Before we begin crafting, we’ll bring your total payments to 50% of the final price. We typically ask that this milestone is reached within two months so we can confidently begin crafting your piece while keeping your quoted price protected from movements in the gold and platinum markets.
The remaining 50% can then be paid as and when suits you, either during the crafting process or once your piece is ready. We’ll simply arrange delivery once the final balance has been received.
