alternative engagement rings buyer's guide custom engagement rings proposal planning unique engagement rings

Made-To-Order vs. Ready-To-Ship Engagement Rings: What's the Difference?

Oct 9, 2026

When you’re shopping for an engagement ring, you’ll see that most products are either “made to order” or “ships now”. A made-to-order engagement ring is manufactured for you once you place your order, allowing for more customization, while a ready-to-ship engagement ring has already been produced and can be dispatched quickly.

It’s important to understand what these terms actually mean and how they impact the production and delivery time for your engagement ring. Choosing between made-to-order and ready-to-ship can determine your choice for personalization, sizing, and center stones.

Made-to-Order vs. Ready-to-Ship: What It Means

	Made to Order	Ready to Ship
When is it made?	After you order	Already made
Delivery	Usually 6-8 weeks, depending on production time	Usually much faster, typically within 2-3 business days
Stone Choice	Greater flexibility for choosing your gemstone	Gemstones already selected for you
Ring Size	Made for your exact size	May require resizing
Returns	Often restricted	May be returnable
Best suited for	Custom engagement rings	Last-minute proposals

What Does “Made-to-Order” Actually Mean?

Made-to-order doesn’t automatically mean that you’re designing a completely bespoke ring from scratch. Instead, the jewelry may have already designed the setting but only begins production once the customer chooses their center stone, ring size, metal type, and finish.

Galia Green Sapphire Minimal Dainty Engagement Ring

Most of the engagement rings we offer at Valley Rose use this production method. You’re able to explore our range of sustainable engagement rings and personalize the setting with your choice of Fairmined gold, center stone, and metal finish. We use this production process to reduce our carbon footprint and make your engagement ring as sustainable as possible.

Why Does a Made-to-Order Engagement Ring Take Longer?

A made-to-order engagement ring takes longer as it doesn’t exist in its finished form when your order is placed; even the setting has already been made. The setting will need to be adapted with the stones placed securely before the rest of the finishes are completed.

At Valley Rose, most of our engagement rings have a four-to-five-week production time before shipping, although this may be longer during peak season. This made-to-order process is often an ideal option for couples who want the option to personalize aspects of their engagement ring without designing one entirely from scratch.

When Does Ready-to-Ship Make More Sense?

Starlight Diamond Alternative Celestial Engagement Ring By Valley Rose

Starlight Celestial Star Diamond Engagement Ring

A ready-to-ship engagement ring may be a better option if you’ve already fallen in love with a specific stone and design combination. If you have a shorter timeline to your chosen proposal date, or you don’t want to design a custom piece, then a ready-to-ship ring will tick all the boxes.

At Valley Rose, our range of ready-to-ship engagement rings is constantly rotating and generally ships within two business days. These rings will often incorporate diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones and are eligible for returns within 14 days if they haven’t been resized.

Shop Made-to-Order and Ready-to-Ship Engagement Rings at Valley Rose

Your proposal timeline will often determine whether a made-to-order or ready-to-ship engagement ring is right for you. Work backward from your proposal date and consider how resizing and shipping may factor into this timeline.

Book a virtual consultation to discover more about our sustainable engagement rings or shop our latest arrivals to explore both made-to-order and ready-to-ship rings.