(And Why More People Are Choosing Handmade)
Let’s be honest: shopping for wedding rings can get overwhelming fast. You walk into a big-name jewelry store and suddenly everything starts to blur: rows of the same diamond solitaires, the same yellow and white gold bands, the same cookie-cutter designs with zero story behind them.
If you’re here, you’re probably wondering whether it’s worth going with a handmade ring. Or maybe you’ve already seen a few of our pieces at LMNA Wood Rings and you’re starting to feel the difference between something made for you and something made for everyone.
This post breaks it all down: the difference between handmade, custom rings and mass-produced rings, what each option offers, and why more couples are leaning toward handcrafted, meaningful jewelry, especially when it comes to the one piece you’ll wear every single day.
What’s the Difference, Really?
Let’s define it:
• Mass-Produced Rings are designed in bulk, manufactured by machines, and sold through retail chains. These are your “mall jewelry store” rings, often made overseas and stocked in standardized sizes and designs. There are also the wanna-be impersonators. These rings may look and advertise as hand-made or custom, but they have insanely low price tags and come straight from drop-shippers. (We should know, we get solicited by over-seas companies to sell their mass-produced rings all the time.)
• Custom Handmade Rings—like the ones we craft at LMNA Wood Rings—are designed one at a time, with your story and preferences in mind. They’re shaped, carved, and finished by real artisans, not assembly lines.
At a glance, both might shine in the display case. But under the surface? One is just a ring. The other is yours.
Why Custom Handmade Rings Are Worth It
Let’s dig into the real reasons couples are going with handmade wedding rings:
1. Meaning Over Marketing
A ring from a chain store might come in a fancy box, but it often lacks soul. The design is built to sell in quantity, not to celebrate your relationship.
A custom handmade ring, though? That’s a piece of your story. Maybe it has the stones that symbolizes your shared values. Or a design that weaves in both your backgrounds or interests, like fossils or tank parts. It’s not about trends, it’s about makes you, you.
2. Made to Last, Like Your Love
Mass-produced rings can cut corners – cheap alloys, weak settings, lower-grade finishes. They look good for a while… but you may be back for repairs sooner than you think.
With handmade rings, especially from skilled artisans like those at LMNA, durability is built in from the beginning. Materials are carefully selected, techniques are time-tested, and the end result is something that can last for generations.
3. Ethical & Eco-Conscious
Chain stores don’t always make it easy to trace where your materials came from. Are the stones conflict-free? Is the wood sustainably sourced?
At LMNA, ethics are front and center. We specialize in natural materials, like salvaged or responsibly harvested wood, and many of our metals are recycled or ethically sourced. So you’re not just wearing something beautiful, you’re standing for something you believe in.
When we order supplies, we only use trusted small businesses that provide us with good quality materials, metals, and stones.
4. A Deeper Connection
One thing we hear from couples again and again: “We wanted something that felt like us.”
A custom, handmade ring carries your fingerprints, your voice, your heart. It’s a conversation starter. A future heirloom. A daily reminder of the promises you made, the story you’re writing, and the values you hold.
Mass-produced rings? They’re fine. But they don’t feel like yours.
What About Cost?
A lot of people assume custom and handmade = expensive. And sure, you can design a luxury piece that costs more than a car, but that’s not what most handmade ring makers are doing.
LMNA Wood Rings, for example, offers a wide range of customizable pieces at accessible prices. And because you’re not paying for branding or retail overhead, your money goes directly into quality craftsmanship and materials.
Plus, you’re investing in something that won’t go out of style, fall apart, or need replacing.
Timeline and Planning
Mass-produced rings? You can usually walk out with them that day unless you need an unavailable size. But handmade rings do take time. (Think 4–8 weeks, depending on complexity.)
At LMNA, each ring is made to order, by hand, whether it is a genuine, from scratch custom ring or one of our own designs. That timeline reflects the care and attention that goes into the work. So if you’re considering a custom piece or one of our many available options, it’s smart to order early, especially if your wedding date is coming up. We won’t stop working on the ring until it is perfect and meets our quality standards, so you will be happy with your ring.
Pro tip: The ring shopping process can be a really meaningful part of your engagement or wedding journey. It’s something you do together—and that shared experience is part of what makes the final ring even more special. So talk it over with your partner and come to us with your design ideas or find the ring that speaks to you.
Real Couples Are Making the Shift
Here’s what we’re seeing more and more of:
• Couples designing rings together instead of shopping alone. Sometimes this is just them deciding they like a certain option, like ring with meteorite fragments, and then ordering a matching set. Other times, the groom decides he wants a ring made with genuine tank parts or dinosaur fossils. Either way, couples are finding it rewarding to pick out what they want together and avoid generic pop-top gold and silver rings.
• Partners choosing wood, meteorite, or other natural materials instead of diamonds
• Rings with deeply personal touches, like birthstones, shells, or meaningful symbols
• A growing desire to support small, ethical makers over giant brands
Handmade rings are no longer the “alternative.” They’re the preferred choice for people who care about quality, connection, and craft.
The Final Word
When you say “yes” to a wedding ring, you’re not just choosing jewelry, you’re choosing what kind of story you want to tell. Do you want a ring that came off a conveyor belt? Or one that was designed with your name, your love, and your values in mind?
Custom doesn’t mean complicated. It means intentional. And when you work with a thoughtful, skilled team like LMNA Wood Rings, you get more than a ring. You get a piece of art. A symbol of love that’s one of a kind – just like you.
Ready to create something unforgettable?
✨ Start your handmade ring shopping journey with LMNA today—because your love deserves nothing less. ✨