What is customised jewellery?
Customised jewellery is a piece designed or adjusted to one buyer's requirements. That can mean a completely new design made from your sketch or reference photo, or an existing design made in a different metal, purity, stone or size. Both count as customisation, and both are made to order rather than taken from ready stock.
Customised vs personalised jewellery: what's the difference?
The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things.
• Customised jewellery changes how the piece is made: its design, metal, gold purity, stone or size.
• Personalised jewellery adds something specific to the wearer, such as a name, initial, date or symbol, to a design.
A piece can be both. For example, a ring designed from your reference photo and made in 14KT gold is customised. Add your partner's initial to it and it is also personalised. Personalised jewellery is one of the strongest trends in Indian jewellery in 2026, especially for gifting.
What can you customise?
With most customised jewellery in India, you can change five things. Each one affects how the piece looks, how it wears every day, and what it costs.
• Design: start from an existing design or share a reference image or sketch.
• Metal: gold vermeil (gold over 925 sterling silver) or solid gold.
• Gold purity: 9KT, 14KT or 18KT.
• Stone: lab-grown diamond, natural diamond or moissanite.
• Size and fit: ring size, chain or bracelet length, and pendant size.
Gold vermeil vs 9KT vs 14KT vs 18KT gold
Gold purity in India is measured in karats out of 24, and the hallmark shows it as a three-digit number. Lower karat gold contains more alloy metals, which makes it harder and cheaper. Higher karat gold has a richer yellow colour but is softer.
|
Metal |
Gold content |
Hallmark mark |
Best for |
|
Gold vermeil |
Gold layer over 925 sterling silver |
Not a gold hallmark item |
Trend-led designs at the lowest cost |
|
9KT gold |
37.5% |
375 |
Daily wear; hardest and most affordable solid gold |
|
14KT gold |
58.5% |
585 |
Daily wear with a warmer gold tone |
|
18KT gold |
75% |
750 |
Richest colour; occasions and heirloom pieces |
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) makes hallmarking mandatory for 14KT, 18KT, 20KT, 22KT, 23KT and 24KT gold, and provides a voluntary hallmarking grade for 9KT gold. Every hallmarked piece carries a 6-digit alphanumeric HUID code that you can verify on the BIS CARE app.
Lab-grown diamond vs natural diamond vs moissanite
|
Stone |
What it is |
Hardness (Mohs) |
Why choose it |
|
Lab-grown diamond |
Real diamond grown in a lab; same chemical and physical properties as mined diamond |
10 |
Diamond look at a lower price; bigger stone for the same budget |
|
Natural diamond |
Diamond mined from the earth |
10 |
Traditional heirloom value |
|
Moissanite |
A different stone, made of silicon carbide |
9.25 |
High sparkle at the lowest cost for large, statement pieces |
If you want a real diamond at a lower budget, choose lab-grown. If heirloom value matters most, choose natural. If you want a large, high-sparkle stone for less, choose moissanite.
Popular customised jewellery pieces in India
Some pieces are customised far more often than others, because small changes make a big difference to how they wear:
• Rings: engagement and anniversary rings, where the stone, gold tone and size matter most.
• Mangalsutras and mangalsutra bracelets: modern, shorter designs for daily wear, often made in a lighter gold purity.
• Pendants: hearts, solitaires and symbols chosen for a person or occasion.
• Earrings: studs and bali (hoops) in a stone size that suits the wearer.
• Nose pins: a stone size and screw fit that are comfortable for all-day wear.
Men's rings, bracelets and pendants, and lighter pieces for kids, are also commonly customised, mainly for size, weight and gold tone.
How much does customised jewellery cost in India?
There is no single price for customised jewellery, because every choice changes the cost. These are the factors that move the price the most:
• Gold purity and weight: 18KT costs more than 14KT, which costs more than 9KT, and heavier designs use more gold.
• Stone type: natural diamond costs the most, lab-grown diamond less, and moissanite the least.
• Stone size and count: a pavé or cluster design uses many small stones; a solitaire uses one larger stone.
• Design complexity: detailed settings take more making time.
At ASPIRI, the price of a design updates as you change the material, so you can see how each choice affects the cost before you order. A fully new design starts with a custom design fee of Rs. 400, which is adjusted against your final invoice if you place the order.
How to order customised jewellery online
Ordering customised jewellery online follows the same basic steps at most brands:
• Choose a design or share a reference image.
• Select the metal, gold purity and stone.
• Confirm the size.
• Approve the final design and pay the balance.
• The piece is made and delivered with its hallmark and certificate.
We explain each step in detail, including what to check before you pay, in our guide on how to customise gold jewellery online.
Customised jewellery as a gift
Customised jewellery is one of the most meaningful gifts because it is made for one person. A pendant with a symbol she loves, a band for your husband in the gold tone he wears, or a mangalsutra bracelet for a first anniversary all carry more meaning than a ready-made piece. For ideas by recipient and budget, read our guide to customised jewellery gifts for him and her.
Common mistakes when ordering customised jewellery
• Not confirming the size before approving the design. Measure an existing ring or bracelet that fits.
• Choosing 18KT gold for a piece worn every day without considering that it is softer than 9KT or 14KT.
• Approving a design from a single angle. Ask for every view before production starts.
• Skipping the policy. Read the custom design, return and exchange terms before you pay.
• Buying gold that is not hallmarked. Always check for the BIS mark and HUID.
How to choose a customised jewellery brand
Before you order customised jewellery online, check these five things:
• BIS hallmark with HUID on all gold jewellery, verifiable on the BIS CARE app.
• A certificate for the stones, and clarity on who issues it.
• A clear custom design policy: fees, revisions and when production starts.
• Return, exchange and buyback terms for customised pieces, in writing.
• Real contact details: a registered business, an address and a phone number.
Customised pieces are usually not returnable, because they are made for one buyer. That makes exchange and buyback terms especially important. If you want to compare established names, see our list of the top jewellery brands in India and the biggest jewellery brands in the world.
How to care for customised jewellery
Customised jewellery needs the same care as any fine jewellery. Store each piece separately in a soft pouch so diamonds do not scratch gold or vermeil. Take jewellery off before swimming, the gym or applying perfume and lotion. Clean it with mild soap, warm water and a soft brush, then dry it fully. For gold vermeil, avoid harsh chemicals that can wear the gold layer. Have prong settings checked once or twice a year, especially on rings worn every day.
About ASPIRI: India's largest customised everyday lifestyle jewellery brand
ASPIRI is a jewellery brand operated by ASPIRI LLP in Surat, Gujarat. It makes customised everyday jewellery across rings, earrings, bracelets, mangalsutras, pendants, necklaces and nose pins, for women, men and kids.
• Material choice on most designs: gold vermeil, 9KT, 14KT or 18KT gold, with lab-grown diamond, natural diamond or moissanite.
• Gold jewellery BIS hallmarked with HUID; diamond jewellery issued with the ASPIRI Certificate.
• Custom designs from your reference, with a Rs. 400 design fee adjusted against the final order. Minor revisions are included, and production starts once you approve the final design.
• 7-day money back on eligible ready designs, lifetime exchange and lifetime buyback, with values that depend on the material. Customised orders are not returnable but remain eligible for exchange and buyback.
• Cash on delivery available.
To start a design, use Customize Your Design on aspiri.in or call +91 95127 71000.
Frequently asked questions
Is customised jewellery more expensive than ready-made jewellery?
- Not always. The price depends on the gold purity, stone and design you choose. Choosing 9KT gold or a lab-grown diamond can make a customised piece cost less than a ready-made piece in 18KT gold with a natural diamond.
Can I customise jewellery online in India?
- Yes. You can choose a design, metal, purity, stone and size online and approve the final design before production. At ASPIRI you can start with Customize Your Design on aspiri.in.
How long does customised jewellery take?
- It depends on the design and the materials. At ASPIRI, production starts only after you approve the final design and pay the balance, and the timeline is confirmed at that stage.
Can I return customised jewellery?
- Most brands do not accept returns on customised pieces because they are made for one buyer. At ASPIRI, customised orders are not returnable but are eligible for exchange and buyback.
Is customised gold jewellery hallmarked?
- It should be. Under BIS rules, hallmarking is mandatory for 14KT to 24KT gold, and 9KT gold has a voluntary hallmarking grade. ASPIRI gold jewellery is BIS hallmarked with a 6-digit HUID code.
Which gold purity is best for customised daily wear jewellery?
- 9KT and 14KT gold are harder than 18KT, so they resist scratches and bending better in daily wear. Choose 18KT if you want the richest gold colour.
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
- Yes. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical composition and physical properties as mined diamonds. The difference is their origin and their lower price.
What is a custom design fee?
- It is a fee paid before a jeweller starts designing a new piece for you. ASPIRI charges Rs. 400, which is adjusted against your final invoice if you place the order and is non-refundable if you do not.