Engraving Services

Engraving transforms a beautifully made piece of jewellery into something permanently, unmistakably yours. At our Hatton Garden studio we offer two distinct engraving techniques - laser engraving and traditional hand engraving - each with its own character, applications, and creative possibilities. This guide explains the differences, helps you choose the right method for your piece, and walks through how we work.

The Two Techniques

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving uses a precisely controlled beam to remove a thin layer of metal, creating crisp, uniform lines with exact fidelity to a digital artwork file. Because the beam is computer-guided, laser engraving excels at consistency, fine detail, and work on surfaces that are difficult to reach with a hand tool - the inner band of a ring, for example, or the smooth interior of a bangle.

It is the ideal method for dates, initials, meaningful coordinates, barcodes, and most text messages. Laser depth is adjustable, which means it works on platinum, 18ct gold, silver, titanium, and most contemporary metals without deformation to thin bands. It is also reversible in many cases: a light laser engraving can be polished out if you ever want to refresh or change the inscription. Find more at our Laser Engraving page.

Hand Engraving

Hand engraving is one of the oldest traditions in fine jewellery - and one of the most demanding. A master engraver uses hardened steel gravers to cut directly into the metal, creating a distinctive, softly shimmering line that no machine can replicate. Each cut catches light slightly differently; the entire surface reads as living, hand-made, unique. It is the technique used on royal jewellery, heirloom family pieces, and the finest bespoke rings coming out of Hatton Garden today.

Hand engraving allows for ornamental flourishes, seal engraving, monograms in period scripts, wriggle-work borders, and pictorial cuts that are simply not possible by laser. Because every stroke is guided by the engraver's eye and hand, no two hand-engraved pieces are ever identical. Explore our Hand Engraving page for the full range.

How to Choose

The right technique depends on what you are engraving, where on the piece it sits, and the feeling you are after.

• Choose laser engraving when you want perfectly consistent text, dates on the inside of a wedding band, small fonts, fingerprint engravings, handwritten-signature inscriptions, or any inscription on a slim or delicate piece.
• Choose hand engraving when you want a visible decorative detail on the outside of a ring, a classical monogram, heraldic devices, signet seals, or when the character and feel of handwork matters as much as the words themselves.
• Consider both for a piece that combines a hand-cut exterior motif with a personal laser-engraved inscription hidden inside.

Typography & Lettering

Your inscription is only as beautiful as the lettering that carries it. We work from a curated library of scripts refined over decades for jewellery use - including:

• Classic Serif - timeless Times-style lettering, best for dates and initials.
• English Roundhand Script - flowing copperplate, traditional for romantic inscriptions.
• Italic Calligraphy - a softer, slightly more modern script.
• Block Capitals - bold, architectural, modern.
• Old English Gothic - for heraldic monograms and heirloom-feel lettering.
• Your Own Handwriting - send us a photograph of a handwritten signature or phrase and we will laser-engrave it faithfully onto your piece.

Symbols, music notation, foreign scripts (including Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese and Cyrillic), and custom artwork are all supported - just share your reference.

Common Uses

• Wedding Bands - dates, initials, or a short phrase engraved inside the band. Often in an intimate script the couple chose together.
• Engagement Rings - a proposal date, a meaningful coordinate, or the wearer's first name inside the band.
• Eternity Rings - anniversary dates, children's names, or a commemorative message.
• Pendants & Lockets - monograms, portraits in miniature, or handwritten notes.
• Signet Rings - traditional hand-engraved seals, family crests, and initials in Old English.
• Cufflinks - initials, crests, or bespoke motifs.
• Heirloom Restoration - re-cutting worn or partially lost hand engraving on inherited pieces.

Process & Timeline

1. Consultation. In person at our Goldsmiths' Centre studio, by WhatsApp, or by video call. We look at the piece, discuss placement, script, and tone.
2. Proof. For any bespoke wording we send a digital proof for approval before any cut is made. For hand-engraved commissions a pencil transfer is laid directly on the piece and shown to you for sign-off.
3. Engraving. Laser engraving typically takes one to three working days. Hand engraving usually takes five to ten working days depending on complexity and engraver availability.
4. Finish & Quality Check. Every engraved piece is cleaned, lightly polished, and photographed before collection or dispatch.

Pricing

Laser engraving starts from £30 for a short inscription (up to around 30 characters) on a single piece. Hand engraving starts from £85 depending on design complexity, with seal engraving and heraldic work priced individually. Engraving is complimentary on most bespoke commissions placed with us - please ask at consultation.

Ready to engrave?

Contact our Hatton Garden studio to discuss your piece, or book an online consultation. If you have a piece from another jeweller you would like engraved, we are happy to help - just bring it (or post it insured) to our studio at The Goldsmiths' Centre, 42 Britton Street, London EC1M 5AD.