Personalized Wedding Bands: Crafting Fingerprint Rings

Adding a fingerprint to your wedding ring is a unique way to personalise your wedding jewellery. The process involves taking your fingerprints and applying them to the ring through engraving or laser engraving. You can choose to have your fingerprint on the inside or outside of the ring, and even add a partner's fingerprint to your ring and vice versa. You can also add wording, such as a date or a message, in a font of your choice.

Choose your plain wedding rings

The first step in creating your fingerprint wedding rings is to choose the plain wedding rings that will be engraved. You can decide on the basic shape, metal, width, finger size, and style of the rings. You can opt for rings made from white gold, gold, rose gold, or platinum. Keep in mind that rings with patterns are only suitable for engraving on the inner surface.

If you haven't decided on the ring styles yet, you can take your fingerprints first and use them for other jewellery as well. You can order a standalone fingerprint jewellery kit and get a refund for the cost when you place an order for the engraved wedding rings later.

It's important to note that due to the high quality of the finish, some jewellers may only engrave fingerprints on wedding rings purchased from them.

Order a fingerprint kit

Ordering a fingerprint kit is the first step in creating a personalised wedding ring. Serendipity Diamonds, for example, offers a stand-alone fingerprint kit that you can order before purchasing your engraved wedding ring. This is ideal if you want to take your fingerprints first before deciding on the ring styles. The cost of the kit will be refunded if you place an order for an engraved wedding ring later.

Your fingerprint kit will arrive within a week, and it will contain detailed instructions on how to take your fingerprints. You can also refer to the following steps on how to use the kit:

• Coat your finger with ink from the ink strip provided in the kit.
• Press down on the photo paper with a satin or glossy finish without rolling your finger.
• Aim for a clear print with lots of detail. Make as many attempts as you want, focusing on getting the most detail from the lower part of your fingertip.
• Send the prints back to the jeweller, following their instructions on how to return the prints.

You can also order a fingerprint kit from Noémi Eśka if you're interested in their fingerprint ring bands.

Take your fingerprints

Taking your fingerprints

Once you have chosen your wedding rings and decided on the placement of the fingerprint, you can start the process of taking your fingerprints.

Serendipity Diamonds provides a fingerprint kit with detailed instructions on how to take your fingerprints. You can also order this kit separately and then later apply the cost to your ring purchase. The kit will arrive within a week and can be delivered worldwide.

When you receive the kit, take your time to get a good print for your rings. Try different fingers and coat your finger with ink from the ink strip provided in the kit. Press down without rolling your finger. Remember that the most detail is on the lower part of your fingertip.

Aim for a clear print with lots of detail. Make as many attempts as you want—the clearer the detail, the better the results. The print should be sharp and not blurred.

If you decide to scan and email your print, avoid sending blurred or smudged prints. Remember that lines and marks on the fingerprint will be reflected in the engraving.

You can also take a clear macro photo of your fingertip (e.g. using an iPhone 14) and create the artwork from the photograph.

Returning your fingerprints

After you have taken your fingerprints, send them back to the jeweller with explicit instructions on which fingerprint goes where.

Use the help sheet on the reverse of the fingerprinted paper to include important information, such as your name, order number, and instructions, including which ring the print should be applied to.

Use the tick box to indicate whether you want the fingerprint on the inside or outside of the ring. If you have requested wording, please include the wording and the font you would like.

Then, either post or scan and email your fingerprints and instructions to the jeweller.

Send prints to the jeweller

Once you have your fingerprints, you need to send them to your chosen jeweller. Many jewellers will provide you with a kit to take your prints, and guidance on how to do this. Some jewellers will ask you to scan and email the prints, whereas others will ask you to post them.

If you are sending your prints via email, be sure to scan them in high resolution. You should also avoid sending blurred, smudged or unclear prints. Remember that lines and marks on the fingerprint will come out in the engraving. It is also important to include explicit instructions on which fingerprint goes where. Some jewellers will provide a help sheet for you to fill out. This will include important information such as your name, order number (if known), and instructions, including which ring the print is to be applied to.

If you are posting your prints, you will need to include the same information as above, but on a physical sheet of paper. You can then post this to the jeweller, along with your fingerprints.

After you have sent your prints, the jeweller will work on the ring itself. Once the ring has been engraved and refinished, it will be sent out to you.

Await your rings

Once you have sent off your fingerprints and chosen your ring styles, all that's left to do is wait for your beautiful, personalised fingerprint wedding rings to be delivered.

The process of creating your fingerprint rings will take around 4 weeks, including the time it takes to create the rings. This process may vary depending on the company you order from and the complexity of your chosen ring design.

While you wait, your fingerprints will be transformed into clear, detailed artwork, ready to be engraved onto your chosen rings. This process may involve "cleaning up" your prints by hand and at high magnification to improve the end result and ensure the best possible engraving.

If you have chosen to include any additional wording or designs, such as a heart pattern or memorial fingerprint, this will also be incorporated into your rings during this time.

Finally, once the engraving is complete, your rings will be refinished and prepared for shipping. You will then receive your unique, personalised fingerprint wedding rings, ready to be worn and cherished forever.

Frequently asked questions