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No matter whether you are talking about that double chocolate cake or the stunning ring that catches everyone’s attention, there is a certain kind of pleasure in being able to say, “I did that myself.” While you may not be able to actually set the stones in your ring, you can design it.

The easiest way is to choose a semi-mount or casting and then choose your stones. In the jewelry trade castings, as the name implies are made from precious metal, such as silver or gold, that has been cast by pouring the molten metal into a molding. Castings, then are just unfinished pieces waiting for the right stone or stones.

By contrast, semi-mounts take it step further. While the center stone or stones have not yet been set, the accent diamonds have been. This means that the designer can then pick the right stone or combinations to meet her own taste and style.

So the quickest way to becoming your own designer would be to choose your semi-mount or casting by going to your local jewelry who has stacks of catalogs where you can find almost anything imaginable. It is best to choose this before choosing the stones since it is often easier to find the right-sized stone than the opposite, but don’t let that stop you when you see the perfect stone first. It might just make take a little longer to find the winning combination.

If you are on a somewhat tight budget, you might consider beginning with a casting, since these are not preset with diamonds, they are naturally going to be less expensive than semi-mounts. Then instead of diamonds, you can choose more affordable white stones such as white topaz, white sapphire or white zircon, not to be confused with the manmade cubic zirconia.

Your options as a designer are not limited to choosing the center and accent stones. Some semi-mounts and castings will allow more than one primary stone to be featured. For example, remember the trendy past, present and future design, which showcases three stones, or the equally popular circle pendant. These would give to the chance to mix and match stones until your heart was content.

So the next time you are in the market for a new piece of jewelry, you might want to try your hand at designing your own. It can be easier than you think.