What if you did not simply choose your wedding rings, but helped create them yourselves?
At Zlatarski Atelje Mengeš, couples can take part in a private wedding ring workshop and work on their own rings under the guidance of an experienced goldsmith. From the first pieces of gold to shaping, filing and creating the final surface, you become part of the story behind the rings you will wear for the rest of your lives.
No previous jewellery-making or goldsmithing experience is required. The workshop is designed for beginners and adapted to the selected design, your abilities and the amount of work that can be completed safely.
Your mentor guides you throughout the process, prepares the materials and completes any highly technical procedures needed to ensure that the finished rings are durable, comfortable and suitable for everyday wear.
Suggested opening photograph: a couple working together at the jeweller’s bench.
Alt text: Couple making their own wedding rings at a workshop in Slovenia.
What Is a Wedding Ring Workshop?
A wedding ring workshop is a private jewellery-making experience in which a couple actively participates in creating their wedding rings.
It is not a standard group course. The appointment is reserved for the two of you, allowing the goldsmith to focus on your rings, ideas and working pace.
Before the workshop, we agree on:
- the material,
- the colour of the gold,
- the purity of the gold,
- the width and thickness of the rings,
- the profile and shape,
- the surface finish,
- any diamonds,
- the engraving.
Based on your choices, we prepare the material and plan the production process. During the workshop, you then carry out many of the basic goldsmithing techniques that transform a piece of precious metal into a wedding ring.
Who Is the Workshop For?
The workshop is designed for couples looking for more than a conventional visit to a jewellery shop.
It is particularly suitable for couples who:
- want a memorable pre-wedding experience,
- appreciate handmade and unique jewellery,
- would like to participate in making their rings,
- want wedding rings with a personal story,
- are curious about traditional goldsmithing,
- want to spend a creative day together,
- are visiting Slovenia and looking for a unique experience.
You do not need any previous practical experience. Your mentor first demonstrates each technique, explains how to use the tools and then guides you while you work.
The tasks are adapted to your chosen design and level of confidence. The aim is not to turn you into professional goldsmiths in a day. It is to allow you to take a genuine part in creating your rings and to understand the skill involved in making them.
How Long Does the Workshop Take?
The workshop usually lasts several hours or most of a working day. The exact duration depends on the chosen design, material, surface finish and additional details.
Simple classic rings can be completed more quickly. Two-tone designs, special handmade textures and rings with several diamonds require additional preparation and specialist work.
With more complex rings, certain stages may be completed by the goldsmith after your practical workshop has finished. These may include:
- advanced diamond setting,
- complex combinations of different gold colours,
- precision laser welding,
- detailed engraving,
- final technical corrections,
- procedures requiring additional inspection.
Before confirming the booking, we explain the expected process and estimate the time required for your chosen design.
How Does the Wedding Ring Workshop Work?
The process begins before you arrive at the workshop. We first discuss your ideas and then agree on the design, materials and important details.
The main stages usually include:
- selecting the design and material,
- an introduction to the workshop and tools,
- preparing and shaping the gold,
- bending the material into a ring,
- preparing the joint and soldering,
- shaping the correct profile,
- filing and sanding,
- creating the surface texture,
- polishing or applying a matte finish,
- final inspection and diamond setting where required.
The exact sequence may change according to the selected design.
Which Parts Do You Make Yourselves?
Under the guidance of your mentor, you can participate in many of the fundamental stages.
Depending on the design, you may:
- shape the prepared piece of gold,
- bend it into a circle,
- prepare the ends for joining,
- take part in the soldering process,
- shape the ring on a jeweller’s mandrel,
- file the edges and surfaces,
- sand the ring with increasingly fine abrasives,
- create a handmade texture,
- produce a matte finish,
- participate in the final polishing.
Each person can work on their own ring. Some couples prefer to make the rings for one another, with each partner working on the ring the other will wear. This can make the experience even more personal.
Suggested photograph: the couple filing or shaping their rings.
Alt text: Couple creating handmade wedding rings near Ljubljana.
Which Procedures Are Completed by the Goldsmith?
Although you take an active role, the finished wedding rings must meet professional technical standards and remain safe for many years of everyday wear.
The goldsmith therefore completes or directly supervises more demanding procedures, including:
- preparing the correct gold alloy,
- calculating the required amount of material,
- producing precise profiles,
- critical soldering stages,
- laser welding,
- joining different colours of gold,
- preparing seats for diamonds,
- setting natural diamonds,
- advanced engraving,
- final size correction,
- checking the strength of joints,
- inspecting the surface and stones.
You may observe or participate in some of these stages, but the goldsmith remains responsible for the technical execution and safety of the finished jewellery.
Goldsmithing torches, rotating tools and microscope-based setting equipment require professional handling. The entire workshop therefore takes place under continuous supervision.
Which Wedding Ring Designs Can You Make?
The best workshop designs are those that allow the couple to participate in a meaningful part of the production process while still achieving a professional result.
Suitable options commonly include:
- classic smooth wedding bands,
- flat or gently rounded rings,
- rings with softened edges,
- highly polished wedding rings,
- matte wedding rings,
- ice-matte finishes,
- handmade surface textures,
- hammered or irregular textures,
- rings with one or more diamonds,
- selected two-tone wedding rings.
A design should not be chosen from a photograph alone. Some rings may appear simple but are made by industrial processes or require techniques that are not suitable for beginners.
You can send us photographs or sketches of designs you like. We will assess whether the idea is suitable for the workshop. When a design is too technically demanding, we suggest a similar version that still allows you to participate in the production.
Do the Two Rings Have to Be Identical?
No. Your wedding rings can share the same design language without being completely identical.
One ring may be wider and the other narrower. One may include a diamond, while the other has only a handmade texture. You can also choose different colours of gold or slightly different profiles.
The rings may be connected by:
- the same material,
- a shared surface finish,
- a similar shape,
- a matching line or groove,
- a small detail in a second gold colour,
- engraving on the inside.
The most important consideration is that each ring suits the hand and lifestyle of the person who will wear it.
Which Materials Are Available?
Wedding rings can be created in:
- yellow gold,
- white gold,
- rose or red gold,
- combinations of different gold colours,
- 14-carat or 585 gold,
- 18-carat or 750 gold,
- platinum for suitable designs.
The choice of material affects the appearance, weight, feel, production process and final price.
For most workshops, the gold is prepared in advance in a form that allows the couple to continue working safely and effectively. This also ensures the correct purity and dimensions of the material.
Can Diamonds Be Added?
Yes. One or both rings can be set with natural diamonds.
Possible options include:
- one discreet diamond,
- several evenly spaced stones,
- a small group of diamonds,
- a row of stones,
- different setting styles depending on the ring design.
Diamond setting is a highly specialised and precise procedure, so it is normally completed by the goldsmith. Each seat must be prepared accurately, and every stone must be securely set and correctly aligned.
You can observe the setting process and learn about the basic principles, but the goldsmith is responsible for the final security of the diamonds.
Suggested photograph: the goldsmith setting a diamond under a microscope.
Alt text: Setting a natural diamond in a handmade wedding ring.
Can the Rings Be Engraved?
The inside of the rings can include:
- your names,
- the wedding date,
- a short personal message,
- a symbol,
- the coordinates of a meaningful location,
- part of a handwritten message,
- another personal element agreed in advance.
The possibilities depend on the width of the rings and the chosen engraving technique.
Because an internal engraving is visible only to the two of you, it can add another private layer to the story of your wedding rings.
How Much Does the Workshop Cost?
The price depends on the chosen design, material, gold weight, ring sizes, surface finish and any diamonds.
The workshop is not a cheaper alternative to professionally made wedding rings. In addition to the precious metal and goldsmithing work, it includes private mentoring, use of the workshop and tools, and a personalised experience for the couple.
The price is therefore comparable to the price of having the selected wedding rings made by the atelier.
Once the design and sizes have been agreed, we prepare a specific quotation so that you know the expected final price before confirming your booking.
What Do You Take Home from the Workshop?
The most important result is, of course, your wedding rings.
You also take home:
- a shared pre-wedding experience,
- memories of a creative day,
- an understanding of traditional goldsmithing,
- photographs of the different production stages,
- a story to share with family and friends,
- rings with genuine personal meaning.
Filing, heating, shaping and finishing are no longer anonymous production steps. When you place the rings on each other’s hands on your wedding day, you know exactly how they were created.
Photographing Your Experience
Photographs and short video clips can be taken during the different stages of the workshop.
Particularly meaningful moments include:
- seeing the prepared gold for the first time,
- shaping the metal,
- soldering,
- filing together,
- creating the texture,
- trying the rings on for the first time,
- final polishing,
- viewing the completed rings.
Photographs of couples and finished rings help future visitors understand what the workshop involves and which designs can be made.
Any publication of photographs on our website or social media is always agreed with the couple in advance.
Suggested final photograph: the couple’s hands wearing the completed rings.
Alt text: Wedding rings handmade by a couple at a workshop in Slovenia.
A Wedding Ring Workshop Near Ljubljana
Zlatarski Atelje Mengeš is located in Mengeš, a short drive from Ljubljana.
The workshop is suitable for couples from Slovenia and for international couples looking for a wedding ring workshop in Slovenia. The location is also convenient for visitors staying in Ljubljana or arriving through Ljubljana Airport.
The workshop can be conducted in English. The date, design and process are agreed in advance so that the materials are properly prepared before you arrive.
International couples should contact us well in advance, particularly when their rings require complex diamond setting, engraving or additional work after the practical workshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The workshop is designed for beginners, and the goldsmith guides you throughout the process.
Does Each Person Make Their Own Ring?
You can each work on your own ring, or you can make the rings for one another. The choice is entirely personal.
How Long Does the Workshop Take?
It usually lasts several hours or most of the day. The exact duration depends on the complexity of the chosen design.
Can the Workshop Be Held in English?
Yes. The experience is suitable for international couples and can be conducted in English.
Can We Choose Any Ring Design?
We review every idea in advance. Some designs are too complex or depend on industrial techniques that are not suitable for beginners. In such cases, we suggest an adapted version.
Can Natural Diamonds Be Added?
Yes. Natural diamonds can be securely set in one or both rings by the goldsmith.
Are the Rings Finished on the Same Day?
Simpler designs may be completed during the agreed appointment. More complex rings may require additional diamond setting, engraving or final finishing after the workshop.
How Early Should We Book?
We recommend contacting us several months before the wedding. During the main wedding season, earlier booking is advisable.
Create Wedding Rings with Your Own Story
Wedding rings are worn every day. When you help create them yourselves, they become more than two pieces of jewellery selected from a display.
Every filing mark, design decision and moment in the workshop becomes part of their story.
At Zlatarski Atelje Mengeš, we help you select a suitable design, prepare the materials and guide you through the production process. We complete the more technically demanding stages to ensure that the finished rings are durable, comfortable and suitable for many years of wear.
Send us your ideas or photographs of rings you like. Together, we will determine which design is suitable for the workshop and prepare a proposal for wedding rings that you can help create yourselves.
