How it works · the custom-ring journey
How custom engagement rings work at Franzia Diamonds.
The same five steps we walk a buyer through at the bench inside Superior Grocers, Corona, CA — laid out here so you can read at your own pace before stepping on the case. Pick up at any stage: come in for a stone, place a deposit to start a build, or talk to the bench about a piece you already have in mind.
01 · The five stages
From the case tag to the finished ring.
The order the bench actually works in. Every stage has an exit ramp — you can stop at the configurator, or carry a stone all the way through to a setting you already own.
Stage 1 · Browse
See the case — certified, in person.
Every natural stone arrives at the counter with its GIA grading packet, and every lab-grown stone ships in with its IGI grading packet — the report number is on the case tag so an appraiser, an insurance company, or a future buyer can verify the same 4 Cs we showed you. Browse the feed online or sit down at the loupe at the Franzia Diamonds counter inside Superior Grocers, Corona, CA; the report and the stone travel together either way.
Stage 2 · Configure
Lock the stone, then build the setting.
The ring configurator holds the centre stone against your order before any metal is cast, so it never returns to the case and never gets quoted to another buyer. Pick the setting, the metal, the side profile, and the engraving; the bench renders a CAD for sign-off before any cutting starts. If you already have a setting from another jeweler, the same stone-hold process keeps the order intact through the build.
Stage 3 · Deposit
A deposit that holds the stone and the quote.
The deposit is applied to the final purchase — it secures the chosen stone, the agreed setting, and the bench schedule for the build. If the finished ring or the loose stone is not right within the posted window, bring it in or email us and we walk exchange or refund options against your specific order. Returns are handled the same way in person and over email; the goal is the right ring, not a paperwork loop.
Stage 4 · Craft
CAD, casting, setting — one milestone call.
Most custom builds run 2–4 weeks from the day you confirm the spec, depending on setting complexity and the metal you choose. Each step is its own milestone — CAD sign-off, casting, stone setting, finishing — and the centre stone is held against your order through production so it does not drift to another buyer. You get a milestone call at the bench, not a sales-call runway: descriptive language, timeline updates, and the chance to redirect before the next step.
Stage 5 · Deliver
Final inspection, then insured handoff.
Every finished piece goes through a final inspection under the loupe before it leaves the bench — prong alignment, stone security, finish and polish, engraving legibility — and the same GIA / IGI report it was built against travels with it. Pickup is at the Franzia Diamonds counter inside Superior Grocers, Corona, CA; shipment is insured, signature-required, and packaged against the stone it carries. After it arrives, resizing and warranty work happen at the same counter, with the report and the order in hand.
02 · The questions we hear first
Certification, location, and lead time — answered up front.
The three trust items every buyer reaches for before they reach for the counter phone, in the same order.
Are the diamonds really GIA and IGI certified?
Yes. Every natural stone at the counter ships with its original GIA grading packet, every lab-grown stone ships with its original IGI packet. The report number is on the case tag and travels with the stone; you can verify it on the issuing lab’s public site at any time, before or after the purchase.
Where is the counter, and can I come in person?
The bench is inside Superior Grocers, Corona, CA — walk-ins are welcome during store hours, no appointment needed to browse. For custom builds, stone-specific questions, or a quiet hour at the loupe, reach out ahead of time and we will hold the case open for you.
How long does a custom build actually take?
Most custom builds run 2–4 weeks from the day you confirm the spec, depending on setting complexity and the metal you choose. The centre stone stays held against your order through production, so the timeline is the bench’s, not a queue you’re waiting in.
03 · Where to start
Two doors off this page.
Pick the one that matches the piece you have in mind. Both go to the same Franzia Diamonds bench inside Superior Grocers, Corona, CA.
Not a ring
Tell us what you want to build.
Bracelets, pendants, necklaces, earrings, tennis pieces, or a one-off fashion piece. We'll reply within two business days with options and an estimate.
- Stone, metal, carat range, and budget — all in one form.
- Bench quotes and walks you through options before any deposit.
Engagement ring
Browse today's certified diamonds.
The feed of stones on the case — natural (GIA) and lab-grown (IGI), with the report number on every listing. Filter by shape, carat, clarity, and budget, then take any stone into the ring configurator.
- Every stone ships with the report number — verify on the lab's site.
- Pick a stone, the configurator opens with it already held against your order.