Custom Engraving Makes For Perfect Personalized Gifts

The holiday season is on the horizon, and the search for the perfect gifts is underway. Each year, we strive to find presents our loved ones will appreciate for both their meaning and their practicality. Personalized engraving is a great way to create a gift that is both thoughtful and useful.
In this blog, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about custom engraving. We’ll also give you a few ideas for what to engrave on your gift. 

• The Joy of Custom Engraving

• Can You Get Any Jewelry Engraved?

• What Can I Get Engraved?

• How Does Engraving Work?

• How Long Does Engraving Take?

• Gift Engraving Ideas

The Joy of Custom Engraving

Custom engraving provides you, the gift giver, with ample opportunity to share a heartfelt message with a loved one. Whether it’s an expression of a deeply held emotion or words of encouragement for someone facing a challenge, the words you share on an engraved gift will be incredibly valuable to the recipient.
It also gives you a chance to show your appreciation for what makes your loved one unique. Choose an item that you know they will value for its beauty, utility or both. Consider their hobbies, activities they engage in frequently, and their personal style. Then, make it even more special with your one-of-a-kind engraving. 
The message you inscribe on your custom gift will become a permanent part of the item. Whether it’s a necklace or a watch, a picture frame or a plaque, your sentiment will last forever. The recipient will always be able to look at this meaningful gift and think of you. 

Can You Get Any Jewelry Engraved?

Though plenty of jewelry can be engraved, engraving isn’t feasible for certain types of jewelry. The quality and practicality of engraving is impacted by the style of jewelry, the materials used in the jewelry, and the desired engraving method. 
Precious metals like gold and silver, as well as high quality metals like stainless steel, are typically suitable for engraving. However, certain factors can limit your engraving options. If the piece is very small, contains gemstones, or has intricate designs, it may be difficult to engrave without compromising the quality of the piece. 
As long as it has enough space to safely inscribe your desired message, most jewelry can be engraved. Necklace pendants, the insides of rings, and the insides of bracelets are common places to include an engraving.
There are several methods for engraving, including hand engraving, machine engraving and laser engraving. The type of engraving used may depend on your design request. A professional jeweler can assess your piece and give you advice on which method will be best for your personalized jewelry. 

What Can I Get Engraved?

You have plenty of options for engraving. Apart from jewelry, you can have watches, pens, plaques, glass cups and picture frames engraved. Some professionals can also engrave wood and leather goods, such as wallets or cutting boards. An engraver may also be able to inscribe a special message on a knife. 
Once you know what item you would like to have engraved, give your local jeweler a call to see if it is an item they are capable of engraving. 
How Does Engraving Work?
It depends on the method used. With laser engraving, laser light is concentrated into a high-energy beam capable of cutting through glass, metal and more. The laser engraving machine is guided by computer software, which directs the laser beam to carve out the image or message of your choosing. 
Hand engraving is what it sounds like: a professional jeweler will use tiny, precise cutting tools to engrave your piece by hand. The result is a beautiful engraving with a human touch that makes it feel particularly meaningful. Some people may prefer a human-guided process to a computer-guided process, but the decision is entirely yours. 
Certain designs may be better handled by a particular type of engraving. Again, it’s a good idea to ask your jeweler for their advice before deciding which method to use.

How Long Does Engraving Take?

It depends on the item(s) you would like to engrave, the complexity of the engraving, and the engraving method used. When you meet with a jeweler for an engraving consultation, you can ask them for an estimate on how long it will take to complete. As with all holiday gifts, the sooner you can get it, the better. 
We recommend visiting your local jeweler as soon as you know what you would like to engrave. That way, you can rest assured it will be ready in time for the holidays. 

Gift Engraving Ideas

Favorite Quotes: There are many websites out there that collect quotes, poems and verses on different themes. This is a good place to start if you’re still figuring out exactly what you want to stay. Choosing a quote from a movie, book, song or television show that the gift recipient likes will show that you put lots of thought into personalizing their gift. 
Important Dates or Numbers: You can go in a few different directions with this one. There are the obvious, but still very meaningful, choices, such as a birthdate or the date of a wedding. You can also inscribe the number of days that have passed since a special event such as a birthdate, wedding date, or meeting date. This can be a touching way to quantify the love you’ve shared with a partner, child, or friend over time.  
Names and Initials: It doesn’t get much more personal than a gift with your name on it. To really make someone feel special, inscribe their name on an item that will mean (or already does mean) a lot to them. Wedding bands are a great choice for name or initial inscriptions. You can include both you and your partner’s names or initials for an extra sentimental touch. Remember, you can add an engraving at any point in time–it doesn’t have to happen before the ceremony! 
Single, Meaningful Words: If your piece doesn’t have much space for engraving, one special word can still be enough to tell a story. Think about the heart of the message you are trying to convey. If it’s an anniversary gift for your spouse, you could say “always” to signify your everlasting commitment. If it’s a gift for a family member, you could use the word “together” to show how important their presence is in your life. 

Maharaja's Does Custom Engraving in Panama City, Florida

Now that you’ve read this blog, we hope you know a little more about the custom engraving process, and the joy of giving custom engraved items. If custom engraving sounds like the perfect gift for someone special in your life, come pay us a visit at Maharaja’s Jewelers in Panama City, Florida. We’re here to help you personalize a present they’ll treasure forever.