Reddit reviews Basic Wax Modeling: An Adventure in Creativity

Hi, I've just recently been teaching myself how to carve wax for an engagement ring for my girlfriend as well. This book was a good starting point for me.

If you're thinking about actually making it yourself still, I recommend you purchase these tools and a jeweler's saw. You'll also need some sort of scribe (I have a good pair of calipers that I use as a scribe) and a ring gauge. Having some good files around will help as well. All in all, you can get setup for carving wax for $100 or less. It's difficult, but with practice you absolutely improve. I've made about 5 or 6 practice rings and I learn something new each time I make one. It's really all about the "order of operations" when carving.

Casting isn't super difficult, there are plenty of good tutorials on YouTube for that. Dental wax and equipment is a bit different, but I'm sure your friend can help. Look on craigslist for a centrifugal casting machine and a small kiln. Everything else you can get on riogrande (things like investment, casting grain metals, etc.).

After casting, you'll probably want to get a flex shaft. You can use it to clean up and polish the ring. And then if you get a hammer attachment, you can use that to set the stones. Here's a good tutorial on pave setting.

It sounds like you're set on going the CAD route, but if you decide to carve and cast yourself, let me know!