If you’ve ordered a ring in the end of November or early December and noticed a longer-than-usual delivery timeline, you’re not alone. Every year, customers wonder why a piece that normally takes a couple of weeks suddenly needs three extra weeks to arrive. The culprit is a perfect storm of seasonal demand, production bottlenecks, and shipping slowdowns.
Here’s a clear breakdown of why it happens and what you can do to avoid frustration.
1. Black Friday Boosts Early Order Volume
December delays often begin in late November.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales inspire thousands of shoppers to place ring orders within the same 72-hour window. Since many take advantage of the discounts, this spikes demand dramatically.
Even when the sale ends, the manufacturing queue from these events carries over into December, adding days—sometimes weeks—to normal production timelines.
2. December Is Peak Holiday Gift Season
On top of the Black Friday surge, December itself is the highest-volume gift-shopping month of the year. Rings are among the most popular choices for:
- Proposals during the holidays
- Christmas or New Year gifts
- Anniversaries
- End-of-year milestones
With so many customers ordering around the same time, the production pipeline becomes longer and slower.
3. Made-to-Order Rings Require More Time
Unlike mass-produced jewelry, artisan or customized rings at 25karats aren’t pulled from a shelf, they’re made-to-order based on each customer’s specifications.
This includes:
- Metal selection
- Ring finish texture
- Ring size
- Gemstone choice
- Engraving or personalization
Every ring must be crafted individually. When thousands of custom requests flood in simultaneously, the queue extends naturally.
4. Manufacturing Queues Become Overloaded
Even highly efficient jewelry workshops face December bottlenecks.
A workshop that normally handles a manageable flow of orders may experience a 5–10× increase during holiday season. Skilled jewelers can only produce so many high-quality custom rings per day, which means:
- Longer waits for your turn in the queue
- Extended stone-setting and polishing timelines
Quality craftsmanship simply can’t be rushed.
5. Shipping Networks Slow Down Due to Overload
Even after the ring is completed, December adds one more hurdle: shipping delays.
Mail carriers experience their highest parcel volume of the year during this month. This can lead to slower processing times, longer transit periods, occasional tracking delays, and weather-related slowdowns.
Even express shipping services may experience congestion, adding extra days to the final delivery.
What You Can Do to Avoid December Delays
Waiting an extra three weeks can be stressful—especially for gifts or proposals. Here’s how to make the process easier:
1. Order Early
If possible, place holiday orders before mid-November. Many companies start their promotions early–remeber to signup for their online promotions. This bypasses both Black Friday and December rushes.
2. Choose “Ready-to-Ship” Options (If Available)
Some shops offer limited batches of premade or pre-sized rings. If you’re on a deadline, these can arrive much faster.
3. Opt for a Temporary Proposal or Gift Ring
A growing trend: proposing with a placeholder ring and gifting the personalized ring once it arrives.
4. Track Your Shipment, but Expect Slower Updates
Holiday tracking systems update less frequently during peak volume—this is normal.
5. Communicate Your Deadline
If the company knows your timeline, they may be able to advise you or recommend options that fit your schedule.
Final Thoughts
December delays aren’t a sign of poor service—they’re a natural result of high demand, custom craftsmanship, and overloaded shipping networks. Understanding this helps set expectations and ensures a smoother, stress-free experience.
Order early, plan ahead, and enjoy the process of gifting or receiving a meaningful, handcrafted ring—worth the wait every time.
