TL;DR

At Bijouterie Jamil in Montréal, laser engraving runs $20–$60 CAD per piece and most jobs are ready in 24 to 72 hours. Hand engraving by a master engraver runs $80–$300 CAD and takes 1 to 2 weeks. We engrave inside or outside rings, watch case backs, pendants, lockets, bracelet plates, and money clips — including pieces you didn't buy from us. We work in script, block, Old English, and custom fonts, in French (with accents), English, Arabic, and Hebrew. Walk in or book an appointment.

Table of contents

1. Laser vs hand engraving: which one and why
2. Fonts: script, block, Old English, custom
3. Placement: inside the band, outside, watch backs, pendants
4. Character limits by item
5. Languages and special characters (French, Arabic, Hebrew)
6. Engraving on pieces you bought elsewhere
7. Re-engraving after a resize or repair
8. Lead times and how to order
9. FAQ

1. Laser vs hand engraving: which one and why

We offer two methods, and the right one depends on the piece, the budget, and the look you want.

Laser engraving uses a focused beam to mark the metal precisely. It's fast, repeatable, and works on hardened pieces, titanium, tungsten, stainless steel, and even inside narrow rings where a hand tool can't reach. The line is crisp and uniform. Cost: $20–$60 CAD per piece, depending on length and font. Turnaround: 24 to 72 hours, sometimes same-day if the workshop is light.

Hand engraving is done with a graver (a tiny chisel) by a trained engraver, often using a microscope. The line has subtle depth variation that catches light differently — the look you see on heirloom watches and luxury monograms. Cost: $80–$300 CAD depending on complexity. Turnaround: 1 to 2 weeks because we schedule it with our master engraver.

Quick rule: if it's a sentimental message inside a wedding band, laser is perfect and most couples choose it. If it's a visible monogram on a signet ring or a watch case back you'll show off, hand engraving earns its premium.

2. Fonts: script, block, Old English, custom

Font choice changes the personality of the piece more than people expect. The four families we use most:

• Script (italic) — Romantic, flowing. Best for inside-band love messages, dates, names. Reads well even at small sizes.
• Block (sans-serif or serif) — Modern, clean, legible. Best for initials, coordinates, short phrases, and any piece a man will wear.
• Old English (blackletter) — Bold, traditional, heavy. Strong on signet rings, grillz, pendants, and chains. Looks great in single letters and short names.
• Custom / signature — We can copy a real handwritten signature from a photo and engrave it as-is. Common for memorial pieces and gifts. Add $30–$80 CAD for the artwork prep.

We'll send you a digital proof of the font, size, and layout before we touch the metal. Nothing gets engraved without your approval.

3. Placement: inside the band, outside, watch backs, pendants

Where we engrave matters. Each spot has tradeoffs.

Inside the ring band — The classic spot for wedding bands and engagement rings. Private, protected from wear, never visible day-to-day. Ideal for dates, initials, and short phrases. This is the most common request we get and the easiest to execute.

Outside the ring — Used for signet rings, men's bands, and decorative styles. Visible always, so the engraving needs to be designed as part of the ring's look — not an afterthought. Hand engraving usually wins here.

Watch case back — A favourite for retirement gifts, milestone watches, and family heirlooms. We can engrave most steel, gold, and titanium case backs. Sapphire-glass case backs cannot be engraved (the case back is glass, not metal). Bring the watch in so we can confirm.

Pendants and lockets — Front, back, or both. Lockets often get a date inside and a name outside. Pendants are great for longer messages because the surface is bigger.

Bracelet plates, money clips, baby spoons, cufflinks, lighters, pens — We engrave all of them. If it's metal and it fits in our laser bay or vise, we can engrave it.

4. Character limits by item

Real numbers, based on typical pieces. Final limits depend on font size and ring size — we'll confirm when you book.

If your message is longer than the space, we have three options: shrink the font, abbreviate (initials + date is a classic move), or split across two surfaces (e.g. half on the inside, half on the outside).

5. Languages and special characters: French, Arabic, Hebrew

Yes — we engrave in French with proper accents (é, è, ê, à, ç, ô, ï, ù), and in Arabic and Hebrew, which a lot of Montréal clients ask for. We also handle Greek, Cyrillic, and Chinese characters.

Two things to know:

1. Right-to-left scripts (Arabic, Hebrew) need to be sent to us in their final, properly-typed form — ideally copy-pasted from a trusted source or written by a native speaker. Auto-translators sometimes flip letters or break ligatures. We will not guess.
2. Symbols — hearts, infinity loops, crosses, stars of David, fleurs-de-lys, music notes, fingerprints — all doable with the laser. Send us a clean reference image.

For any non-Latin script we'll send the proof in the actual font and ask you to confirm it character-by-character before engraving.

6. Engraving on pieces you bought elsewhere

Yes, absolutely. About a third of the engraving we do is on pieces our clients didn't buy from us — gifts from family, online purchases, vintage finds, watches inherited from a parent. The price is the same.

What we need to check first: - Material — solid gold, platinum, silver, steel, titanium, and tungsten are all engravable. Plated pieces can be engraved but the laser may cut through the plating, exposing the base metal. We'll warn you. - Hollowness — many lightweight modern pieces are hollow. Hand engraving on hollow walls is risky; laser is usually safe at low power. - Existing finish — heavily textured or hammered finishes don't show engraving well. We'll suggest a smooth panel inset or talk you out of it.

Walk it in. We'll inspect for free and give you a written quote in five minutes.

7. Re-engraving after a resize or repair

When we resize a ring (see our ring sizing guide), we usually have to cut the band. If your original engraving sat at the bottom of the band, the cut goes right through it. Same situation if a chain or bracelet needs a soldered repair near an engraved plate.

Here's how we handle it:

• Small resize, engraving intact — no action needed. The engraving stays where it was.
• Resize cuts through the engraving — we polish out the seam, then re-engrave the original message in the same font. Re-engraving is usually included in the sizing job if it's the same length; longer messages add $20–$40 CAD.
• Engraving correction — typo in the original, wrong date, name change. We can polish out the old engraving (provided the band is thick enough — we'll check) and lay down the new text. $40–$120 CAD depending on how much metal we have to remove.
• Engraving removal only — same process, no replacement. $30–$80 CAD.

Always bring the piece in for an inspection before booking the work. Polishing removes a thin layer of metal, and we want to make sure the band can handle it.

8. Lead times and how to order

For most laser jobs in Montréal: 24 to 72 hours. During December and around Valentine's, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, lead times stretch to 3 to 5 business days, so plan ahead. Hand engraving is 1 to 2 weeks year-round.

To order, you can: 1. Walk into the store with the piece (or the receipt if it's on its way). We inspect, quote, and write up the job in about 10 minutes. 2. Book an engraving appointment if you want our engraver's full attention or you have a complex multi-line layout. 3. Email or message us with: a photo of the piece, the exact text (copy-paste, don't retype), the language, the font preference, and the placement.

We'll send a digital proof, get your written approval, then engrave. No engraving starts without your sign-off. A deposit of 50% is standard; the balance is due at pickup.

FAQ

How much does it cost to engrave a ring in Montréal? Laser engraving runs $20–$60 CAD for a standard inside-band message. Hand engraving runs $80–$300 CAD depending on complexity and length. Watch case backs and signet rings sit in the same ranges. We give written quotes before starting.

How long does engraving take? Laser: 24 to 72 hours, sometimes same-day. Hand engraving: 1 to 2 weeks because we schedule it with our master engraver. During holiday seasons add 2–3 days.

Can you engrave a ring I bought somewhere else? Yes. We engrave pieces from other jewellers, online stores, family heirlooms, and vintage finds. Same pricing. We inspect the metal first to confirm it's engravable and warn you if it's plated or hollow.

How many characters fit inside a wedding band? A 4–6 mm wide band fits 25 to 40 characters inside, depending on font size. A slim 2–3 mm band fits 15 to 25 characters. We'll show you a digital proof before engraving so you can see the exact fit.

Do you engrave in French with accents? Yes — full Québec French with é, è, ê, à, ç, ô, ï, ù, and any other accent you need. We also engrave in Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Cyrillic, and Chinese characters. Send the text in its final form and we'll send you a proof before engraving.

Can you fix or remove an existing engraving? Usually yes. We polish out the old text (the band has to be thick enough to handle metal removal — we check first) and re-engrave the new text. Removal alone is $30–$80 CAD; correction with new text is $40–$120 CAD.

What happens to my engraving when you resize the ring? If the resize cuts through your engraving, we polish the seam clean and re-engrave the original message in the same font. For same-length messages it's typically included in the resizing job; longer additions add $20–$40 CAD.

Can you engrave watch case backs? Yes — most steel, gold, and titanium case backs. We can't engrave sapphire-glass case backs (the back is glass, not metal). Bring the watch in and we'll confirm in 30 seconds.

Can you copy a handwritten signature or a child's drawing? Yes. Send a clean photo or scan, and we'll trace it into vector artwork and engrave it as-is. Add $30–$80 CAD for the artwork prep on top of the engraving fee.

Ready to engrave?

If you have a piece you want engraved — yours, a gift, or something from another store — bring it to Bijouterie Jamil on our visit page or send us a message with a photo and the text. We'll quote it in writing, send you a proof, and turn most jobs around in two or three days.

For deeper related reading, see our guides on custom engagement ring process, jewellery repair services, and ring sizing.

About the author Nader Khazzoum is a master jeweller at Bijouterie Jamil in Montréal. He specializes in custom fabrication, stone setting, laser welding, and engraving — including inscriptions in French, English, Arabic, and Hebrew. Bijouterie Jamil has served Québec families for more than 60 years.