6 Ways To Choose A Unique Engagement Ring

Now, more than ever, a multitude of jewelry styles can symbolize and celebrate everlasting love. But, whether you want to guide your other half in the right direction or prefer to pick out your own engagement ring, some simple dos and don’ts can aid what can be the most daunting of investments. For example, don’t feel restricted by conventions and definitions, such as the four Cs, but do allow your personality – whether you favor classic, vintage, mixed metals, colored gems or unusual settings – to shine through. Here, we explore six different styles of engagement ring that will remain stylish and scintillating long after your nuptials.

For a bride who prefers pared-back precision over obvious ostentation, Retrouvaí’s ‘Pleated Solitaire’ design is serendipitous in its silhouette. Geometric flourishes come in the form of hand-worked ripple detailing, while the chunky band is set with a hexagon-shaped lilac sapphire – a refreshing alternative to the conventional diamond.

Wear with: for a sleek, stacked aesthetic that has merit in its modernity, pair with a thick yellow-gold wedding band.

Unenthused by a classic diamond solitaire? Opt for an engagement ring that celebrates eclectic cuts and innovative settings instead. For those attracted to print and pattern, Lauren Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Stardust’ ring is inspired by the San Francisco-based jeweler’s collection of African textiles – and it sparkles like a diamond-dusted constellation.

Wear with: a delicate yellow-gold wedding band will complement the complex settings and sculptural structure of Harwell Godfrey’s design.

Sylva Yepremian draws on her own exquisite collection of antique jewelry to inform her designs – and Sylva & Cie’s 11-karat blue topaz ring will attract admirers of Art Deco design codes. Here, more is more: the emerald-cut stone is framed by 18-karat blackened gold, set with glittering pavé diamonds and finished with contemporary double-band detailing.

Wear with: for a bold wedding-band pairing, look for a slim, blackened-gold band set with pavé diamonds.

New York jeweler Bayco prioritizes the exquisite color, quality and provenance of its stones. For brides who don’t want to err too far from a traditional trilogy ring, the brand’s platinum and sapphire design is understated and elegant. Here, a trio of bold blue sapphires is set within a smooth rub-over setting – perfect for those who aren’t keen on tall and proud styles.

Wear with: embrace icy hues entirely and invest in a platinum or white-gold wedding ring that echoes Bayco’s design, creating a flush stack of scintillation.

If you’re fascinated by the idea of an antique heirloom that can be passed down through generations, Fred Leighton’s ‘1940s’ ring is an original treasure that bears French hallmarks and is set with an eye-catching citrine. This striking piece is for lovers of maximalist, opulent jewels, and is sure to be sought-after by generations to come.

Wear with: let the honeyed hue of the stone truly shine, and team with a slender yellow-gold wedding band that will complement rather than compete.

For brides-to-be who admire flora and fauna-inspired designs, a Larkspur & Hawk ‘Posy’ ring has two unfurling blooms that embrace a pink tourmaline cabochon – a distinctly softer (and arguably more feminine) design than a sharply angled diamond. The ring also has an antique élan, with blackened-gold detailing and a halo of rose-cut diamonds.

Wear with: echo the diamonds with a slim band set featuring pavé or rose-cut diamonds, in either yellow or blackened gold.

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