Designing Your Engagement Ring 101

You’ll have your engagement ring for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure you (or your partner) absolutely love it. That’s why many people choose to design their own ring, to get both a one-of-a-kind look and ensure that they’ll love it for a lifetime. However, while designing your ring has all sorts of benefits, it can also be overwhelming with a literally endless array of options and combinations. 

If you’re considering designing your own ring, read on to see our top tips to follow before starting the design process. 

Know Your Aesthetic Goals 

Let’s start with the obvious: to create an end product that you love, you need to have an idea of what you like and don’t like visually. Here are a few design elements you’ll want to consider before designing your ring.

Stone and Color

Finding the right designer to create your ring largely depends on the type of stones you want to feature in your engagement ring. While diamond engagement rings for women have traditionally been created with diamond stones, people are branching out more and more with other types of rare stones. Here are just a few of the stones people are starting to choose for their engagement rings:

• Emerald 
• Salt and Pepper Diamonds
• Sapphire
• Sunstone
• Phenakite (looks very similar to a diamond but is much more affordable)
• Topaz
• Moonstone engagement ring
• …and many more!

Along with getting an idea of what type of stone you want (and if it has a suitable durability), you’ll also want to consider the band material, with popular options including gold, platinum and rose gold. Further, you’ll want to consider if you want your engagement ring to stand on its own or if you want to go more traditional with a wedding band. More and more people are choosing to forego a wedding band to get more creative and unique with their engagement ring style.

Shape and Style

Besides knowing what kind of materials you want to work with for your custom-designed engagement ring, you’ll also want to have an idea of the shape and style you want. Looking at handmade rings online, browsing on Pinterest, or looking through magazines are all great ways to see what kind of trends are popular and what kind of vibe you like. However, be sure to think long-term about your ring style. Many of the trends that dominate the market now won’t be popular forever, and if you’re planning to design your own ring, there’s no point in making it just like what you can find on the mainstream market!

Popular stone cuts

• Round
• Oval
• Rosecut
• Marquis
• Emerald
• Teardrop
• Square

When it comes to the setting, you’ll want to consider if you want a simple setting or something more intricate. These days, some jewelers are even putting diamonds hidden under the main stone for additional sparkle. If you want a wedding band, think about how it might enhance the setting you like or if you need something simpler to not take away from the engagement ring itself.

 Consider Your Budget, Timeline, and Lifestyle

Your engagement ring should be beautiful, cherished, and something you’ll love for years to come. However, it should also fit within other important aspects of your life. First of all, if you are planning to design your own ring, you and your partner should come to an agreement on your final budget as soon as possible. This will ensure you don’t fall in love with something you can’t afford and will also deter you from just saying yes at the moment and putting yourself in a vulnerable financial position for the long term.

Your lifestyle should also be a factor when considering what kind of ring you want. If you have a job that requires a lot of working with your hands, you’ll probably want to consider a wider, more sturdy band. If you work in the medical or aesthetics field and have to wear latex gloves, you’ll want to consider a low-set center stone to make it easier to get your gloves on. These are just a couple of examples of how lifestyle should play into your design decisions. Before getting started designing your ring, consider your lifestyle factors and be sure to share these with your ring designer.

Finally, designing your own ring can require longer than simply customizing a ring from a storefront that has pre-created options. Your ring designer may need time to source the stones you like at the quality you’re looking for and to get back to you with sketches and updates. Be sure you build in a few months of lead time to get your ring designed and perfected. 

Work With A Designer Who Understands Your Vision

Whether you want to work with a small jewelry designer or a larger bridal jewelry brand, most people who sell engagement rings also design custom rings. We recommend using keywords of styles and stones you like to find brands that are working within these parameters. From there, follow your favorite artists or brands on their socials or sign up for newsletters to get a better idea of whether you’d like to work with them. 

When you’re at the stage to actually begin working with a designer, have a conversation about your vision and ideal end product. Ensure you enjoy working with your future ring designer and feel that they will communicate with you at every step in the process.

If you need more ideas for your one-of-a-kind engagement ring, follow Emily Amey Jewelry on social or browse our collections online. Emily Amey Jewelry is a local New York artist who works with both diamonds and gemstones to create unique, unforgettable engagement rings. She works with small-operation minors from around the world to source the best gemstones in a responsible way.