How to Design a Custom Engagement Ring
This entry is from our Expert Guest series where wedding and honeymoon professionals share their best tips on creating memories that last a lifetime. We want to thank our friends at Blue Nile for sharing this great content! Be sure to use promo code honeyfund22 for $100 off $1,000 through 12/31/22.
Creating a beautiful handcrafted ring is exciting—and yet, it can also feel daunting. To help you kickstart your search, Blue Nile’s Chief Merchandising Officer
Katie highlights themajor style decisions that make the design process simple, successful, and fun. The result? A sparkling one-of-a-kind piece that your partner will love. Here are her 8 expert tips for building the perfect engagement ring:
1. Find your perfect ring setting
Katie says: “Start with an overview of engagement ring settings. Once you find two or three categories that reflect your partner’s style it’s easier to focus and find the perfect ring.”
Solitaire – Elegant simplicity with a heroic center stone. A six-prong solitaire engagement ring with a 1-carat round center diamond.
Halo – Maximize your bling with a halo ring setting with sparkling pavé diamonds. An engagement ring with a 1-carat round center diamond surrounded by french pavé set diamonds.
Vintage – Designs inspired by heirloom rings with handcrafted details. A vintage-inspired engagement ring with a 1-carat oval diamond surrounded by a milgrain edge.
The Gallery Collection™ – Exclusively only at Blue Nile! Premium settings with details that highlight your center diamond. An engagement ring with a single 1-carat diamond and a knife-edge band with rows of micro pavé diamonds.
2. Consider fancy (non-round) diamond shapes to change-up your ring’s personality.
Katie says: “Try playing with different diamond shapes. It’s amazing how different the same setting can look simply by changing the center stone.”
Pear – The on-trend pear has an heirloom feeling and adds a custom look to any ring.
Oval – Think of oval-cut diamonds as a cousin to round cuts—they’re a little bit different, but still in the classic family.
Emerald – Pure glamour, darling—this stunning shape has been popping up in recent celebrity engagements.
3. Feeling stumped? Think about your partner’s personality and lifestyle. These are your best clues!
Katie says: “Classic, romantic, modern and beyond. We have great options for everyone.”
Classic – A classic bridal set can be very simple or highly detailed—but the ring and band tend to share complementary traits.
Romantic – The glow of a rose gold engagement set often feels like an heirloom, especially with hand-carved details.
Modern – Styles in this camp tend to be the most adventurous—like an engagement ring setting that splits on the sides.
4. Do you like ring-band combos with harmonious sensibilities? Go for a set that’s a perfect match, or explore complementary style elements.
Katie says: “A matching set is instantly elegant—but there’s more than one way to achieve a refined look.”
Perfect Match – When your ring and band stylistically match and nest perfectly together.
Sidestone Match – The diamonds in your band take their cue from the sidestones in your ring.
Center Stone Match – Love the shape of your center stone? Choose matching diamond shapes for your band.
5. Don’t be afraid to mix things up.
Katie says: “Try contrasting textures, or colors, or a playful-yet-elegant mix of diamond and gemstone shapes. All are fantastic ways to express personal style.”
Contrasting Textures – Micropavé diamonds on this knife-edge band add beautiful textural contrast with the smooth metal on the engagement ring.
Gemstone Accents – While the pops of color in the ring and band bring the look together, notice how the shapes of the sapphires are different.
Mixed Metals – Different metal colors look great together. White gold or platinum are beautiful with yellow or rose gold.
6. Little details can be dramatic—just as eye-popping as a substantial center stone.
Katie says: “You can easily transform your engagement ring into a beautiful work of art with details like signature halos, unique pavé settings, or hand-engraved details.”
Petite Fancy Diamonds – Mixed diamond shapes create a stunning dot-dash effect.
Signature Halo – The unexpected pop of rose gold in a floral halo accents brilliance.
Side-Profile Details – A classic solitaire gets a beautiful twist with exquisite side-profile details.
7. Factor in your partner’s style. Your bands needn’t match—but there are some tremendous complementary options to consider.
Katie says: “There are so many ways to coordinate an engagement ring set with your partner’s wedding band—through metal color, diamond shape, texture or style.”
8. Want something unexpected? There are countless ways to show your personal style.
Katie says: “It’s your engagement ring—so go with what you love! Add color with gemstones, stack multiple bands, or keep it streamlined and sparkling with a gorgeous eternity band.”
The Mixed Stack – The best part of a stack? There are no rules! We’re currently loving combos of delicate, mixed styles.
Endless Sparkle – Eternity rings are aptly named for the endless sparkle around the entire band.
Gemstones + Diamonds – Whether you want to celebrate yourself with a stunning right-hand ring or flaunt a unique engagement style, gemstones and diamonds are always a beautiful choice.
Still feeling overwhelmed with your decision? Book a complimentary virtual appointment with one of Blue Nile’s ring experts to get started!
