If you’ve spent hours envisioning your fairy-tale wedding or indulged in fantasies of the perfect life partner, chances are the image of the ideal engagement ring may have subtly lingered in the shadows of your imagination. It’s usually a classic diamond solitaire (the bigger, the better), resting on a simple gold band. There’s even an emoji (💍) to encapsulate this ideal—a digital token that tells us this is it.
But many women are now breaking away from classic ring styles and opting for more unconventional designs that express their distinct personalities and unique relationships.
The change is being driven by both ends of the market. Says Milan Choksi, CEO of fine jewellery brand Moksh, “From a consumer side, there’s a strong desire to stand out and have your own input. From the supply side, a squeeze on the margins of items like a conventional round diamond has pushed designers to think out of the box. Customisation is also now easier than ever before, allowing designers to cater to new tastes.”
This adventurous spirit has led high-profile brands, independent jewellers, and emerging labels to challenge the status quo of the traditional engagement ring. And there are so many avenues for variation now: “Yellow gold, fancy diamond shapes, and coloured gemstones are gaining popularity. There’s so much more confidence with respect to expressing individuality and sentimentality,” says jewellery consultant and personal shopper Arundhati De-Sheth.
Times are changin’ and our tastes too, so why won’t your engagement ring show some changes too? Whether you opt for an offbeat, coloured gemstone, a vintage-inspired piece, or an unusually cut natural diamond, there really is no wrong choice as long as it’s uniquely yours. Scroll to see our edit of some of the most unique engagement rings that deserve your ‘I do’.
