6 Steps to Designing Your Own Engagement Ring

A custom engagement ring can be one of the most important purchases in your life. When you find that special someone, there is something almost ethereal about finding the perfect engagement ring to propose to them with. However, if you have a particular vision or symbol in mind, it can be hard to reach perfection. This is where designing your own engagement ring can help you to fashion the perfect symbol of your relationship.

Before you start designing, you might be wondering about cost differences. We reveal all in the article: ‘Are custom engagement rings more expensive than 'off the shelf'?’. This detailed article examines pricing, craftsmanship and value, enabling you to make an informed decision.

If you’re interested in creating a custom ring, read through our 6-step guide created by diamond ring experts, to help you better understand the process.

Diamonds

Diamonds are the classic choice for engagement rings and have been popular throughout the history of engagement rings. Diamond engagement rings are traditional – you may want to immediately create your own diamond ring, but there may be more options than you might first consider. Natural diamonds that have formed over tens of thousands of years are a romantic choice, however, lab grown diamonds are growing in popularity in the UK due to their lower price point and identical, lustrous aesthetics.

Choose between a lab grown or natural diamond – could you tell which of these rings were lab created?

Coloured gemstones

If diamonds aren't your thing, think about a coloured gemstone. Coloured gemstones are a unique and increasingly popular way of creating a beautiful and personalised engagement ring for your partner. Whether it’s their birthstone, favourite colour or just matches their eyes, adding colour to an engagement ring can give it a lot of character. From sapphires, emeralds and rubies, as well as many more obscure gemstones, there are a lot of options to choose from. One thing to consider when looking at gemstones for your custom engagement ring, however, is their durability and resistance to wear and tear, as few of them will be tougher than a diamond and you don’t want your personalised engagement ring breaking!

Solitaire engagement rings are more diverse than you may anticipate. From claw-set to rubover, the style of setting you choose can say a lot about your style. Claw settings feature usually 4 or 6 prongs, evenly spaced, to hold the centre stone in place. The look is traditional and timeless, but can be modernised with such features as a 'compass setting', in which the claws are set in a North-East-South-West fashion. Rubover, or ‘bezel’ settings are a more contemporary choice, where the metal is crafted right around the edge of the centre stone, for a sleek finish.

You can further customise your solitaire ring with unusual claws, like a triple claw, or a twisted band.

Diamond band rings feature a series of diamonds along the band, which can be a beautiful opportunity to add refined sparkle. This is one of the most popular choices for engagement rings in recent years. The look is super sparkly yet refined in style.

Trilogy rings contain three diamonds - typically one larger diamond at the centre, with two smaller diamonds on either side. The centre stone of a trilogy ring is said to represent the 'present' of your relationship, while the side stones represent the 'past' and 'future'.

Halo engagement rings offer a great opportunity to increase the size of your engagement ring: a smaller centre diamond and halo of melee diamonds will be far more cost-effective than a single diamond of the same carat weight. Those looking to achieve the look of vintage engagement rings should consider a halo: choose a pavé halo for an Art Deco style engagement ring, or intricate patterns and flower halos for designs reminiscent of Victorian engagement rings. Simple halos, like our Classic Oberon, are modern and timeless.

Your diamond shape will be the ring's most defining feature – this will have a huge impact on the style and design characteristics of your new engagement ring. This is a great place to get personal – which shape best reflects you or your loved one? Love sparkle and tradition? Then a brilliant cut diamond engagement ring will work perfectly. Perhaps you’re less concerned with sparkles and prefer enduring, clean designs? A step cut may be the perfect choice.

‘Brilliant’ diamonds like round cut, cushion cut, pear cut and oval cut are cut to maximise sparkle, using plenty of symmetrical facets to encourage total internal reflection of light. Step cut diamonds like emerald cut and asscher cuts are much more of a stylised look – a large table and small number of parallel facets means the clarity is important, and the stone is a little less sparkly than a brilliant cut. Radiant cut engagement rings blend the intense sparkle of brilliant cuts with the sleek elegance of step cuts, creating a bold yet timeless look. Contemporary cutting has seen a rise in more unusual shapes too, including triangular and hexagonal diamonds, for a non-traditional engagement ring.

From oval rings to heart shaped, cushion and princess cut engagement rings – there’s a perfect style for everyone. Explore our Engagement Ring Shape Guide to find the one that suits you best.

The metal of your engagement ring can be a tricky decision. You need to consider what metal type suits you aesthetically, which tone fits with your chosen gemstone, as well as the durability of the metal. For example, yellow gold is a lot softer than platinum and therefore may wear and tarnish faster if you’re an active person. Then there are the colour tones to think about.

There are essentially three contrasting tones to choose from: the silver hue of platinum or white gold, the warm pinkish tone of rose gold and the sunshiny, radiant yellow gold. The tone you select should be complementary to the centre stone you choose; pink sapphires look beautiful with rose gold, yellow gold can be a great way to contrast a blue sapphire, and diamonds look their best surrounded by colourless platinum.

A diamond often looks best set in platinum, due to the lack of interfering colours entering the otherwise colourless stone, but what if you’ve always had a thing for yellow gold engagement rings? Choose platinum claws to secure the diamond, set with a yellow gold band. Sorted!

At Queensmith, we craft rings in platinum and 18K white, yellow, or rose gold. 18K gold contains the perfect blend of alloys to make a durable metal, as well as looking at its optimal hue. To learn more about our wide variety of metals, take a look at our ring metals guide to pick the perfect engagement ring metal.

Choosing to add diamonds to the band of your engagement ring means injecting a little extra sparkle, always a good idea. It is, however, important to consider the style of this diamond setting.

A scallop setting is designed to allow for maximum light to reach each melee diamond. Pavé settings are nostalgic, and when paired with milgrain detailing, give the look of antique engagement rings. Channel and bezel settings can look minimal and modern. This can also be a great way to add colour to your ring - consider using gemstones, or alternate your favourite colour gem with colourless diamonds for an alternative engagement ring look. To discover more about how you can make your engagement ring design really unique, take a look at our guide on engagement ring styles.

The whole process of creating your own engagement ring with Queensmith is personal, whether you build your dream ring online or visit us in-store to discuss a truly bespoke design. With the professional guidance of our experts, you’ll make each and every design choice - so even the smallest touch is personal. Get in touch to book your consultation.

If the gift of a bespoke engagement ring wasn’t personal enough, there are a number of ways to add sweet detailing that for the recipient to notice and cherish. Engraving provides the opportunity to inscribe a short love note, memorable date or your initials – whatever feels right for you.

Alternatively, adding subtle diamond detailing says a great deal without so many words: a diamond set bezel or bridge can be a refined and romantic touch. You can add this touch to most of our designs, including rings available online like the Bardot, Bardot Scallop and Portman Scallop.