Unique Engagement Rings: How to Find One That Feels Like Yours

An engagement ring is something you'll wear every day, through every season of your life together. So it makes sense that more and more couples want a ring that feels like theirs, not one picked from a catalogue of identical solitaires.

A unique engagement ring might mean a coloured gemstone, an unexpected shape, a nature-inspired setting, or a design made entirely from scratch. In my Melbourne studio I make engagement rings by hand from recycled gold and ethically sourced gems, and I love helping people find the one that tells their story. Here's how to start.

The Arbor and Bower rings, both set with Australian sapphires

1. Start with the stone

The gemstone sets the mood of the whole ring, so it's a lovely place to begin.

Australian sapphires

Sapphires are one of the hardest gemstones after diamond, which makes them a beautiful and practical choice for everyday wear. Australian sapphires come in a remarkable range of colours, from deep inky blues to greens, teals and parti colours that shift in the light. No two are quite alike, and choosing one grown in Australian soil adds another layer of meaning. Explore my Australian sapphire engagement rings.

Diamonds, natural or lab-grown

A white diamond is timeless for a reason. Natural diamonds carry the romance of something formed deep in the earth, while lab-grown diamonds are chemically the same, just as brilliant and durable, and more budget-friendly. For something warmer, champagne diamonds glow like honey, as in the Honeysuckle Ring. Salt and pepper diamonds, with their misty grey inclusions, are moody and one of a kind. Browse my diamond engagement rings.

A natural champagne diamond in the Honeysuckle Ring, and a princess-cut white diamond in the Clover Ring

Other gemstones

Garnets, emeralds, rubies and tourmalines bring rich, saturated colour. Some are a little softer than sapphire or diamond, so I'll always talk you through how they wear and suggest a setting that protects them well.

2. Choose a setting that suits your life

The setting shapes how your ring looks, feels and wears day to day.

• Bezel settings wrap the stone in a collar of gold. They're secure, smooth and won't catch on clothing, like the sculptural Arbor and Bower rings.
• Low-profile and signet-style rings sit close to the hand, perfect if you work with your hands or simply don't want to think about your ring. See the Monet's Garden collection and the Floral Relic Ring.
• Nature-inspired settings curl vines and petals around the stone, like the Vine, Liana and Bramble rings from my Sunseekers collection.
• Clusters and multi-stone designs gather several gems together, a little bouquet for the hand, like the Posy and Stepping Stones rings.

Low-profile: the Monet's Garden Ceylon sapphire ring and the Floral Relic signet

Nature-inspired: the Vine and Liana rings

Clusters: the Posy and Stepping Stones rings

3. Think about the wedding band, too

It's easy to forget, but your engagement ring and wedding band will live side by side. Unusual shapes don't always sit flush against a straight band, so it's worth thinking about them together. I make curved wedding bands that arc gently around an engagement ring, and I can shape a band to fit any ring, including one you already own.

Engagement rings stacked with curved wedding bands

4. Pick your metal

All my rings are made from recycled gold, in 9ct, 14ct or 18ct yellow gold, or 9ct or 18ct white gold. 9ct is the most affordable. 18ct has a higher gold content and a richer, warmer colour. 14ct sits nicely in between. If you're not sure, I'm always happy to show you the difference in person.

5. Ready to ship, made to order, or bespoke

• Ready to ship: pieces already in the studio, perfect if your proposal is coming up soon.
• Made to order: choose any design from my collections in your metal and size, handmade just for you.
• Bespoke: design something entirely new together, from the stone to the smallest detail. Read about my bespoke process or see past creations.

The Bramble and Radiance rings

Let's find your ring

Whether you're proposing in secret or choosing a ring together, I'd love to help. You can book an appointment in my studio in the Nicholas Building in Melbourne, or meet with me virtually wherever you are in the world. If you already have an idea in mind, start a bespoke enquiry here.

Or take your time and explore all my engagement rings.

x Ada