Did you know that, before the 1930s, diamonds were not a common gemstone found in engagement rings? An ad campaign by De Beers Jewelers with the slogan “a diamond is forever” prompted this huge societal shift.
Today it seems like everyone has the same diamond engagement rings. Only the cut, clarity, and color are what sets them apart.
Your ring should be as original and special as your relationship. So it’s no wonder you’re interested in finding unique engagement rings so you can stand out from the crowd!
But it can be so difficult to find a ring in a jewelry store that doesn’t look mainstream. So, here are some ideas for unique modern engagement rings that are also timeless (like your marriage!).
1. Duel-Stoned Engagement Rings
Most engagement rings have a solitaire setting. This means there is one setting on the ring which holds one stone and, most of the time, that stone is a diamond.
But you’re only ever going to wear one engagement ring (you hope) so why not get a duel-stoned ring? This is a ring with two settings for two gemstones of a similar size. The gemstones can be the same but if you love unique engagement rings then you’ll love the contrast of two different-colored stones.
One stone could be a traditional diamond, and the other could be a stone in your favorite color. If you need inspiration, check out the engagement ring that Machine Gun Kelly presented to Megan Fox when he proposed to her in January 2022.
2. Engagement Rings Without Diamonds
Speaking of alternative gemstones, why not dump the diamonds altogether? If couples didn’t need diamonds before the 1930s then neither do you!
It’s a wonderful gesture to present an engagement ring to your partner with their own birthstone. Or, you could choose your own engagement ring and opt for your partner’s birthstone. Here is a list of the gemstones associated with the different months so you know which to pick:
- January – Garnet
- February – Amethyst
- March – Aquamarine
- April – Diamond
- May – Emerald
- June – Pearl
- July – Ruby
- August – Peridot
- September – Sapphire
- October – Opal
- November – Topaz
- December – Turquoise
Many precious stones and gemstones only come in one color. So if your birthstone is emerald but you hate the color green, the birthstone route might not be the best option for you. But if your birthstone is April and you love unique engagement rings for women, you can choose a different color.
Believe it or not, diamonds are available in many different colors. See them for yourself at these retailers:
- https://www.blackdiamondsnewyork.com/collections/designer-rings
- https://www.jamesallen.com/fancy-color-diamonds/orange/
- https://www.tiffany.co.uk/engagement/engagement-rings/tiffany-true-engagement-ring-with-a-cushion-cut-yellow-diamond-in-18k-yellow-go-GRP10864/
Keep in mind that colored diamonds are rarer than translucent ones so these engagement rings can often be more expensive.
3. Rings With Non-Traditional Band Colors
Yellow gold is one of the most traditional band colors for engagement rings. It is an alloyed metal that mixes gold with copper and zinc to create a yellow color. White gold is also a common ring band material and consists of gold, nickel, and zinc.
Rose gold is gold mixed with only copper. It’s a far less common metal used in engagement ring bands because it’s quite trendy. People are less likely to choose it for their engagement ring because it doesn’t have the same timeless quality.
But if you don’t care about your engagement ring being timeless (so few are timeless anyway), then rose gold is a beautiful, unique band color. Or, you could choose an even more original band color by choosing a different metal for your engagement ring.
Tungsten, titanium, palladium, and platinum are popular wedding band metals for men. Some of these bands have a gunmetal color and others are black which can look more masculine.
But is black a masculine color, or is it a cool, hard-wearing color that goes with everything and can also look feminine? There are lots of beautiful unique black engagement rings out there so the latter seems more likely to be true!
4. Vintage and Retro Engagement Rings
Does “unique” mean different to you, or does it mean original? Because if it’s more important that your ring is the only one of its kind then you should check out unique vintage engagement rings.
Three vintage periods stand out as being fantastic eras for jewelry:
- Victorian = 1837-1901
- Edwardian = 1901-1910
- Art Deco = 1920s and 1930s
That’s not to say that periods further back in time didn’t create great jewelry. But any rings that still exist from those eras likely carry a hefty price tag!
Clusters of diamonds on rings were popular during the Victorian era. Halo designs, which involve a string of diamonds surrounding the main gemstone, were also common. Blue-colored stones are often found in Victorian rings because it was the Queen’s favorite color.
Edwardian engagement rings have ornate, filigree patterns on the band. And in contrast to these rings, Art Deco engagement rings have clean geometric shapes. They focus on symmetry and big, bold solitaire gemstones surrounded by smaller ones.
Retro engagement rings date between 1940 and 1960. Since the US economy was booming during this time, these rings often consist of many diamonds and expensive metals like platinum. The settings on these rings aren’t as delicate as ones in older eras, so you might find them harder to keep clean.
Try These Unique Engagement Rings on Today
If you’re searching for unique engagement rings, you’re likely someone who likes to be untraditional. There’s nothing wrong with selecting your own engagement ring, you’re the one who’s going to be wearing it! And there’s nothing wrong with proposing to your partner without one so you’re not second-guessing what they want.
Unique couples should have unique engagement rings. And they will be easier to find now you have lots of ideas.
It’s tough keeping up with the latest styles when you don’t know the best resources. Lucky for you, our fashion section has lots of articles packed with useful advice!
