An engagement ring will take pride of place on your left hand for the rest of your life, so finding a design that represents you and your unique love story is a must. Diamond rings and solitaire settings may remain the most popular choice for a proposal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eschew this trend. Non-traditional engagement rings are the perfect option for those who want a design steeped in symbolism or whose strong fashion sense needs a piece of jewellery that makes a style statement.
A classic diamond engagement ring is popular for a reason. Its elegant aesthetic is wonderfully versatile, suiting both casual and formal wear, and the rarity and sparkling beauty of diamonds make them highly desirable. But for some, this traditional choice doesn’t resonate.
If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Recent trends show an appetite for non-typical engagement rings, from mixed metal and wide bands to colourful gemstones and unusual cuts. As the desire for self-expression and individuality grows, jewellery designers have responded by creating engagement rings that make a strong statement.
If you’re keen to stay on the non-traditional side for your engagement ring, there are several common styles you may wish to avoid, including:
If you’re keen to explore unique engagement rings, non-traditional designs are a great place to start. Our 16 inspirational ring ideas will help you find an engagement ring that feels artisanal, sentimental, and offers an authentic representation of you.
Understandably, mindful consumers have issues with the environmental and social impacts of mining precious stones. Ethically sourced, conflict-free stones, mined under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, are often outside the budgets of many people. Why not consider rings featuring lab-grown stones instead? From diamonds and moissanites to emeralds and rubies, labs are creating stunning, chemically identical precious stones that cost you a fraction of the price, without any compromise on appearance or durability.
Colourful gemstones fall in and out of favour in the fashion world, but if trends don’t matter to you, a coloured centre stone can add character to your ring. The choice of hues is endless, from the muted pastel shades of rose quartz, amethyst, aquamarine, and morganite to the richly saturated tones of rubies, emeralds, tourmalines, sapphires, and garnets. If you still want the prestige of a diamond ring, explore non-traditional engagement bands set with a fancy-coloured rock (e.g. pink, yellow, or blue.)
The most popular precious stones used in engagement rings are selected on merit. They may boast a stunning colouration, superb fire or brilliance, and durability, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Non-traditional engagement ring stones, such as onyx, jade, lapis lazuli, and pearl, ensure your ring stands out, but do consider the fragility of some of these less commonly used stones.
Birthstones bring a personal touch to an engagement ring, giving it a real sense of belonging on your finger. You have three choices if you’re taking this route. You can select a ring with the wearer’s birthstone, one with the partner’s birthstone, or choose a design that features both. Having these options is useful if you’re not particularly fond of the aesthetic of your own birthstone.
Precious stones are cut to enhance their beauty, but some cuts have become more popular than others, especially since diamonds have been taking centre stage over the last few decades. The most common cuts do a good job of enhancing the sparkle in a diamond, but if you’re going for a non-traditional stone, you could explore less common cuts, such as the Asscher, baguette, emerald, hexagon, marquise, pear, or trilliant.
Though many central stones are round, oval, square, or rectangular, you don’t need to feel constrained by these shapes. You’ll find dynamic, contemporary engagement rings with triangular stones and romantic designs featuring heart-shaped gems. However, this aesthetic may not be for everyone. A raw, uncut stone makes for truly unique gemstone engagement rings that celebrate precious stones in their purest form.
Many engagement rings feature a diamond or gemstone that is classed as “eye clean”. That means when you look at the stone with the naked eye, you can’t readily detect any inclusions (imperfections). But the truth is, the majority of natural and lab-grown stones do bear inclusions that you can see. If you find meaning in the beauty of imperfections, a lower-grade stone with noticeable markings could be just right for you. Feathers, needles, crystals, silk, and clouds are all commonly found in gemstones, as are areas of “discolouration”, fading, and colour-contrast speckling. These inclusions can add real character if you’re someone who values a raw aesthetic.
If you hang abstract art on your wall and prefer contemporary fashion styles, you may enjoy the movement and energy of an asymmetrical engagement ring design. You could explore rings with different sizes and colours of stones, designs with offset stone arrangements, or sculptural non-traditional engagement bands that vary in width and form.
Toi et moi rings often fall under the category of asymmetry, but they also come with plenty of romantic sentiment. Meaning “you and me”, toi et moi rings feature two prominent stones, usually similar but distinct in cut, size or colour, as a representation of the two partners in a relationship. You will find designs with stones of the same type and colour (though often of a slightly different size) as well as rings with two different stone types or colours to symbolise individuality within the partnership.
Whether you’d prefer to stick with classic white diamonds or bring the rainbow onto your ring finger with colourful gemstones, you can infuse individuality into your engagement aesthetic with creative ring settings. For a contemporary look, consider a V-shaped, East-West, invisible, or bezel setting. You can also take inspiration from the past, following the suit of Victorians and Edwardians who set their engagement ring stones into feminine motifs, such as flowers, leaves, and bows.
If you rarely wear jewellery or prefer utilitarian or masculine accessories, the thought of wearing a pretty diamond ring may be somewhat jarring. Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to what an engagement ring should look like. Take a browse through simple band designs, including unisex rings crafted from matte or textured metals. If you like the idea of gemstones but are not sure how they would complement your style, consider inset stones or one of the non-traditional engagement ring stones detailed above.
Double-banded engagement rings not only boast symbolism, but they also achieve a fresh, modern aesthetic. Although they feature two bands of metal, the look remains airy and complements minimalist fashion styles well. Most designs have a central stone or several stones set over or between parallel bands, but you can also opt for a stone-free ring if that better suits your style.
Mixed metal engagement bands really stand out. Choose to include your and your partner’s favourite metals, opting for intertwining bands to echo your unison. These tonal designs are also a practical choice for those who switch between cool and warm-toned jewellery, ensuring your engagement ring will work with all your looks.
Yellow gold, white gold, and platinum continue to dominate the engagement ring landscape, with a peppering of blush-hued rose golds, but these aren’t your only options. You’ve never had more choice when it comes to alternatives, so enjoy exploring non-traditional engagement bands crafted from Damascus steel, ceramic, black zirconium, tungsten, titanium, tantalum, and carbon fibre, to name a few.
Bring a textural element to your engagement ring with a brushed, hammered, wire-brushed, sandblasted, Florentine, or engraved finish on your metal band. This is a clever choice for those who prefer a more understated look or have chosen an engagement ring without stones or with a non-traditional stone. You might also enjoy bands with an inset line of material like wood, horn, or mother of pearl.
There’s something poetic about continuing a tale of love by wearing a vintage engagement ring that spent a lifetime on someone else’s hand. You may be lucky enough to have an heirloom ring in the family, or you can source vintage rings from jewellers, antique dealers, and second-hand stores and markets. Find an era whose engagement ring designs resonate with your style and enjoy sporting a design that others won’t be wearing.
A little research goes a long way when you’re buying unique gemstone engagement rings. While the classic diamond ring, crafted from 18-carat gold or platinum, is a hard-wearing choice, not all rings are built equally. Once you’ve found a ring you like, spend time learning about its metal and stones. Are they prone to scratching? Where do the rocks sit on the Mohs scale of hardness? Might they chip or fracture, given your lifestyle?
When selecting a non-traditional engagement ring, remember that it is a piece you’ll wear for a lifetime. With that in mind, carefully consider whether its aesthetic is something you’ll love a few years down the line. The best course of action is to choose a ring that exudes timelessness and offers sentimentality and meaning through its design.
In recent years, the average cost of an engagement ring has hovered around the £2000 mark, with some couples spending less and some spending much more. You will find an excellent range of unique designs sitting within the £2000 and under bracket. What’s more, because non-typical engagement rings are currently not as popular as the traditional diamond engagement rings, like-for-like, they tend to be less expensive. Better yet, because many non-traditional designs don’t feature a diamond as the central stone, they tend to offer cheaper stones in its place, further lowering the price tag.
The cost of your non-traditional ring will be determined by the type of precious stones and metal used, as well as the intricacy of the design. The stones will account for up to 70% of the cost, with the band, metal, and craftsmanship accounting for the remaining 30%. Maximise your budget by embracing stones with lower clarity grades, as these offer significant savings. If you’re seeking a modern design, consider one of the non-traditional band materials mentioned above, which can also provide savings compared to high-carat gold and platinum.
If you’ve visited an online jeweller and searched for engagement rings, you may believe they don’t have any non-traditional designs available. The key to finding unique rings is knowing where to look, and the wedding section usually isn’t the right spot. Instead, search by stone or metal type, or browse collections that aren’t linked to their wedding range. You’ll be surprised by just how many non-traditional rings you can find at leading jewellers, but be sure to check out smaller independent stores too.
Vintage rings are best sourced from an antique dealer or specialist jeweller, as they’ll be able to provide you with the authentication and certification you need to ascertain that you’re investing in an authentic vintage piece with the grade of stones and metal you desire.
Once you’ve selected your non-traditional engagement ring, treasure it for a lifetime with ring insurance from TH March. With premiums starting at under £60 a year, your unique engagement ring will benefit from global accidental damage, loss, and theft cover. We understand just how poignant an engagement ring is, so we’ll always endeavour to return you to the original jeweller in the event of a loss or repairs. Get a quick quote online today, and with just a few more questions answered, you can receive instant coverage for your non-traditional engagement ring.