When my friends got engaged on a trip overseas, I was so honoured to be asked to create their bespoke engagement ring. Tim had proposed with a placeholder ring, with the idea that he and Vanessa could design her dream ring together, back home.

Vanessa has never given traditional bride vibes, and there was no way her engagement ring was going to either. From the very first conversation, it was clear this ring needed to be as unique as she is.

The Brief

Oval diamond

East-west setting

Bezel

Chunky band

Simple on paper, but full of personality. We started with our Nicole ring as inspiration - its bold, sculptural bezel felt like the right starting point - and from there, the design took on a life of its own.

From Sketch to CAD to Reality

After the first CAD render, we ended up changing direction entirely. Vanessa wanted to move away from the raised setting, so we reworked the design around an oversized domed band that meets the diamond's edges in a clean, flush setting - modern, understated, and unapologetically oversized all at once. That shift is one of my favourite parts of the bespoke process: the first CAD is rarely the final ring, and the best designs are the ones that end up feeling truly yours.

The result? The anti-bride of modern statement engagement rings.

A chunky, domed band anchors a stunning 2-carat VVS1 diamond, flush-set in an east-west orientation. No claws, no fuss - just a clean, confident line and a diamond that catches the light differently with every angle it's turned.

A Ring for the Non-Traditional Bride

This one will always be special to me - not just because of the design, but because of who it was for. Getting to design a ring for a friend, watching her react to something that captures exactly who she is, is the whole reason I love doing this work.

If you're after something that breaks the mould rather than follows it, this is exactly the kind of ring our Bespoke Concierge service was built for.

Ready to design your own one-of-a-kind ring? Book a consultation and let's get started.