Unique Engagement Rings: History And Heritage
One of our core beliefs of Bear Brooksbank is that jewellery is more than simply metal and stones, and our unique engagement rings reflect that. The way we see it, an engagement ring is a story that you wear on your finger, and everything from the cut of the stone to the purity of the metal contributes to the overall narrative.
In recent years, chunky, vintage-inspired jewellery has been making a comeback, and we couldn’t be happier; for far too long, engagement jewellery trends have been dominated by minimal settings and near-identical solitaires, and while appealing in their own right, these pieces often leave little room for individuality.
The resurgence of vintage elements in engagement jewellery, like the sculptural settings of gypsy-set bands and the bold, flat-top style of signet tablets, reflects a growing desire for jewellery imbued with history, heritage, and personality.
These days, we find that customers tend to favour bespoke luxury jewellery tailored to their personal stories, and chunky, unique engagement rings that reference bygone eras. Rather than settling for basic designs, customers are looking for unique engagement rings that are expressive of their personal style and story, borrowing from the past to create something deeply personal to the present. This shift toward the vintage plays perfectly into our core philosophy. At Bear Brooksbank, we have a strong appreciation for the past and a dedication to incorporating the timeless elements of vintage jewellery into new family heirlooms.
History and heritage play a major part in the design elements of our unique engagement rings. Whether it’s the bold diamond arrangements, the yellow 18 karat gold, or the iconic Gypsy and Bombé shapes that are staples of our studio, each element is chosen for its timeless appeal, tactile quality, and striking aesthetic. Each ring feels rooted in tradition yet rife with individuality, standing as significant statement pieces that are both substantial in form and distinctly personal to the wearer’s story.
In this brief read, we want to fill you in on our history and heritage in East London, tracing the journey that shaped the Bear Brooksbank brand our customers know today.
The Bear Brooksbank Legacy: Unique Engagement Rings And East London Roots
Bear Brooksbank has always been enchanted by precious stones, and antique jewellery was her earliest influence. In Bear’s own words to Forbes, she was brought up around and has worked in antique jewellery for many years, while cultivating a modern take on old ideas. By drawing inspiration from treasures of the past, Bear now strives to design timeless contemporary pieces that remain relevant today.
Her path into jewellery was anything but conventional: first training as an actress, then working in a contemporary art gallery in central London, before finally returning to her true passion in her early twenties. It was during this time that she began working alongside Humphrey Butler, a highly respected jewellery dealer in Mayfair, while also completing her gemology and design training at the prestigious Gemological Institute of America.
In 2012, Bear established her namesake brand in East London, focusing on bespoke and commission-based projects while also building a collection of fine jewellery available to purchase. With a business plan shaped more so by trial, error, and plenty of passion than by any formal structure, Bear has kept creativity at the very centre of the brand. It’s this authenticity and genuine affection for vintage elements that have caught people’s attention, even gaining notoriety in international press with Bear’s bold octagonal ruby and diamond ring commissioned by Harry Wentworth-Stanley to propose to actress Cressida Bonas.
Bear’s Heritage In East London
Bear’s connection to East London runs deep, stretching back nine generations. In the 1720s, her ancestor Stamp Brooksbank (the then-Governor of the Bank of England) purchased land in Hackney and built the grand Hackney House. Though the house itself is no longer standing, with Homerton Hospital taking its place, traces of that history and Bear’s heritage remain in the area; Brooksbank Street and Brooksby’s Walk still mark the gardens and fields that once belonged to Stamp. This rich heritage is central to Bear’s story. It’s where her children were born and where her love of antique jewellery blossomed, and she has made Hackney her home for nearly two decades, continuing her family’s legacy in the very heart of East London.
Bear established her Shoreditch studio as the creative centre of the brand. It is here that clients can experience the full breadth of her offerings, from bespoke consultations to viewing signature and vintage collections. Once designs are finalised in Shoreditch, the jewellery moves to Hatton Garden, London’s historic jewellery quarter. This renowned district has been at the centre of British jewellery-making for centuries, and working here allows Bear to combine the visionary creativity of her studio with the technical mastery of London’s finest artisans. Every bespoke ring, remade heirloom, or vintage-inspired piece is carefully crafted by hand, ensuring that every idea translates seamlessly into a finished piece that fits perfectly on your finger.
Bear’s bespoke pieces remain the foundation of the brand and are pivotal to the business, but the ready-to-wear and antique collections have grown naturally around this core. Bear’s ultimate mission is to revive the old-fashioned idea of a family jeweller, working to stand as a trusted studio where clients of all backgrounds can come with their stories, ideas, and dreams for unique engagement rings and luxury jewellery.
Whether it’s commissioning a brand-new bespoke engagement ring, remodelling a family heirloom, picking a piece from our signature collection, or finding a vintage treasure that resonates deeply, we strive to provide a service that is as personal as it is convenient.
We welcome couples and clients of all identities and orientations, and the studio’s services are designed to accommodate a wide variety of needs and preferences. Everything from design consultations online or in our Shoreditch studio, to full-service remodelling, and sourcing of antique pieces from around the world, is handled with the same level of care, craftsmanship, and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Unique Engagement Rings: Vintage With A Twist
Every design begins with a question: what story will this ring tell, and how can its materials and form give that story permanence? For some clients, the answer lies in our bespoke remodelling option, reimagining heirloom stones and setting them into bold, modern bands while lending acknowledgement to the generations that came before. For others, it is found in the tactile beauty of our signature designs; antique-inspired forms, where the curvature of a bombé ring or the geometric strength of a tablet signet harken back to a bygone era.
When crafting unique engagement rings, we often return to recycled gold and responsibly sourced stones; these are materials with history already embedded in them, and we use these elements to build pieces that mark new beginnings with an appreciative nod to the past. It is this marriage of heritage and contemporary design that defines our approach. Each ring feels rooted in tradition yet rife with individuality.
Unique Engagement Rings: Signature Styles And The Bespoke Process
Alongside the reprise of vintage styles, we’ve noticed that plenty of couples these days pick out their engagement ring(s) together, rather than sticking with old-fashioned traditions and a ready-made ring. Target rings are making a huge comeback, and we are here to deliver. Couples who come into our studio have a few options: they can commission a bespoke piece, crafted entirely around their story, or they can explore our curated bridal collection and signature rings selection, each designed with the same level of artistry and attention to detail as our bespoke work.
Our bespoke design service begins with an open conversation about your budget and style before moving into sketches, stone selection, and mock-ups, ultimately resulting in a finished ring crafted to the highest standard. This transparent, collaborative process ensures that you understand how decisions around karat, cut, colour, and clarity shape the final look, feel, and maintenance of your piece.
We also place a strong emphasis on heirloom remodelling. Whether it’s resetting a cherished family stone, melting down old gold, or reinventing an inherited design that doesn’t suit your taste, this process allows you to preserve family history while giving it fresh relevance. Our passion for antique jewellery is central here, as we work to pinpoint the perfect balance between what to preserve and what to modernise. The result is often a ring that feels brand new, yet still carries a piece of the past.
For those who prefer not to go the bespoke route, our Signature Designs collection offers a carefully curated selection of our most beloved styles, including the Gypsy, Solitaire, Three-Stone, Bombé, and Target rings. These ready-to-wear pieces are bold, tasteful, and infused with antique charm, perfect for couples looking for a finished design that can be worn right away. While each ring is crafted in a set form, there’s still room for subtle touches of personalisation. Customers can opt for additional engraving or switching out stones with a specific alternative.
As we’ve mentioned before, we take stone sourcing very seriously, and this extends to our commitment to using only natural, mined diamonds rather than lab-grown alternatives. Every stone is carefully chosen for its quality, character, and compatibility with the design vision. Many are sourced locally in London, depending on the type of material required, while others come from trusted specialists around the world.
If you ask Bear herself, a shining example of her commitment to sourcing unusual stones would be a peach-coloured garnet acquired from Top Notch Faceting (a stone cutter she greatly admires) that captured her imagination immediately and became a featured gem in one of her signature designs.
In addition to our bespoke work and signature collections, we also curate a remarkable selection of vintage jewellery. These pieces are sourced from all over the world, often carrying with them fascinating histories and stories of past owners. Many clients also choose to bring in pieces they no longer wear, either to sell outright or to put the value toward something new and bespoke. This exchange keeps the collection ever-evolving, filled with treasures that deserve to be loved and worn once again.
When it comes to curating the vintage range, we follow a simple but personal rule: we only buy pieces that we would want to wear ourselves. It’s an instinctive process rather than a purely commercial one, and it’s worked beautifully so far. The result is a collection that feels cohesive, deeply considered, and true to our aesthetic. Whether it’s a delicate Edwardian ring, a bold mid-century design, or an Art Deco treasure, our vintage collection allows couples to embrace jewellery with genuine history already embedded within. Contact us today to find or create your perfect ring!