Unique Engagement Rings

Unique engagement rings are more than simple declarations of commitment; they are deeply personal statement pieces that encompass a couple’s love story, from first meetings to final I do’s. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that big, bold, personalised engagement rings have made a comeback.

With the desire for traditional styles fading, we’re seeing couples lean into unique, personalised engagement rings with a luxurious, vintage-inspired feel. Now more than ever, people are choosing pieces that showcase character, history, and intention rather than picking out stock-standard options from a catalogue SKU. Instead of settling for basic designs, customers are choosing unique engagement rings that feel substantial on the hand and singular to their personal stories.

This is exactly the movement Bear Brooksbank has been championing. The rise of vintage references and bespoke chunky engagement rings is something we love to see, and we’re ready to translate your taste into a ring that fits you and your personal preferences, with all the bespoke luxury you would want from such a significant statement piece.

Our clients come to us for jewellery that reflects their style and their values, looking for pieces with personality. Working closely with trusted London workshops and responsibly sourced materials allows us to honour both tradition and innovation.

In this guide, we’ll be covering what sets Bear Brooksbank apart, from our affection for antique rings and the signature chunky look that’s become a calling card of ours, to where we source our natural, grown diamonds from, and how the studio welcomes a wonderfully wide spectrum of clients. Keep reading to learn more about our services and commitment to quality.

Rare Unique Engagement Rings: The Bear Brooksbank Style

Browsing our signature rings, you’ll notice our distinct design language, exuding a unique personality with a vintage flourish. At Bear Brooksbank, we tend to favour smooth, sculptural settings; deliciously domed profiles, lush, 18 karat yellow gold, and bold diamond arrangements. The now-iconic Gypsy and Bombé shapes are quintessential Bear Brooksbank pieces, assertive, tactile, and unapologetically cool.

Our core philosophy is reverence for what already exists, and this is why Bear Brooksbank maintains a thoughtful selection of vintage and antique rings and jewels sourced personally by Bear. This isn’t a flea-market trawl, but rather a curated collection that understands proportion, condition, and the moods of different eras, from Georgian femininity to Art Deco geometry. The collection is explicitly framed as “pre-loved, vintage and antique jewellery,” and it sits alongside the signature and bespoke work rather than behind it.

For some couples, a vintage ring is the end-game goal, chosen for its history and distinct design. For others, it’s the starting point, a cabinet of references to try on, borrow from, or even directly rework. This is also a great route for clients who wish to explore a sustainable avenue. What matters is matching the emotional arc of an engagement to the right design. Some stories need a ring that’s already lived through decades; others demand a brand-new build with a nod to your favourite era. Here at Bear Brooksbank, we are happy to cater to both, because the aim is always the same: find (or make) the piece that feels right on your hand.

If there’s a single look people associate with Bear Brooksbank, it’s chunky, and that’s very much by design. The brand’s signature Gypsy and Bombé rings wrap gemstones in gold, embedding stones flush with the metal so the jewellery reads as shapely rather than pronged and airy. Even solitaire styles in the signature collection carry a sleek, substantial presence, swapping spiky claws for softened lines and full-bodied shanks that resist trends and fragile fussiness.

From a wearer’s perspective, that chunkiness is practical luxury. Smooth domes are comfortable, and flush settings snag less. Weight signifies increased longevity, and generous gold patina ages beautifully. From a stylistic standpoint, the look also plays well with how people wear jewellery now, stacked with wedding rings, mixed metals, engraved messages, and everyday pieces that aren’t put away after 6 p.m. The ring you say yes with should be the ring you are comfortable wearing every day.

Unique Engagement Rings: Gold And Stones

Here at Bear Brooksbank, we adore material decisions that read as both tactile and timeless: warm yellow gold, old-cut centres, and stone settings that prioritise protection without sacrificing personality. For example, a teal sapphire with character will be chosen for its hue and grain as much as its clarity, and a diamond will be prized for the beauty and durability that no lab-grown stone can live up to, whether it’s set in a solitaire, trilogy or halo ring.

These choices influence the entire construction of the wedding or engagement ring, including how the shank is weighted, the wall thickness, and how the setting is engineered. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the main considerations we take when designing a unique, one-of-a-kind engagement ring:

Gold And Metal Purities

When we talk about gold, we’re talking about more than colour. We’re talking about proportion, longevity, and how the metal performs under the wear and tear of daily life. Gold purity is communicated in karats (or “ct” in UK trade): 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct are the common options you’ll see on the bench, and each has trade-offs.

18ct (75% gold) is the studio’s favourite for many of our signature pieces because it offers a warm, buttery tone and appropriate malleability for the soft domes, rounded shanks, and hand-engraved details we adore. 18ct also takes a beautifully tactile finish and develops an attractive patina with wear.

Bear typically considers weight an important factor in the overall ring, so the ring feels substantial. Recycled and mixed alloys are becoming an increasingly popular choice, too. This is because recycled gold reduces new mining and can be blended into an 18ct alloy. If this option suits you, we will be able to mix small amounts of family gold into a new shank if you want lineage physically embedded in your finished piece.

Beyond karat, the perceived quality of a ring is also affected by certain construction choices. When we put together a unique engagement ring, we consider grams of gold used, shank profile and how the setting is engineered for the stone. All of these technical options are discussed during the design stage of our bespoke engagement ring process, because they are just as important to the finished look and to long-term wear as the stone you choose.

Diamond And Stone Sourcing

Bear Brooksbank sources stones through our trusted London partners over at Hatton Garden, including dealers and cutters. Working with Hatton Garden gives us close access to an array of natural and certified stones (diamonds and coloured gems) so clients can see and choose in person, as well as longstanding trade relationships that help verify paperwork and provenance. On provenance, we reference industry standards such as the Kimberley Process as a baseline for conflict-free supply.

Stone personality matters just as much as paperwork, which is why Bear’s aesthetic favours stones with character. Old-mine cushions and bold cuts are our forte, as well as coloured sapphires with vibrant colour. When sourcing stones, we evaluate them not only by certificate but by how each stone behaves face-up, how it reads in a gypsy or bezel, and how it pairs with the metal choice, too.

The Natural VS Lab-Grown Debate

Bear Brooksbank’s jewellery practice is rooted in craft, provenance, and the idea that an engagement ring should carry a story across generations. From that standpoint, we have a few defensible reasons for insisting on natural diamonds as the default option when crafting handmade engagement rings.

To begin with, natural diamonds are geological marvels, with every stone being the product of unique conditions and a lengthy amount of time. That unique history imbues each stone with provenance that resonates emotionally for clients commissioning heirloom-quality pieces. Our work often aims to produce objects that function as family artefacts, items that can be passed down and reinterpreted throughout the family line. A natural diamond’s origin story becomes part of the object’s narrative in a way that lab-grown stones simply cannot replicate.

Furthermore, for many clients, engagement rings are both sentimental objects and financial assets, and, historically, natural diamonds have had clearer secondary-market recognition and appraisal frameworks. Natural diamonds are underwritten by long-standing trade practices and certification regimes that protect resale and valuation. While the market for lab-grown stones is evolving rapidly, Bear Brooksbank takes a conservative stance for clients who prioritise long-term portability of value and the established metrics collectors and insurers currently use for natural stones.

In terms of craft and aesthetic appeal, Bear Brooksbank’s signature silhouettes (Gypsy, Solitaire, Bombé, and Target) are interventions in heavy metal. These forms were developed and refined around the optical and physical behaviour of natural stones (old cuts, brilliant cuts and geometric shapes). The way light plays from an old mine diamond in a low, flush setting, or the particular grain of a natural sapphire hugged by warm yellow gold, is integral to the studio’s design vocabulary. From a craft perspective, the choice of natural stones is not purely about market or ethics; it is about aesthetic fit and the way bench decisions (seat depth, bezel lip, dome curvature) interact with the lived character of a natural gem.

We source all of our stones through our Hatton Garden partners and work with suppliers that adhere to recognised provenance standards like the Kimberley Process. These relationships mean that we can provide documentary chains of custody and facilitate GIA/IGI certification. Insisting on natural diamonds within this vetted framework gives clients a clear paperwork trail and enables transparent conversations about origin, certification, and ethics.

Unique Engagement Rings: UK Specialists

Commissioning a unique engagement ring that fits your personal style and preferences is easier than ever. In the UK, and especially in London, bespoke jewellery commissions benefit from a dense ecosystem of craft, dealers, and heritage. The city’s Hatton Garden and the patchwork of independent studios make it uniquely simple to move from conversation to prototype to finished product while maintaining local oversight every step of the way.

The localised workshops allow for fast iteration, close quality control, and local hallmarking, and Bear Brooksbank uses this to our advantage. For bespoke designs, we host first consultations and discussions in our Shoreditch showroom, where we’ll cover all the important questions, everything from your budget and time constraints to how you want the ring to perform on your hand. These sessions are as much about understanding your story as they are about design choices, as the final piece should reflect personal meaning, sentiment and style. Clients will often bring inspiration from travel, architecture or family jewellery.

Once we’ve got a clear idea of what you’re looking for (and collected any heirloom stones you want to include in your piece), we begin working with trusted London workshops in the Hatton Garden area to complete the piece.

From the first sketch to the finished ring, the focus is on meaningful designs, thoughtful craftsmanship, and decisions that honour how the ring will live alongside other jewellery, like your bangles, bracelets, and necklaces. Every finished ring is the result of collaboration between the client and the jewellery designer, with rings that are as distinctive as the people who wear them.

The Bear Brooksbank Point Of View: Craftsmanship And Customer Care

At Bear Brooksbank, “unique” is what we’re known for. With a focus on luxury, vintage designs, and chunky, personalised pieces, we strive to provide engagement ring designs that serve as more than simple statements of devotion. Our bespoke ring designs are put together according to what you want in a personalised ring, allowing you to tell your story through the carefully-crafted model on your finger.

Heirloom Remodelling: A Touch Of The Old Within The New

As mentioned, we offer a complete bespoke design service, beginning with a conversation around budget and taste, before moving on to sketches, stone selection, and mock-ups, and finally producing a finished ring crafted to the highest standard. The process is intentionally transparent and collaborative, so that our customers can understand trade-offs in carat, colour, clarity, and cut, as well as how design decisions affect the ring’s look, feel, and maintenance.

We also actively encourage remodelling. If you have your heart set on a family heirloom, you could opt to have the stone reset, melt down old gold, or redesign an inherited heirloom that doesn’t quite fit your style. This is a great way to preserve your family’s history while adding your own unique flair to the final piece. This is also where Bear Brooksbank’s infatuation with vintage shines.

Our team knows exactly how to handle heirloom remodelling, including what to keep and what to modernise. The result is often a ring that feels freshly made while still retaining a trace of its origins and a thoughtful nod to a past era.

Combining heritage with innovation helps us ensure that each remodel is deeply personal, creating jewellery that is both timeless and modern. Some clients describe the experience as a rediscovery of their heirloom’s true character, with the sentimental value boosted by fresh craftsmanship. From preserving subtle details to reworking an entire setting, the outcome is always a meaningful piece honouring the past while looking to the future.

Bespoke Jewellery: The Bear Brooksbank Design Process

We work to blend a fashion-forward aesthetic with traditional, bench-led craftsmanship, designing in East London and building pieces in Hatton Garden, the city’s historic jewellery quarter. Our unique engagement ring designs are conceived in our Shoreditch Showroom and crafted in London by masters in the field. This local approach to craftsmanship lets us maintain tight control over quality while keeping a direct line between the creative ring idea and how it ultimately performs on your hand.

To give you some insight into the Bear Brooksbank approach to crafting unique engagement ring designs, here’s a quick breakdown of the bespoke process:

Step One involves an initial consultation to understand exactly what you’re looking for in a unique engagement ring that rings true to your personal story. Maybe you want something a little more obscure like a pear-shaped stone? Any details and preferences you can offer will help us propose handmade rings and bespoke jewellery solutions that suit your tastes exactly.

This consultation is free and can be arranged over Zoom upon request, but we highly recommend heading over to our Shoreditch Showroom to chat to us in person. Every little detail you can offer about what exactly you’re looking for will help us put together a final ring design that you’ll adore.

At Step Two, we’ll begin working on your ring design, teasing out the tiny details and refining your rough ideas. We will also put together sketches and reference images to give you a better idea of the route your ring is heading down before we begin crafting the finished piece. Once we’ve settled on a design direction you approve of, we will begin meticulously sourcing stones (or working with any heirloom stones you have provided).

Here at Bear Brooksbank, we do not work with lab-grown diamonds or other suppliers. We source our diamonds from trusted Hatton Garden suppliers who follow the Kimberley Process. This is a strict rule that Bear Brooksbank insists on sticking with, favouring hand-picked, natural diamonds over lab-grown alternatives.

Once we have the design locked down and all the stones on hand, you’ll be invited back to our Shoreditch Showroom to review them. At this stage, we’ll be able to offer you an accurate cost for the final bespoke pieces, as well as the pricing for each individual stone.

We will also officially agree on a set timeline; the process of making your unique engagement ring, from first cast to final polish, usually takes six to eight weeks in total, which slots into our typical three-month timeline. However, if you’re operating on a tighter deadline, don’t hesitate to let us know. If the schedule allows for it, we can speed up the process to suit your schedule without compromising on the overall quality of the final piece.

Step Three of the design process is CAD (Computer Aided Design). At this stage, we will present you with a digital mock-up of your engagement ring, along with a 3D prototype to give you an accurate sense of proportions. You’ll also be able to test out how the model feels on your finger, with time enough to offer some suggestions for tweaks to the final design. Once you have approved the digital mock-up and we have teased out any final design changes, we’ll request a 50% deposit for your bespoke engagement ring, and from there, we’ll get started on crafting the final product.

At Step Four, your engagement ring design is sent off to the experienced craftspeople operating in Hatton Garden. This renowned London district is a historic jeweller’s paradise, and the go-to shopping district for affordable luxury. With Bear Brooksbank and the masters of the craft operating in the area, your unique engagement ring is in safe, capable hands.

Step Five is what you’ve been waiting for, the unveiling of the finished piece. Once we have thoroughly inspected the completed engagement ring, and made that sure every little detail has been executed precisely to your specifications, you will be invited to collect your bespoke engagement ring from our showroom (if you have chosen to have a family heirloom remodelled, any items belonging to you that weren’t used will be returned to you at the same time). When we are certain you are happy with the final piece, the outstanding balance can be settled, and you'll be free to take your new, unique engagement ring home with you.

Keep in mind: Bespoke goods from Bear Brooksbank cannot be returned. All of our bespoke engagement rings and jewellery pieces are made to measure to each client’s exact specifications, meaning your bespoke piece will be best suited to you and you alone.

Inclusive Unique Engagement Rings

The best litmus test for a brand’s values isn’t the mission statement; it’s the work and the experience. Our bridal collection is our studio’s most ambitious and inclusive work to date, spanning women’s and men’s wedding rings and a catalogue of ready-to-wear engagement designs, too. This inclusive, open-arms policy is important to us, as our ultimate goal is to offer wedding rings and engagement ring designs for all couples and all hands. It is our mission to ensure that all love stories outside the “traditional” template are not only accommodated but equally celebrated.

Practically, this inclusivity shows up everywhere in our design process. It is evident in the comfortable engineering of rings for larger hands, in bolder, unisex silhouettes that don’t rely on gendered clichés, and in the bespoke process that treats a commission as an exciting, honourable brief.

Unique Engagement Rings for Women And Men

We offer rings for both women and men, and both are held to the same craftsmanship and finish standards. The studio is practiced at creating matched or complementary sets for couples who want cohesion without gendered cliché. Whether you choose one ready-to-wear option or commission two bespoke rings that split an heirloom between partners, our bridal service is engineered to deliver balance, comfort, and a coherent visual story.

Non-Traditional Engagement Rings: UK

Bear Brooksbank offers a thoughtful, diverse approach to wedding and engagement rings, with something to suit every couple’s story and style. Our offerings can broadly be divided into three categories: Signature Designs, Vintage Rings, and a fully personalised Bespoke Service. Each avenue gives our customers a chance to find or create a ring that is meaningful, timeless, and beautifully made, as well as wholly unique and tied to their personal stories.

Our Signature Designs collection features some of our most beloved styles, including the Gypsy, Solitaire, Three-Stone, Bombé, and Target rings. These ready-to-wear pieces are bold, tasteful, and brimming with antique charm and can be ready for purchase at a moment’s notice, making them ideal for couples who want a finished design they can wear right away. While these rings are stocked in set forms, small changes like engraving or swapping in a different stone can be made to personalise the final piece.

The Gypsy Ring: Distinct, Stand-Out Style

Inspired by antique, yet timeless ring styles, the Gypsy Ring features a stone set directly into a solid gold band, allowing the gem to sit flush with the surface for a bold, sculptural form and tactile feel. The gypsy setting is particularly protective, making it ideal for everyday wear and anybody who appreciates some extra durability in their jewellery. We often craft these rings in warm yellow gold with old-cut diamonds or coloured sapphires to complement the boldness of the design. The result is jewellery full of character, and a vibrant, stand-out design.

The Solitaire Ring: Vintage With A Twist

The Solitaire ring is another classic, and we have reimagined this popular design to suit current trends, blending exquisite modern elements with vintage influence. Rather than a delicate claw setting, Bear opts for sturdy collets or rub-over (bezel) settings that highlight the stone’s natural beauty while ensuring it remains secure in its setting and wholly practical for everyday wear. This design works beautifully for those who want understated elegance with a firm focus on the centrepiece gem.

Trilogy Engagement Ring: Tell your Story

The Trilogy engagement ring is designed to tell a story in three stones. Traditionally symbolising a couple’s past, present, and future, this style has a deep emotional resonance to it that is favoured by many customers. Bear Brooksbank’s approach to this impactful design involves pairing a central stone with side stones that enhance its presence, including sapphires, emeralds, or smaller diamonds.

The proportions of the trilogy engagement ring are carefully considered so that the ring feels harmonious and avoids looking crowded on the finger, with a setting carefully crafted to sit comfortably. This is a design well-suited to clients who want symbolism woven into their ring while still maintaining a bold, impactful look.

The Bombé Ring: Dramatic Flair

The Bombé ring is all about volume, texture, and drama. Taking inspiration from 1920s jewellery, it features a domed form that can be set with clusters of diamonds or coloured stones. At Bear Brooksbank, the Bombé style is often used to create one-of-a-kind engagement rings that feel daring and unconventional, ideal for couples who want something outside of traditional engagement ring trends. The high, rounded surface provides a canvas for unusual arrangements, from pavé-set stones to bold cabochons.

The Target Ring: Geometric Magnificence

The Target ring is a striking design that layers concentric shapes around a central stone, drawing the eye inward. This style originated in the Edwardian and Art Deco eras and is prized for its graphic, geometric appeal. At Bear Brooksbank, the Target ring is crafted with bold contrasts, such as a central diamond surrounded by calibre-cut sapphires or rubies, and the result is a ring with strong visual impact. Customers who choose a Target ring are usually drawn to its sense of symmetry, history, and show-stopping elegance.

Bridal Jewellery Collection: Wedding And Engagement Statement Pieces

Bear Brooksbank’s bridal collection exists to promote a bold and wide-ranging approach to wedding jewellery, offering a curated selection of engagement rings, wedding bands for both women and men. With over 40 pieces in the collection, this is our most ambitious project to date.

The engagement ring selection highlights our signature aesthetic, combining vintage inspiration with exceptional skill. A few popular ready-to-wear designs available in this collection include the Gypsy V, featuring a 1.50ct emerald-cut diamond flush-set in 18ct yellow gold, and the Gypsy IV, with a romantic heart-shaped spinel.

Other prominent pieces include the Three-Stone II, a fresh interpretation on the traditional trilogy ring, and the Thread and Grain Ring, a 3mm diamond-set band crafted with infinite precision. Each design has been methodically teased out to emphasise the distinctive stones, bold settings, and a strong presence that make these rings special.

Wedding bands are a major part of the collection, with a variety of styles designed to complement the included engagement rings or hold their own alone. Options like the Two-Band Ring, Flush-Set Ring, and Bar-Set Ring showcase immensely thoughtful design along with material excellence. Classic band styles, including Rope, Russian, Donut, Loaf, Curved Court, Court, and D-Shape, offer further versatility, with different widths, finishes, and price points to suit your budget and taste.

These bands can also be stacked or paired with other wedding jewellery, so customers can create a personalised look. Mix and match to your heart’s content and settle on a combination that matches what you prefer.

The men’s wedding ring selection involves the same focus on skill, style, and comfort. Designs like the Medium Court 4.5mm, Reverse D-Shape 4mm, and Round Oval 3.5mm have distinct modern touches. These rings are durable and built for everyday wear, catering to both contemporary and traditional preferences. Other options, such as the Medium D-Shape and Court rings, provide even more variety for those looking for specific, tailored designs.

The collection also includes a Capsule series of limited-edition necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to take your jewellery collection to new heights. Highlights include the BB x LV Baroque Pearl Choker II and Pearl Cluster Earrings. These limited pieces provide a luxurious finishing touch for brides and grooms seeking something exceptional to elevate the jewellery.

Overall, the Bear Brooksbank Bridal Collection aims to balance ready-to-wear accessibility with bespoke creativity so every couple can find or create something that perfectly reflects their story. With an emphasis on natural diamonds, exceptional materials, and tactile, careful design, Bear Brooksbank continues to redefine bridal jewellery, with rings that celebrate originality and charm.

Unique Engagement Rings: Bear Brooksbank Options

Choosing between ready-to-wear, vintage, or bespoke largely depends on your needs, and your final decision will usually be influenced by your budget, personal desires and expected time horizon. Ready-to-wear rings are perfect for quick decisions and distinctive looks, vintage rings appeal to those who want something with a history, and bespoke commissions offer the highest level of personalisation and customisation.

No matter the option you choose, we make sure that your engagement ring reflects your personal story, your tastes, and the legacy you look to forge with your new family heirloom. We know that an engagement ring is a lot more than just a piece of jewellery, it’s a marker of commitment created to capture moments, memories and meaning in a single piece. With our vintage collection and bespoke services, you can choose a ring that feels deeply personal, while knowing it’s been created with the highest standards of quality. We help you find the ring that resonates the most with your journey together as a couple.

If you’re interested in purchasing an engagement ring that mirrors your story and stands the test of time, don’t hesitate to get in contact and book a consultation with Bear Brooksbank today. Alternatively, you could pop by our Shoreditch Showroom and take a look at some of the gorgeous jewellery on offer. We specialise in shaping vintage jewellery to suit your style, and our team is ready and waiting to turn your ideas into timeless, vibrant statement pieces to be treasured throughout your family line.

Book your consultation today and let us help you begin the journey of creating or discovering the perfect engagement ring.