Unique Engagement Rings To Enhance Your Personal Magic

When the words “engagement ring” pop up, often the first picture that comes to mind is a white diamond in either a gold or platinum band. The cut may be different – emerald, princess or square – but the stone stays the same. Diamonds are so entrenched in our picture of moving a relationship forward, but has this image lost its shine? And, should it? 

Marilyn Monroe uttered the iconic phrase, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” in the equally iconic hot pink outfit in the 1953 film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. This sentiment may stem from one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time: The De Beers diamond campaign of the 1940s. 

In this campaign, the tagline “Diamonds are forever” entered mainstream consciousness, equating a diamond with lasting love. It worked. Women who received diamond engagement rings from their significant other rose from 10% to 80%, and De Beers’ wholesale diamond sales in the United States increased from $23 million to $2.1 billion.

However, we can’t blame it all on the advertising… There’s a reason why so many people adopted this tradition, and today there are many who still want a diamond to go from girlfriend to fiancé. 

This precious gemstone has a mystique that’s captured humanity for centuries – it’s believed that diamonds have been used as adornment in India for almost 6,000 years. And, it’s not just because of romance and marriage. Diamonds are said to represent faithfulness, purity, intellect, and innocence. Clarity is also a defining characteristic of a diamond, beyond the look of the gemstone; its unique ability to reflect and refract light is thought to help its wearer clear their mind. 

Diamonds are beautiful – there’s no denying it. But, what we can deny is that it’s the only – or best – option.

Natural Vs Synthetic Diamonds 

If the look of a brilliant clear diamond gracing your finger is one that you can’t get out of your head, there are still choices to make regarding the stone: Lab grown or natural?

The jewelry industry has come a long way since diamonds skyrocketed to fame – namely, that diamonds no longer have to be mined and fair trade practices in the natural mining industry have become mainstream. 

A lab grown (also known as synthetic) diamond is made from carbon, the same material as natural diamonds. The difference is that people have found a way to speed up the process of carbon pressure. Lab grown diamonds have the same properties as a diamond dug out of the ground, and are just as strong. 

Why opt for a man-made diamond? Well, this – like all jewelry preferences – comes down to your own taste and inclination. As lab grown diamonds are chemically identical to their natural counterparts and come at a reduced price point, it’s a tempting alternative.  

Our white diamond engagement rings created with recycled gold can be made with either natural diamonds (certified to be fair trade by the Kimberley Process as well as GIA certified) or lab grown diamonds, and are brilliantly comfortable to wear.

At 12th House, we have a deep diamond inventory that is updated daily on our website. We offer a selection of both lab grown and natural diamonds, as well as personal shopping experiences with our diamond concierge to pick the perfect diamond for you.

Black Diamonds

While beautiful to gaze upon, black diamonds also have metaphysical properties for its wearers. It is said that this dark gemstone provides a link between the spiritual and physical world, and can even provide protection against evil.

This is an ideal stone for those who value their uniqueness, as it symbolizes having the courage to stand out from the crowd, inner strength, and justice. 

Black diamonds get their dark opaque hue from the high levels of graphite in the stone. While being as strong as white diamonds (plus, it can also be created in a lab), black diamonds have a completely different aesthetic; instead of reflecting light and sparkling like its white counterpart, it absorbs light. 

This effect translates beautifully in an engagement ring – this is seen particularly well in the Crossed Destinies Ring. Created with a gorgeous rose cut black diamond and cast in solid 14k recycled yellow gold, this unique engagement ring has a sculpted look reminiscent of old European style. 

To create an eye-catching contrast, you could include both shades of diamonds as seen in the Midheaven Juno Ring Suite. This minimalistic design features a white diamond engagement ring nestled between two bands of small black diamonds. Named “Juno” after the Roman goddess of love and marriage, the ring also features six claw prongs holding the diamond which correspond to the sixth card of the Tarot, The Lovers. 

Colorful Gemstones

Colorful gemstones aren’t just beautiful to look at – these colors often have meaning attached to them, and can therefore make an engagement ring unique to you. 

Green. The color of forests, well-watered grass, and gorgeous emeralds. The word emerald comes from the Greek smaragdus, meaning green. The Ancient Greeks associated this stone with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. The birthstone for the month of May, emeralds are also said to grant the owner foresight and good fortune. We’ve taken this stone and cast it in an ancient silhouette to create the Mare Nubium Emerald engagement ring, a piece perfect for Aphrodite herself.

From deep green to warm gold and burnt orange. The Mare Nubium Sapphire engagement ring is another colorful addition to the collection. With a golden sapphire as the center stone and accompanied by burnt orange diamonds, this piece is reminiscent of the warmth of the sun's rays.

Furthermore, a yellow sapphire is believed to be a bringer of abundance and prosperity.

Of course, probably the most well known shade of sapphire is blue. And, one of the most famous engagement rings of all time has a sapphire at its center. Diana, the Princess of Wales, had her pick of a number of rings when she got engaged – she chose the biggest one. The Marguerite Ring is a 12 carat oval Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by 14 diamonds, with an 18k white gold band. Over the years this ring hasn’t lost its appeal. In fact, after Prince William presented it to Kate Middleton, business boomed for the Natural Sapphire Company to the tune of a 300% increase in sales. 

Blue sapphire mania didn’t start with the British royal family, though…

In Buddhism, the sapphire is a stone that is said to promote tranquility, happiness, serenity, and spiritual enlightenment. For Ancient Persians, these blue gemstones were believed to be chips from the pedestal that supported the earth, the reflections of which made the sky blue.

If you have a family sapphire that you would love to bring into your engagement ring, you can arrange a Bespoke consultation with us. We work with heirloom stones with the utmost respect to preserve its natural charms while still bringing it into modern day.

Another gemstone that’s well known for its blue hue is the Gray Spinel, which you can see beautifully presented in our Gray Spinel engagement ring, part of the Mare Nubium collection. Nestled in the middle of a row of black diamonds the gemstone sparkles. Associated with cleansing, creativity, and inspiration, the hue of these stones can vary from gray to blue to purple. 

On the other end of the color spectrum, the ruby is an engagement stone choice that has been seen on a number of famous hands, including another member of the British royal family, Sarah Ferguson. Made by the same jeweler who created Diana’s sapphire ring, Sarah’s engagement ring is a stunning three carat Burmese ruby surrounded by 10 glittering diamonds on a yellow gold band. 

Another option for those looking for a deep red stone other than a ruby is a red zircon. While this stone is said to possess a fiery energy to match its hue, it is more of a steady, gentle warmth to enhance alertness while allowing the wearer to remain calm. One of the birthstones for December, this semi precious gemstone is said to have healing properties, such as assisting the wearer with improved sleep, better meditative abilities, and general good health.

The beauty of the red zircon is beautifully highlighted in the Midheaven Red Zircon engagement ring. This ring makes a bold statement with an ancient silhouette, created with sacred geometry and a highly coveted, brilliant cut round 2.83 carat red zircon held in solid 14k recycled yellow gold.

Contour Stacking Bands And Ring Suites

Of course, an engagement ring is only one part of the wedding ring set – there is still the wedding band to choose. 

Wedding rings are exchanged at the ceremony, and often worn below the engagement ring so it can be closer to the heart. This suite of rings can be expanded to celebrate anniversaries and the birth of children.

At 12th House, our made-to-order Contour Rings can be made in many different colors to perfectly fit with our diamond and gemstone engagement rings. 

Our black diamond Contour Ring No 1 creates a contemporary style with a classic silhouette to complement both the Mare Nubium Sapphire engagement ring and the Gray Spinel engagement ring. 

The magical ombre of canary yellow to white diamonds in the Contour Ring No. 2 beautifully suits our selection of Midheaven Diamond rings. 

For more color, the Emerald Contour Ring is created with brilliant cut emeralds and 14k recycled yellow gold to draw an elegant and timeless curve on your finger. This is an exquisite companion for the Mare Nubium Emerald engagement ring. 

Don’t opt for a diamond by default. From gorgeous lab grown creations and the marble allure of back diamonds, to golden sapphires and deep green emeralds, choose a ring that amplifies your personal magic.

Book a consultation with our client concierge to begin the process of creating a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry that will be treasured forever.