8 Australian jewellers share their favourite non-conventional engagement rings
IMAGE VIA @ROWISINGH/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
“By rejecting many of the traditions around engagement and wedding rings, we were free to design something really special.”
I never dreamed about my wedding day, but I often think about engagement rings. I love the idea of wearing a special piece of jewellery, every single day, oftentimes designed specifically for you. The practice is probably (most definitely) rooted in patriarchal bullshit, but who am I to deny myself shiny things?
The beauty of modern marriages is the willingness to experiment – that’s both within relationships and in wedding traditions. One way Australian couples are doing this is by subverting what is typically expected from engagement rings. Though diamonds tend to be the stone of choice for wedded couples, there’s a trend towards more unconventional rocks too.
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We tapped eight Australian jewellers and asked them to share their favourite non-traditional rings they’ve created. It’s not purely about the look of a ring, but the story that comes with it. Here, we take a look at the couples behind these unique rings and what the creation process was like.
Kurt Jacobson, founder of Garage Bands
Tell us about the couple this ring was made for.
The couple who commissioned these pieces reached out wanting two non-traditional engagement rings. They wished for them to be themed around a common interest they bonded over early on in their relationship. Due to the specific theme and the non-typical request for two engagement rings, diamonds weren’t really a consideration during the creation of this set.
Tell us about the rings themselves.
They requested pieces inspired by their shared favourite video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Both rings are made with solid 9k yellow gold. The first ring takes inspiration from the Kokiri Emerald. It features a lab-grown emerald gemstone that is set in a swirl which also separates it from other traditional designs. The second ring is a band with continuously-intertwined roots, drawn from the Deku Tree in Zelda.
Why do you love it?
These rings are special because I think it’s important to mutually work on meanings and designs those in the relationship value – rather than just going along with tradition. This, along with my own interest in the subject, made it a really fun project for me to work on.
Georgia Sacre, founder of Sacreflux
Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
I made these wedding bands for my close friends who are both very creative people. Jake actually made Mia’s engagement ring himself. I knew Mia would want something simple to compliment her other ring and that Jake would want something a bit wild.
Please describe the ring to us.
Both rings are 18ct yellow gold encrusted with natural sapphires. Mia’s ring is based on the Posy ring style I make, it’s more of a band and needed to sit next to her engagement ring hence the curve. We originally decided on pale tones for the stones but then decided to use brighter stones to add more of a fun playful feel to the ring.
Jake’s ring is based on the Rot ring style I make. There are lots of gemstones trapped in and under metal and I had to be conscious that it would be worn every day, hence the use of hard-wearing stones like sapphires.
That’s the same for Mia’s too. I also had to make sure there were no stones sitting upright that could be knocked or damaged. We flattened the top of the ring to also ensure comfort and handpicked six Australian sapphires to be set.
Why do you love it?
I love them because I think they go against the norm of white diamonds. Colourful sapphires bring an element of warmth and love into something that is meant to be exactly that, a warm and loving marriage that can pave its own way and step outside of the box. I also love them because I got to make them for lovely friends – but it’s always such a special process to make anyone’s jewellery.
Ruby Kannava, founder of Kannava Jewels
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Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
These rings were made for some good friends of mine, Alice and Ed, who got married at the start of the year. I’ve seen a growing trend of engagement rings for both partners getting married and I am here for it! The brief was something non-traditional, bright and funky they could wear every day without fear of damaging the rings.
My friend Alice is an artist and is super hands-on – she cooks, makes sculptures, paints and generally uses her hands a lot. I used sapphires as they are super hard and durable. Setting them into the ring means no exposed edges of stones which means it’s a lot less likely they will chip. I did explain to her that rings should always be taken off when doing anything strenuous or messy, but just in case, we wanted to make sure it wasn’t too delicate for everyday wear.
Please describe the ring to us.
Two signets covered in multicoloured sapphires in 18ct yellow gold. Alice’s ring is chunkier in a pastel-coloured flower formation and Ed’s has primary-coloured sapphires and an emerald in a row.
Why do you love it?
I love these because they are unconventional but practical. They are bright and fun, so quite show-stopping but still great for everyday use. I also love how they match but are also completely different.
Olivia Cummings, founder of Cleopatra’s Bling
Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
I made this ring for Ezgi and Armando who share a love of creativity and art. Armando’s eye was caught by the oil paintings Ezgi posted on a dating app, and they arranged a first date at a simple pizzeria in Sydney. They connected over wine and their love story blossomed.
With Ezgi having a Turkish background, it’s important to her to wear jewellery that carries a cultural significance that can also connect her to her roots through where it was made. She has a number of demi-fine pieces of Cleopatra’s Bling that she loves so she showed Armando the brand. He knew when he was ready to get engaged he would come to us for a bespoke, fine engagement ring.
Please describe the ring to us.
Armando’s engagement was planned as a surprise for Ezgi, so unlike some other couples we worked with, we worked solely with him to make a ring for his partner. Luckily, Armando knew her preferred style well; it needed to be unique in its aesthetic and stone choices, and he wanted it to include her favourite colour, green. Together, we helped him settle on the centrepiece of the ring, a yellow-green tourmaline he was drawn to for its associations with good health.
Why do you love it?
I love this ring because it managed to capture a lot about this couple’s love story, about Ezgi as a person as well as a symbol of what they hope for in the future. This kind of condensation of a couple’s unique and expansive love into a small, precious object is something we specialise in at our studio. But most importantly, this ring is very memorable for our team because it was part of a magical moment for Armando and Ezgi.
He decided to propose at Lake Taupo, after a day of swimming at a secluded campsite. He told us he felt a nervous adrenaline rush and, wrapped in a towel, pulled the ring out of his backpack and proposed to Ezgi as the sun set. The pictures speak for themselves. These are the moments that inspire you as a jeweller – when I see my designs brought to life with the skilled artisanship of our studio, blended with the emotions of a couple.
Stephanie Grace Symington, founder of SGS Jewellery
Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
The clients I made this ring for were such a breeze to work with! As with most things in this day and age, they found one of my pieces on Instagram and booked in a consult. The clients were creatives themselves and had a love for organic forms and cool tones which we brought to life.
Please describe the ring to us.
The ring is made with recycled 9ct yellow gold and showcases a stunning 1ct blue-green moissanite as its centre stone. Two smaller, locally-sourced Australian parti sapphires are nestled into the side of the band. Being 9ct yellow gold, the gold has a soft, buttery tone and is hard-wearing, just like the gemstones set in it.
The ring is uneven, organic and fluid in its form. This ring was inspired by trees with complex and mature above-ground root systems and the leafy vines that wrap and encompass these trees. This detailing is shown through the soft lines and irregularities created in my making process.
Why do you love it?
This ring may just be my favourite thing I’ve ever made. I love it. I love this ring for everything it symbolises for my clients and for the joy it gave me to make it. It’s so special to be entrusted with making such an important piece. Having used recycled metal and ethically-sourced gemstones, the sustainable and durable nature of the materials is another huge tick for me.
Mostly, I love the aesthetics of the ring. The way the metal almost looks like knots in wood around the sapphires on the sides of the band feels particularly magical to me. Honestly, I’d be hard-pressed to find a reason why I didn’t love this ring.
Sarah Gardner, founder of Sarah Gardner Jewellery
Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
This ring was created for the most amazing couple, Rowi and Rahul. Rowi is an insanely talented creative with incredible style. Rowi and Rahul are childhood sweethearts and you can see their love and respect for each other when you’re with them. It’s a joy to be in their presence.
Please describe the ring to us.
The ring was made using a 3.68ct Australian parti sapphire from my personal collection. I rarely let these stones go, so it had to be for the right couple. When I meet Rowi, I knew my special sapphire was for her. I created a substantial 18ct yellow gold Sun Punch ring with a matte texture and finished the ring with two G/VS rose cut diamonds.
Why do you love it?
I love this ring because the whole process was such a privilege to be involved in. The sapphire is incredibly unique (I’m yet to find another of a similar size that compares). The ring is timeless but bold and is a great example of walking your own walk and finding the ring that feels right for you. And it’s bloody beautiful!!
Cushla Whiting, Creative Director of Cushla Whiting
Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
[My husband] Blake and I grew up down the road from each other in Central and North Queensland and our parents were friends, so we’ve known each other since we were about six. Although we had a few flirty interactions in our early twenties, nothing came about because I moved to Melbourne to study design.
It wasn’t until our late twenties that we realised we actually liked each other and figured out we could date. Living in different towns at the time, it was on our second date in Bangalow we decided to move to Germany. Nine months into our relationship, we were on the other side of the world – a bit of a surprising move for a fresh relationship, but it worked. We’ve both done things a little differently and surprised our families with decisions but have always been true to ourselves.
We loved the Central Queensland parti sapphire in a free-form cut and the kite-cut diamond for that reason. They’re a bit different but they resonate with our origins. I think it’s a great representation of how we plan to live our life and our marriage.
I also think the stones are a bit like us. I’m a designer obsessed with colour and Blake is an engineer who is now studying finance. We’re pretty different people but we complement each other nicely. Blake proposed to me under the tree where, three years earlier on our first date, we’d spent hours chatting about life and falling in love with each other.
Please describe the ring to us.
You and Me is a symbolic design, representing duality between two individuals as a whole. A freeform sapphire and a mirroring kite-shaped diamond are set in an open band. The double and single bands merge together at the back of the ring to create a symbolic wishbone joint.
Why do you love it?
Firstly because of the very unique sapphire. Parti sapphires in this shape, with this perfect graduation from green to gold colouring, are rare to find and really one of a kind. The kite-shaped diamond is also a unique cut, which perfectly mirrors and compliments the sapphire.
The double band on one side helps balance the length of the sapphire. There’s a beautiful balance and harmony in this asymmetrical design which is difficult to achieve.
Craig Spark, Master Jeweller at Lucy Folk
Tell us about the couple this ring was created for.
It’s difficult to choose a particular non-traditional engagement ring. I’ve worked on some wild pieces in the history of the brand. My favourite pieces usually involve the connection made with the customer and their backstory. Weaving a personal story into a piece is what makes jewellery special.
Pieces that stand out are two rings I made for a Sydney couple in their seventies. They’d been childhood friends but hadn’t got together until later in life. They’d been together for 20 years and decided to tie the knot with a single ring each. These were essentially both engagement and wedding rings for each other.
Please describe the ring to us.
They wanted the same ring in a signet style. The top face detail was a reworked version of the woman’s family crest that had origins in Ireland. We added and subtracted elements to personalise the reading and meaning. The structure and basic form of the ring were my re-interpretation of a very old style that I had seen in Morocco while travelling with Lucy.
Why do you love it? What did you love about this particular ring?
The evolution of the crest detail combined with the modern reimagining of an ancient style resulted in a piece that was totally unique. I also really admired this couple’s desire to put her family crest at the forefront of this piece and to pursue a design that could be considered traditionally masculine. By rejecting many of the traditions around engagement and wedding rings, we were free to design something really special.
For a comprehensive list of non-traditional engagement ring styles, read this.
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