The best local jewellers for engagement rings in Australia
IMAGE VIA @bellaclarkjewellery/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAEVE KERR-CROWLEY
Finding your perfect fit.
So you’re madly, deeply, truly in love and you’re ready to take the next step. You want to spend the rest of your life with your partner and you’re prepared to sign some papers and make it official. In other words, you like it and you want to put a ring on it.
First of all, congratulations. Second of all, as tradition dictates, you need a ring. An engagement ring is personal and special because it’s a physical representation of your relationship and commitment to each other, so you want to get it right.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Whether you’re working together to find the perfect rings, your partner knows exactly what they want and you’re tasked with making it happen, or you’re aiming for a big surprise and want to pick something they’ll love, a lot of thought goes into this one purchase.
To help you out on your journey towards wedded bliss, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite local jewellers that specialise in beautiful, ‘I said yes’ Instagram post-worthy rings. Whatever your aesthetic and love story, we’re sure at least one of these brands is ready to make the ring of your dreams.
Cushla Whiting
View this post on Instagram
Run by three siblings with gemology in their DNA, Cushla Whiting’s aim is to make buying fine jewellery less intimidating, which is exactly what you want when you’re making a choice as important as an engagement ring. There are three routes you can take depending on how personal you’re looking to get with the design.
As well as a ready-to-ship range of engagement rings that includes tonnes of silhouette and gemstone combinations, the brand also offers bespoke rings – which involves choosing a signature silhouette and customising it with your own stone combo – and custom rings – where you work with the brand from the beginning of the design to the end to create something one-of-a-kind.
House of Matilda
View this post on Instagram
If you want to browse a host of talented Australian jewellery designers in one place, House of Matilda is the place to look. A lot of the hard work is done for you because the store has sourced the best craftsmanship and most unique designs the country has to offer. With brands like Vaxa, Laura Miers, Millie Savage, Black Finch and more on board, you’ll find something to suit every aesthetic – from understated elegance to technicolour maximalism.
Bella Clark
View this post on Instagram
It doesn’t get more ‘supporting local artists’ than buying from a one-woman shop based in a small Fitzroy studio. Bella Clark hand makes a range of dainty gold and silver bands, signet rings and incredibly cool faceted plaza rings as well as bespoke designs for that uber-personal, one-of-a-kind look. Heavily inspired by the designer’s grandmother and other women in her life, the rings all have a timeless, romantic feel to them that you’ll be proud to hold onto forever.
Grew & Co
View this post on Instagram
Based in Sydney, Grew & Co operates out of an in-house workshop using ethical crafting practices and sustainably sourced, conflict-free stones – often purchased directly from miners to guarantee their profits. The brand’s engagement ring range includes a variety of band styles, finished with gorgeous diamonds, sapphires and other precious stones in truly imaginative configurations. If you’ve got an extra special design in mind, the workshop also offers bespoke creation services.
Sarah & Sebastian
View this post on Instagram
Sydney-siders and Melburnians looking to play an active part in the design of their engagement ring should consider booking an engagement appointment at Sarah & Sebastian. A highly skilled specialist will walk you through the entire process, helping you pick the perfect diamond cut, colour and clarity.
Alternatively, you can always shop the brand’s existing range of engagement rings, which includes some beautifully unique silhouettes with gold or silver bands. Sarah & Sebastian is also a longstanding and passionate supporter of local marine conservation, which might add an extra touch of love for eco-conscious couples.
Tessa Blazey
View this post on Instagram
Northcote-based studio Tessa Blazey offers something a little less traditional, with a range of beautifully textured, antique-esque rings. This unique look is achieved using a lost wax casting process with refined and recycled metals. As well as sourcing regulated, conflict-free gemstones from trusted local and international suppliers, the brand regularly works with heirloom gemstones to create something new out of a stone that already carries personal meaning.
Cleopatra’s Bling
View this post on Instagram
The variety of rings offered by Cleopatra’s Bling reflects the brand’s many intertwined sources of inspiration. Operated between Melbourne, Paris and Istanbul, CB draws on ancient jewellery-making traditions to create unique designs with a beautiful, historical touch. Find something opulent and jewel-encrusted, raw and meaningful or just plain romantic, all made from metals and gemstones sourced from Australia, Turkey and other countries around the world.
Lott Studio
View this post on Instagram
Not everyone is a fan of gemstones, colour and ornate design. For those with a more pared-back, minimalist aesthetic, check out Melbourne’s Lott Studio. Heavily inspired by the human form, fluidity and subtle industrial elements, the brand’s relatively simple rings use subtle variations in shape and form to create designs with a sense of movement and a natural yet refined beauty. Don’t let their understated look fool you, though. These rings are meticulously crafted with a huge amount of skill, creating an impactful piece of jewellery.
Laura Miers
View this post on Instagram
Laura Miers is a local label with a beautiful story, run by the daughter of master craftsman Peter Miers, who taught herself to make jewellery in her late father’s studio. Emphasising themes of love, identity and culture, the brand creates clean, beautifully shining rings in a wide range of silhouettes.
There’s also a custom jewellery service on offer, inviting you to ‘play god’ with your rings. For an innovative touch, a focus on sustainable, ethical crafting practices has seen Laura Miers incorporate lab-grown diamonds into its designs. These diamonds have the same physical makeup and properties as mined diamonds but are much more sustainable, ethical and economical to procure.
Lucy Folk
View this post on Instagram
With a self-proclaimed ‘eclectic’ aesthetic, Lucy Folk is the place to look for something a little artistic and unconventional. Utilising silhouette, texture and outside-the-box gemstone arrangements, the brand’s rings are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. If you’re after a super special couture experience, LF’s bespoke design service allows you to work hand-in-hand with the founder and head of jewellery design to create something one-of-a-kind.
Pieces of Eight
View this post on Instagram
Another hub for multiple Australian designers, Pieces of Eight is a Melbourne-based gallery with a focus on contemporary jewellery. Dedicated to innovative, dynamic designs, the store is a streamlined way to discover artists doing something new and unique. A dedicated engagement ring offering includes super opulent, stone-heavy styles from Melanie Katsalidis, Seb Brown signet rings, understated layer bands from Belinda Esperson, William Llewellyn Griffiths’ sculptural masterpieces and much, much more.
Meadowlark
View this post on Instagram
New Zealand label Meadowlark is very big on love stories and believes in using jewellery to express and memorialise the most meaningful chapters of your life. Its stone-forward ring designs play with shapes like hexagons, flowers and curves to offer something unique yet still timeless. Styles range from delicate miniatures to a more ornate, ‘look at the size of that rock’ vibe, mixing glittering diamonds with other richly coloured precious gemstones.
For tips on choosing the right engagement ring for you, try this.
Liked this? You’ll love these...
