The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Perfect Wedding Ring Design

What better new way to ring in a new life chapter than with, well, a beautiful ring? Whether you’re on the hunt for an engagement ring or searching for the perfect set of beautiful wedding rings, selecting the perfect style is a big decision. It’s probably one of the most major jewelry purchases you’ll ever make, so you’ll want to carefully choose a wedding ring design that’ll be cherished for years to come.

Selecting a wedding ring design style, however, is much easier said than done. First of all, there are tons of different types of gems, cuts, settings, and bands to pick from—more than can be counted on two hands. Add the fact that this jewelry is designed to be worn for an entire lifetime, and the pressure can feel a bit overwhelming. Where to begin?!

Fear not: We’re here to answer every single question about your wedding and engagement ring design. Planning to pop the question soon and have no idea which cut of diamond to choose, for instance? We’ve got you covered. Already engaged and trying to pick a wedding ring design that’ll complement your existing engagement ring? We’ve got expert advice from jewelers on that too. 

From engagement ring cuts and settings to the different wedding band designs to consider, plus the factors to consider when narrowing down a wedding ring design, here’s what you need to know.

Engagement ring styles

If you’re planning to propose to your partner soon and want an engagement ring to accompany the big question, it’s easy to get lost in the frenzy of different engagement ring ideas. Whether you’re picturing a traditional round-cut diamond ring or an art-deco style with a unique gemstone, there are a few things to consider when selecting from the many engagement ring styles. (Psst, if you’re only interested in wedding ring design styles rather than engagement rings, scroll down!)

The Diamond 4Cs are a solid place to start when nailing down the ideal engagement ring styles for your partner. Created by Robert M. Shipley, the founder of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), these four factors (all starting with the letter C, of course) help to characterize a faceted diamond: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. 

Color measures the amount of a diamond's color, on a scale of D-to-Z. (D diamonds are colorless, while Z diamonds have a light yellow or brown color, per the GIA.) Clarity, as defined by the GIA, is the relative absence of inclusions and blemishes. A diamond’s cut refers to how its facets are arranged and determines how well it interacts with light. And carat weight measures the weight of a diamond, with one carat equaling 0.20 grams. Carat weight is a major factor in how much a diamond costs, since larger diamonds are rarer and, thus, more expensive, according to the GIA. That said, the other three Cs (color, clarity, and cut) greatly affect a diamond's value and price too, and should be considered when you're shopping for a ring.

You should also think about whether you'd like a lab-grown diamond or a natural diamond. Both options are incredibly similar—they're both made of tightly bonded carbon atoms and respond to light in the same way—but have different origins, explains the GIA. While natural diamonds are mined from the Earth's surface, lab-grown diamonds are (as you might have guessed from the name) grown in labs, providing a much more sustainably sourced stone.

Feeling more knowledgeable on all-things engagement rings? Read on for more info on engagement ring cuts, plus how they play into the overall vibe of all the different engagement ring styles.

Engagement Ring Cuts

The engagement ring cut is responsible for a diamond’s brilliance, scintillation, and dispersion—which translates to its brightness, sparkle, and the colors it displays, respectively, according to the International Gem Society (IGS). A diamond’s cut is not to be confused with its shape, which is how its outline generally looks from above.

As you might have already guessed, there’s no shortage of engagement ring cuts to choose from. Here’s a quick guide to all the different engagement ring cuts:

In addition to all the great choices above, there are many more unique engagement ring cuts you can explore, from trapeze cuts to kite cuts and beyond. “You can really have a lot of fun with the design when you experiment with these silhouettes,” says Ali Galgano, founder and head jeweler at Serpentine Jewels.

All of the 4Cs—cut, clarity, color, and carat weight—work together to affect the look and price of a ring. Deciding which characteristics are most important to you and your partner (and your budget) will help you narrow down the best engagement ring cuts to consider. Once you have an ideal cut in mind, it’s time to consider your engagement ring setting.

Engagement Ring Settings

The engagement ring setting not only helps define the look and feel of your ring, it also plays a super-important role in protecting your precision gemstone or diamond by keeping it in place and shielding it from damage. 

Just like with engagement ring cuts, there are nearly countless settings to choose from. Many of them share common characteristics, like protective prongs that keep the diamond or gemstone in place or additional stones besides the center diamond. Settings should also complement the engagement ring bands that go with them. For instance, Tiffany-style settings often come with classic metal engagement ring bands to keep the focus on the diamond.  

When you’re thinking about what you’d like your engagement ring to look like, think ahead about your wedding band vision as well. “When you buy your engagement ring, it’s nice to actually think about your wedding band at the same time,” advises Sidney Neuhaus, co-founder of lab-grown diamond label Kimai and GIA-certified gemologist. “Especially if you want to wear them on the same finger, you need to see the whole picture, so that’s something to keep in mind.” (You can, of course, wear them on different fingers, she adds, but it’s nice if they can complement one another.)

Here are some of the most popular engagement ring settings to know:

It probably goes without saying that the list of engagement ring settings goes on beyond the ones listed above—there are tons of creative styles, shapes, cuts, and settings, as well as bespoke rings, that you can choose from with the help of your jeweler. 

Not sure which setting to pair your diamond or gemstone with? Look to your engagement ring cut for guidance. For instance, if you have a princess cut, consider a classic solitaire setting or pair it with side stones to show off the beauty of the stone, suggests the GIA. And of course, work with your jeweler to decide which engagement ring setting makes the most sense.

Wedding ring design ideas

Once it’s time to shop for a wedding ring design, know that there are tons of beautiful wedding rings out there to consider. That can make your decision both easier and more difficult. The good news? You know you’ll be able to find a gorgeous pair of wedding bands amid a sea of wedding ring ideas. But with so many options, you may have difficulty narrowing down the perfect wedding ring design styles for you and your partner.

There are a few things to consider to help make your decision easier. First things first, think about what type of band you’d like. One of the most popular options are metal wedding band designs, which are usually smooth gold or platinum all the way around. Meanwhile, other wedding ring design styles utilize diamonds or gemstones for a bit of extra sparkle and glam. 

With that said, here are some of the most popular types of wedding band designs, plus which engagement ring cuts and settings they typically complement:

Your jeweler may also offer a wedding ring design that’s designed to match perfectly with your engagement ring, which ensures that gemstones will match well and that there won’t be any gaps between your engagement ring and wedding band, according to the GIA. Some couples also solder engagement rings to their wedding bands so that they’re permanently aligned.

And while some pairs may look for matching wedding ring designs for couples, it’s up to you on whether or not you’d like your band to coordinate with your partner’s. They could be the exact same metal and style, or they could tout a completely different vibe. 

How to choose an engagement or wedding ring design

Now that you know all the wedding ring design styles, how do you pick which one is best for you or your partner? Here are a few things to consider:

Your engagement or wedding ring will be one of your most-worn accessories, so you’ll want to make sure it matches your or your partner’s vibe. For instance, if your partner gravitates toward the art-deco style, consider a vintage engagement ring cut or another more unconventional option. If your spouse-to-be prefers to keep things classic and traditional, a solitaire-setting ring would be a fail-proof pick. Personal style is a big part of choosing your wedding band’s thickness as well. “If you’re edgier, then you can go for a thicker band, something quite bold,” Neuhaus advises.

Think about which engagement ring cut or wedding ring design will not only make you feel joy when you look at it, but also which style will be most pragmatic for your lifestyle. For example, if you work with your hands and are afraid of hurting your ring, Neuhaus advises picking a style with a closed band that goes all the way around your finger and fits securely, rather than a more open style. Think about the ring band’s metal too: “Platinum is a great alternative if you want to make sure nothing happens to your band in the long run,” she adds.

Whatever style you’re leaning towards, think carefully about an engagement ring’s main diamond or gemstone especially. “My biggest piece of advice would be to make sure you love the diamond, because the setting can always be changed!” Galgano recommends.

As mentioned earlier, consider how your engagement and wedding rings will look together when you’re picking out a style. “Deciding how you want your ring to sit—high or flush—will help you determine the best band to accompany your engagement ring,” Galgano notes. “Also think about how you will wear it: on its own or always as a pair? Will you want to stack in the future? Do you like to mix metals or is it important that you stick with platinum or yellow gold? That may open up your options, too.” 

While you might go into the shopping process sure of a style combination, remain flexible while you're trying on different styles. "Mixing shapes, carat sizes, and metal colors might pleasantly surprise you!" Wegman shares.

Picking out an engagement or wedding ring design is the perfect time to do you. "When thinking through bands, there are no rules, only suggestions," Wegman says. "Feel free to mix and match and you don’t need to stick to just one. Having a few bands gives you the opportunity to mix and match your look."

Build in plenty of padding in your shopping timeline, especially for bespoke rings. "Since each bespoke engagement ring is custom-made, the entire process takes about eight to 10 weeks, including diamond select and production, so build that into your timeline from when you want to propose," Wegman advises. Ditto for wedding bands: "Each wedding band is custom-made for you and production times can take from about four to six weeks so we recommend starting the process about four months in advance," Wegman recommends.

The world of wedding and engagement ring designs can feel overwhelming, so if you’re ever unsure of which cut, setting, style, or band to go with, ask your jeweler for their advice. They can help you find the best wedding ring designs for couples, engagement rings, or anything else you need. “Work with someone who can walk you through these scenarios so you can choose the best possible pairing!” Galgono advises.

Picking out beautiful wedding rings can be a daunting task. With so many different engagement ring ideas and wedding ring designs for couples to pick from amid a sea of cuts, settings, and bands, there are tons of great paths to take. Before shopping for a style, it helps to familiarize yourself with the different engagement ring settings, cuts, and more, as well as the many wedding ring design styles out there. Consider, too, your and your partner’s personal taste, lifestyle, and overall preferences. That way, you can shop more confidently and feel extra-sure of the wedding ring design you end up with. 

No matter which style you decide on, we know it’ll have a nice ring to it.