Standing Out: 6 Benefits of Unique Engagement Rings

Patrick Adair Designs

An engagement can be defined as a commitment between two people who love each other as individuals – so why shouldn't your ring be just as unique as your relationship?

Simple bands and diamond-inlaid rings are the go-to for most. It's no-one's fault, normal engagement rings don't cause a fuss and go with everything. But if you want something special that will stand out, consider getting something more that will add a personal touch to your meaningful moment.

From vintage aesthetics to custom messages, here are 6 reasons you should look off the beaten path for a unique engagement ring.

1. STAND THE TEST OF TIME

Vintage engagement rings are coming back in full swing. Older, pre-modern designs stand out among others as a call-back to another time.

Vintage rings span all eras of history, but especially post-medieval European history when jewelry and fashion became mainstays in aristocratic circles. Most you will find in the U.S. come from around World War I or Victorian times, but that doesn't mean you are limited to those two eras.

Inheriting a vintage ring is another great way to choose something unique and pay respect to your family lineage.

Ask your grandparents (or Great-Grandparents!) if they might show you their jewelry with the intention to choose an engagement ring from among them.

Vintage engagement rings are coming back in full swing. Older, pre-modern designs stand out among others as a call-back to another time.

Inheriting a vintage ring is another great way to choose something unique and pay respect to your family lineage.

Ask your grandparents (or Great-Grandparents!) if they might show you their jewelry with the intention to choose an engagement ring from among them.

2. BIRTHSTONE RINGS ARE PERSONAL

Surprisingly, engagement ring trends can actually lead you to a more unique choice. Birthstone rings might seem a bit tacky, something a schoolboy would buy for his summer crush, but really they are quite the contrary.

From amethyst to topaz to garnet to emerald, birthstones are dazzling and vibrant in ways normal engagement rings can't be. Because there are 12 months in the year and 12 birthstones, if everybody in the world used birthstones for engagement rings you would still have a unique piece of jewelry that 11/12 people don't.

In a world where this is not the case, birthstone rings are both personal and stand out among others. Patrick Adair Designs offers a variety of Birthstone Rings that stand the test of time and are extremely personal.

In a world where this is not the case, birthstone rings are both personal and stand out among others. Patrick Adair Designs offers a variety of Birthstone Rings that stand the test of time and are extremely personal.

3. CUSTOM MADE RINGS MEAN MORE

Some of the most popular engagement rings include custom elements, such as engravings, inscriptions, and other design elements. While these may not be the most different engagement rings on the list, they add a unique flair and a personal touch that might be harder to see.

Custom engravings typically are made on the inside of the ring, as a special message between the betrothed. Pick a message that your partner can look at daily to remind them of you, or pick a message that only you and your partner would understand (like a reference to something you both love).

Custom-made is not limited to just engravings. You can also commission a custom ring with specific colors, design, and even your own materials. Patrick Adair Designs is a specialty jeweler who can create any one-of-a-kind engagement ring designs you can imagine.

4. SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS APLENTY

More and more people are becoming aware of how unsustainable the jewelry industry can be. Strip mines can deprive the environment of life and beauty, miners sometimes work under inhumane and underpaid conditions, and soil erosion resulting from these mining operations deprives the land of nutrients far from the mining site.

Sustainable options and unique engagement rings don't have to be mutually exclusive, though.

Some companies pledge to mine sustainably and offer jewelry that doesn't cause any cruelty either to the workers or the environment. Additionally, some companies will recycle old and broken jewelry into new, exquisite pieces.

Check your local jewelry stores for their sustainable practices, or order online from a cruelty-free retailer to choose a unique engagement ring that says you support fair labor practices and take time to choose jewelry that's good for the Earth.

Sustainable options and unique engagement rings don't have to be mutually exclusive, though.

5. DIAMONDS ARE EXTREMELY COMMON

It might surprise you, but diamonds are extremely common, so common in fact that they ought to be one of the least valuable gems instead of one of the most. In terms of sustainability, diamond mining operations often exploit workers for little to no pay and operate with little regard to the surrounding environment.

Besides that, though, diamonds are commonplace in our society. You can't walk through a store without coming across someone wearing a piece of diamond jewelry.

Frankly, if you want a unique ring, avoid choosing this nearly-see-through gem over something vibrant and iridescent like opal.

If you are choosing a birthstone ring and your partner was born in April, though, you get a pass.

Besides that, though, diamonds are commonplace in our society. You can't walk through a store without coming across someone wearing a piece of diamond jewelry.

Frankly, if you want a unique ring, avoid choosing this nearly-see-through gem over something vibrant and iridescent like opal.

If you are choosing a birthstone ring and your partner was born in April, though, you get a pass.

6. CONVERSATION STARTERS

It might seem obvious, but the point stands – unique engagement rings make for great conversation starters and really pop out more in photos among others. Whether your unique ring is unique for its color, its shape, or the vintage designs on the band itself, your engagement ring will be the talk of the party.

What if you don't want to stand out, you're not made to be the life of the party, but still want to choose something unique?

If you and your partner would rather not stand out, avoid over-sized gems and choose subtle engagement ring designs. Engravings add that personal touch that won't make you the center of attention, and even vibrant and eye-catching gems can be made subtle with a covering band. Patrick Adair Designs offers custom engravings for every single ring!

What if you don't want to stand out, you're not made to be the life of the party, but still want to choose something unique?

GET A RING AS UNIQUE AS YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Choosing unique engagement rings can be risky, but straying from the norm is the best way to convey your genuine affection to your partner. Choosing a personalized design rather than a "vanilla" design is the best way to show that you put some thought into the proposal.

Whether you choose a vintage ring, a birthstone ring, a sustainable ring, or a one-of-a-kind custom-made ring, choosing unusual engagement rings makes for a unique and personalized experience.

For other wedding ring ideas and specialized services to get the perfect ring in your hands, check out some of our options at Patrick Adair Designs.

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