How to Personalize an Engagement Ring

If you’ve looked at scores of rings but none of them seems quite right for that special woman in your life, perhaps it’s time to think about what you can do to make your engagement ring reflect the unique love you feel. In short, why not find a way to personalize the item that is both an offer and a question? After all, the woman you’re planning to spend the rest of your life with deserves a singular expression of your devotion. If you’re not sure how to go about doing this, here are just a few suggestions that might help you along the way.

1. Choose the setting. One of the easiest ways to make an engagement ring special is to stay away from stock items and pick your own setting. Most online retailers offer you the option to select from a number of settings, and in most cases, you can add in many different kinds of stones to make your creation one-of-a-kind.

2. Choose the diamond. Once you’ve picked the setting, the next step is to select a diamond centerpiece. Of course, you should be aware that the band you choose may have some bearing on the size or shape of the diamond you can put in it, so you might have to go back and look again if you opt for a diamond that doesn’t fit your setting. However, a unique shape is a great way to make an engagement ring special. Just be aware that your woman may not like something that strays too far from the traditional fare (that would be a colorless, round-cut stone).

3. Add embellishments. The final step in creating your own ring is to bling it out with some add-ons. In this case, you should think about surrounding your central stone with diamond chips (or other gemstones). Particularly popular right now are pave halos (where the main stone is encircled by a “halo” of diamond chips). Also pretty are colored stones flanking the diamond, but this depends on your honey’s personal taste, so tread carefully when you add color.

4. Add an inscription. Nothing is more personalized than an inscription that holds meaning for you and your lady. Think about inscribing the band with the date you met, both of your names (followed by the word “forever”) or a short phrase that is meaningful only to the two of you.

5. See a designer. If all else fails, you can simply have a ring specially designed. The only problem is, this will likely cost you a lot, you may be at the whim of the designer, and without your girlfriend getting a gander beforehand, she may end up hating it.