Alternative Engagement Ring Shapes: Modern Bridal Jewellery Inspiration

No two love stories are ever the same — so why should the ring that symbolises yours be? For centuries, traditional solitaire engagement rings have been cherished for their timeless beauty, but many modern brides are looking for something that feels more personal and reflective of their own soul and love story. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through both classic engagement ring styles and some modern, dreamy alternatives — from modern and chunky, artistic and whimsical, to organic and fluid — so you can discover what resonates most with you. And if your heart is calling for something truly unique, I’d love to work with you to design a custom engagement ring that feels as magical and one-of-a-kind as your love.

 

Traditional Engagement Ring Shapes

If you’ve done any research about engagement rings then you might know about the most classic engagement ring shapes - solitaire, halo and three-stone settings. In this section I talk about each style in turn.

Solitaire Setting

The solitaire setting is the classic engagement ring style — a single stone on a simple band, designed to let the gemstone take centre stage. Its clean lines and timeless elegance have made it the most popular choice for generations. The beauty of a solitaire is its versatility: it works with diamonds, sapphires, or coloured gemstones, and pairs beautifully with both modern minimalist and vintage-inspired bands. For brides who love tradition and want a ring that never goes out of style, a solitaire setting is a forever favourite.

Halo Setting

The halo setting adds a little extra sparkle and romance. Here, a central stone is surrounded by a “halo” of smaller gems, making the centre look larger and more luminous. It’s a setting that radiates light and drama, often chosen by brides who love glamour and brilliance. Halos can be delicate and subtle, or bold and ornate — making them perfect for anyone who wants a little more dazzle while still keeping the central gemstone as the star of the show.

Three-Stone Setting

The three-stone ring is full of symbolism, making it a meaningful classic. Traditionally, the three stones represent the past, present, and future of a relationship — a love story captured in gemstones. This design also offers space for creativity: some choose three diamonds for timeless elegance, while others mix in coloured stones for a more personal touch. Romantic and symbolic, the three-stone setting is ideal for brides who want their ring to tell a story as well as sparkle.

 

Alternative Engagement Ring Shapes

If you’re ended up on my website and this article, the chances are that you’re more interested in an alternative style engagement ring rather than something more traditional. In this section I talk about some alternative ring shapes and showcase some of my own work as examples.

Whimsical Sculptural Bohemian Shapes 

If you’ve had a look at my website, then you’ll have definitely seen I have a fondness (obsession??) with creating weird and wonderfully whimsical jewellery, especially rings! I love working with faceted stones and gemstone slices and following the organic shape of stones to create unusual shapes. My style encompasses bold and chunky gypsy rings, long elongated shapes that take up half of a finger, whimsical butterflies and flowers, romantic hearts, bubble studded bands, and rippled organic textures. I love everything and anything artistic wild and free and I’m especially drawn to creating pieces that look like they’re from a fairytale dreamland.

Chunky Settings

One of my favourite types of rings to make are chunky shapes with bezel or rub over settings. These types of rings are great for low snagging (no prongs!) and look very modern and cool. They’re a great option for making a bold statement with everyday durability as the bezel setting provides additional protection for stones. If you’re set on using a softer stone for your engagement ring, I would recommend this style to protect your stone against accidental damage.

East-West & Angular Orientations 

East-West and angular orientations refer to rings with a horizontal or angular placement of the central gemstone across the ring band, unlike a traditional ring which would set the stone vertically. For example, an oval, octagon or pear stone placed on its side. This has the added benefit of elongating the finger by taking up less space lengthways. This style of ring is popular with brides for its modern silhouette whilst still retaining a somewhat classic ring shape.

Two-Stone Designs 

Two-stone ring shapes use two gemstones and can be set with bezel or prong settings. If desired, the two stones can have contrasting meanings to represent two souls. This ring style is very easily customisable and can have romance easily built into the design.

Four-Stone Designs 

Four-stone ring shapes are similar to two-stone or three-stone designs, but use four gemstones. You could choose a range of gemstones in your favourite colours or with different meanings to represent your unique love story. The stones could also represent any children you share or if you each have children, your new blended family.

Organic Wavy Bands

Curly, wavy and organically fluid shaped ring bands feel artistic, animated and personal - perfect for free spirits. I am particularly fond of organically textured metal and it features a lot in my work. I love a smooth shiny ring, but there’s something so pretty about a molten metal finish. If you opt for a band, there is the option of studding it with lots of small stones or opting for a singular stone that represents something symbolic. This style would be perfect for a bride looking for a ring that is focused on silver or gold, rather than a gemstone.

Heart Shaped Rings

I love using heart gemstones in my work and frequently use them as accent stones in my whimsical bezel set stones, or as central stones in my bezel ring bands. Heart gemstones may be divisive in an engagement ring but they add a sense of romance and eccentric charm that is perfect for crafting a story-rich ring. 

Ring Sets

For brides looking for something even more unconventional that the options listed above, how about a set of two or three rings? This allows for you to wear your ring in multiple ways which may suit women who like to mix and match their jewellery. It also allows for you to craft rings with different meanings - one for you, your partner, and the two of you together. It also gives the option to pick a few different alternative ring styles and combine them to make a truly unique and original set.

 

How I can work with you to create your alternative style, dream engagement ring to life

If you’ve fallen in love with the idea of a custom alternative style engagement ring, I would love to help you bring your vision to life. I’ll work with you to decide on the best shape and stones and which metal works best for your story, lifestyle and budget. 

I love to create dreamy and magical modern heirlooms that break tradition with classic ring shapes and styles. If you want your engagement ring to look like a fairytale with handmade textures and whimsical details, we may be a perfect fit.

Conclusion

Your engagement ring should feel like you - whether bold and modern, organically fluid or romantically heart shaped. If you feel drawn to having an unconventional ring that feels more ‘you’ than a solitaire, let’s design something magical together - because your forever heirloom should feel like your own love story. 

Discover my bespoke jewellery page to learn more and start your custom jewellery journey.