< Engagement Rings & Weddings / Guides
Engagement Ring Designers to Have on Your Radar in 2026
Bold settings, unique stones, and a passion for creating heirlooms set these engagement ring designers apart.
Published: January 14, 2026
Written by: Jane Asher
Choosing the right engagement ring designers to make your engagement ring can be an overwhelming process. You want to find a team that shares your vision for your dream ring and can carry it out expertly. Whether you’re looking for someone who specializes in chunky bands, antique stones, colored diamonds, or unique settings, the right designer to partner with is out there waiting for you.
Meet the Author
- Jane Asher is a social media manager with a passion for pop culture.
- She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Washington University in St. Louis.
- As a journalist, her work has been featured in publications such as InStyle Magazine, Stylecaster, Martha Stewart Weddings and more.
While the general public may be more informed about the more ubiquitous jewelry brands of the world, there’s something special about working with one of these independent engagement ring designers to create your piece. Jamie Books of Mason and Books, twin sisters Eva and Ava Bai of Vale Jewelry, Megan Kothari of AARYAH, and Tini Courtney of HOWL all bring a personal touch to their bridal jewelry, getting to know their clients’ taste and style to create their dream engagement ring.
Engagement Ring Designers to Know: Tini Courtney of HOWL Jewelry
Courtney founded HOWL, an acronym for Handle Only With Love, in Venice Beach, California, with a focus on fine jewelry. But veering into the bridal space “felt inevitable,” she shares. “I love collaborating with clients, and I’ve always been drawn to working with diamonds, so the world of engagement rings was a natural extension.”
Courtney works out of her Venice studio using a variety of metals, from gold, silver, and brass to wood, leather, and other found objects, along with precious gemstones, invoking nostalgia and the power of sacred symbology. “There’s something incredibly rewarding about being part of such a meaningful chapter in someone’s life,” shares Courtney.
Like any good engagement ring designer, Courtney begins the process by meeting with her client to gain insight into who they are and what they’re looking for in an engagement ring. “When someone comes to me, it’s because there’s an alignment with the HOWL aesthetic [and] its soulful quality. I also love the trust involved in the process,” Courtney shares. “I don’t start with sketches or CADs,” she adds of her atypical process.
HOWL Roseta Diamond Ring, price upon request, handleonlywithlove.com
HOWL Maeve Diamond Ring, price upon request, handleonlywithlove.com
HOWL Palma Diamond ring, price upon request, handleonlywithlove.com
HOWL Jove Ring, Price upon request, handleonlywithlove.com
HOWL Benuska Diamond Ring, price upon request, handleonlywithlove.com
“We usually begin with a conversation around budget to avoid any guesswork. From there, the cut and size of the diamond often inform the entire design.” Clients often reference past HOWL pieces, which Courtney appreciates as a sign of good faith—clients come to her because they trust her unique methods and have loved past products.
“Bold” is also how Courtney describes the signature HOWL design. “Whether it’s something totally untraditional, like a ring that looks like it belongs in a Star Wars wedding, or something more classic and clean, it still carries this presence,” she shares. “There’s a sculptural quality to all HOWL pieces, even the most minimal ones, and that carries into the engagement rings too.”
Another consistent approach seen throughout the engagement ring designers’ processes, including Courtney’s, is their commitment to natural diamonds. “Natural diamonds are non-negotiable for me,” says Courtney. “There’s an energy to them that’s completely unmatched, whether it’s a newly cut stone or something antique and full of history,” referencing their billion-year journey to the final setting.
Engagement Ring Designers to Know: Megan Kothari of AARYAH
Shortly after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2015, Megan Kothari launched her passion project AARYAH, named for the Sanskrit word “ARYA,” which means precious and rare. AARYAH was a side project until 2020, when Kothari dove headfirst into the business. “During the pandemic, I started helping friends and friends of friends create engagement rings while everything was shut down,” she shares. “That’s when I noticed a real gap in the market for engagement rings that felt truly unique.”
The demand for her unique stones and artful designs proved high enough to support a full-on engagement ring business, truly taking off after her TRIONKA ring went viral. “That moment made me realize there were so many people out there looking for something different—something more personal and design-driven.”
“What makes this category so special to me is how intentional it is,” she says. “Every day we get to work closely with couples from around the world to design pieces that will become forever heirlooms; Rings that represent their love story and a milestone in their lives. Being part of something so meaningful makes this work incredibly rewarding.”
AARYAH Talia Ring, $21,000, aaryah.com
AARYAH Uma Old Mine Ring, $28,000, aaryah.com
AARYAH Tawni Ring, $6,800, aaryah.com
AARYAH Talia Ring, $36,000, aaryah.com
AARYAH Saura Ring, $25,000, aaryah.com
AARYAH Palmoa Ring, $16,500, aaryah.com
Kothari begins her design process by spending time studying the selected stone, making sure the setting and design complement the diamond, especially given the unique nature of the stones she sources. “Every ring is built from the inside out, guided by how that specific diamond wants to live on the hand,” she says. To make sure the final product feels wearable, Kothari is extremely intentional with the design. “We obsess over proportions, height, finger coverage, and how light moves through the stone,” she says. “Every detail is considered, refined, and purposefully designed around that singular diamond.”
AARYAH sets itself apart from other engagement ring designers not only with its use of 1-of-1 diamonds—many of them in warm hues and elongated cuts, two very on-trend characteristics for 2026—but also with its unique settings. “AARYAH engagement rings are designed to make a statement without feeling loud,” muses Kothari. “You’ll see strong silhouettes, thoughtful metalwork, and clean, minimalist settings that elevate the diamond rather than overpower it.”
AARYAH is also a natural-only operation. “They carry time, rarity, and individuality. They’re our connection to the earth,” Kothari shares. “In a world of mass production, natural diamonds feel deeply personal. They hold history and permanence, which aligns perfectly with what an engagement ring represents.” She also loves that the ring her client takes home is truly one-of-a-kind: “they’re building their relationship on something real.”
Engagement Ring Designers to Know: Jamie Books of Mason and Books
Jamie Books founded her brand, named after her children in New York City 2021, but a renewed spotlight on her bridal work came after winning Best in Bridal at Couture, the world’s leading design show in Las Vegas. “It felt like a natural moment to lean in,” she shares.
Even before this fortuitous moment, Books had been sourcing diamonds and creating engagement rings for friends and friends of friends. “Engagement rings have always been part of my world, before I ever realized it was laying the foundation for my brand,” she shares. “From the very beginning, I felt an immediate and lasting bond with anyone I helped create an engagement ring for. These pieces are not transactional. They create relationships that endure.”
“An engagement ring is often the most significant piece in a person’s collection, emotionally and symbolically, so why should it not feel expressive, personal, and alive,” she adds. “A ring should grow with you, evolve with you, and never feel static.”
Mason and Books men’s diamond wedding band, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
Mason and Books Slingshot lasso ring, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
Mason and Books engagement ring, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
Mason and Books Slim Chiffon ring, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
Mason and Books slingshot lasso engagement ring, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
mason and books engagement ring, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
Mason and Books nautilus ring, price upon request, masonandbooks.com
Books also starts her engagement ring process with the diamond, studying its shape and the way it catches the light, making sure the final iteration is not only beautiful, but wearable. “The process is deeply personal and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on proportion, comfort, and wearability,” she shares. “This is a piece meant to be lived in, not simply admired.”
Books’s office is conveniently located where her factory is, which allows her to have “complete control, security and a level of detail that feels almost old world in today’s landscape,” she explains.
Mason and Books’ award-winning design, the Slingshot Lasso, is also an indicator of her design philosophy and signature style: “Bold, architectural lines softened by fluid curves, with modern interpretations of vintage silhouettes.” And while her designs and setting may be eye-catching, at the end of the day, Books wants her diamonds to be the star of the show. “I am always pushing to make stones appear as large and luminous as possible without compromising clean lines or structural integrity.”
“I exclusively work with natural diamonds,” says Books definitively. “Each one has its own character and energy, and I love allowing that individuality to guide the design.” A natural diamond’s enduring value also plays into Book’s design philosophy. “Just as our personal style evolves every five to ten years, I believe a diamond deserves to be reset, refreshed, and reimagined over time.”
Engagement Ring Designers to Know: Eva and Ava Bai of Vale Jewelry
New York-based twin sisters Eva and Ava Bai created Vale a decade ago after training as bench artists at FIT and earning their Graduate Gemologist degrees at GIA. “Our focus on engagement rings and bridal grew from a passion for crafting one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a personal story,” they share with Only Natural Diamonds. “Every design is a dialogue—uniting our clients’ vision with our expertise—to create jewelry that balances thoughtful craftsmanship with the unmistakable Vale sensibility. The result is something deeply personal, beautifully made, and enduring.”
“It’s an honor every time,” they share of designing these important pieces of jewelry. “It is our privilege to guide [clients] through our process, which we have designed to be as thoughtful and personal as the piece itself.”
The Bai sisters approach their process similarly, starting with a conversation with their clients, rather than a traditional consultation. “We speak not only about their vision for the ring, but about how they live—their routines, their habits, and the moments the piece will accompany,” they tell OND. “These insights allow us to distill what matters most and translate it into a considered design.” They invite clients to be a part of every step of the process, from the initial sketches to the 3D model to the CAD.
Vale Jewelry 3.05 Carat Fancy Yellow-Brown Cushion Cut Norah Ring, $14,500, shopvale.com
Vale Jewelry OOAK Step Cut Pear Solitaire Diamond Ring, $17,500, shopvale.com
Vale Jewelry 2.06 Carat Zoe Collet Set Diamond Ring, $13,500, shopvale.com
Vale Jewelry 5.37 Carat Old Mine Cut And Half Moon Cut Diamond Frances Ring, $98,000, shopvale.com
Vale Jewelry 2.65 Carat Zoe Collet Set Cushion Diamond Ring, $13,500, Vale Jewelry Galaxies Swoop Ring 1.00 Carat Oval Rose Cut Diamond, $8,700, shopvale.comshopvale.com
Vale Jewelry Galaxies Swoop Ring 1.00 Carat Oval Rose Cut Diamond, $8,700, shopvale.com
Vale Jewelry OOAK 1.37 Carat Rose Cut Cushion Shaped Bezel Set Diamond Ring, $16,500, shopvale.com
Each of the engagement ring designers has an aesthetic they’ve cultivated to make them the recognizable brand they are today. For the Bai twins at Vale, it’s their use of antique stones blended with modern settings. “We craft pieces that are at once of the moment and built to endure—style that truly stands the test of time.”
“Nature has shaped each diamond, capturing within it a quiet fragment of the Earth’s story,” say the designers behind Vale. “Whether flawless or marked with inclusions, every diamond is a singular testament to the enduring beauty of these one-of-a-kind jewels and as unique as each one of our clients.”
