Engagement Rings & Weddings
How to Find Engraved Rings with Deep Meaning and Personal Significance
By Jane Asher, Published: August 29, 2025
Hidden messages, personal details and design elements
made possible by the ancient art of hand engraving.
Erstwhile Engraved Belcher Carved Gold Belcher Antique Engagement Ring
Engraved rings are among the most sentimental ways to personalize natural diamond jewelry—especially when it comes to engagement rings. This jewelry art form traces back to ancient civilizations and has endured as a cherished tradition for centuries. Today, engraving continues to bridge history and modern love stories, transforming a beautiful diamond ring into something unmistakably personal and uniquely yours.
Most recently, Taylor Swift shined a spotlight on the style with her engagement to Travis Kelce. Her antique elongated cushion-cut natural diamond is set in a hand-engraved yellow gold band, making the ring as meaningful as it is stunning.
Meet the Experts
Corina Madillian, co-founder of Single Stone, launched the brand’s first collection with her husband Ari, using repurposed diamonds and recycled metals, crafted entirely by hand in Los Angeles. The Single Stone collection continues to encompass many of these vintage details, blending them with traditional jewelry-making techniques to create modern heirlooms.
Cece Fein Hughes, co-founder and creative director of Cece Jewellery, creates artistic jewelry inspired by mythology and symbolism, weaving tales of love and remembrance, celebration and reflection into her designs.
Kia Schwan is an independent high jewelry Maison based in New York City, founded by Kia Schwaninger, a designer who specializes in creating unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for private clients. Known for her decades of experience designing at some of the world’s leading high jewelry brands, Kia’s eye for exquisite craftsmanship, color, proportion and stone artistry have made her bespoke creations a must-have for those in the know.
Brooke Gregson creates unique fine jewelry celebrating the California spirit with the best of British craftsmanship. She is highly respected in the world of fine, contemporary jewelry for her unmistakable use of color and original handcrafted creations made with quality and sustainability in mind.
Guy Burton is the Managing Director at Hancocks London, a fine jewelry house established in 1849. Hancocks London has held four prestigious Royal Warrant, the first issued by Queen Victoria. Burton is an expert in rare, vintage diamonds and is a passionate advocate for craftsmanship and quality, working with the finest master craftsmen in London.
“From the very first sketches, deciding which symbols or motifs to weave together, to watching our master engravers bring those ideas to life, the process feels magical,” shares jeweler Cece Fein Hughes of Cece Jewellery, a London-based jeweler whose pieces highlight the art of jewelry engraving. “What begins as a blank canvas transforms into something alive with meaning.”
“I love the opportunity to include ornamental details that reflect the client’s personality and elements they identify with,” adds Corina Madillian of Single Stone, an LA-based fine jewelry brand that offers antique cut diamonds and vintage-inspired designs.
The Long History of Engraved Rings
Engraved rings have their origins in both Ancient Egyptian and Roman civilizations, where they were used as talismans and love tokens. In the Middle Ages & Renaissance, engraved jewelry often contained mottos, religious phrases, and coats of arms. The sentimentalism seen in the Victorian era lent to engraved jewelry with secret messages, initials, and hidden flourishes. From the mid-century to today, engraving serves as both decorative artistry and personal storytelling.
“Ancient jewelry reflects these decorative elements that were later perfected and widely introduced in European designs,” shares Madillian. “Because engraving is often found in vintage jewelry, making it a finishing detail that brides wanting something ‘vintage-inspired‘ will gravitate to.”
Heritage brands like Buccellati have been using hand-engraving techniques for centuries and have become renowned for their meticulous work. As an Italian brand, it’s no surprise that Buccellati looks to the rich legacy of Renaissance goldsmiths’ ateliers, channeling their ancient traditions into every modern creation.
“A strong textile background has benefited me as a jewelry designer because I see how an added layer of textural detail is like adding a layer of meaning and emotive texture to a ring,” muses Brooke Gregson, an LA-based jewelry designer who specializes in handcrafted jewelry. “It enhances the character of the stone, gold, and meaning behind the ring itself.”
Hancocks London also has a long history in hand-engraving, given its history dating back to the 19th century. “It is a craft we have always valued and continue to uphold today,” shares Guy Burton, managing director at Hancocks. “Each piece of jewellery is entirely handmade in the traditional way, with ornate hand-engraved details that enhance and highlight its unique quality.”
“Engraving is one of the oldest, most intricate crafts in jewelry, and our engravers are true artists, chiselling stories into gold with extraordinary precision,” adds Hughes of Cece’s commitment to spotlighting the art form.
How the Engraving Process Works
Traditional hand engraving was, of course, done by hand, by skilled artists and craftsmen. Machines and laser engraving are often used today for precise and modern customization, yet they still incorporate the same traditional artistry and skill. “It’s a meticulous, time-honoured craft,” confirms Hughes, whose team still uses traditional hand-engraving techniques.
“Using fine tools, the engraver carves directly into the surface of the gold, patiently etching each line by hand. Every stroke must be exact & there’s no room for error, which is why it takes years to master,” she explains. “It’s slow, deliberate work, but the result is extraordinary: tiny artworks cut into precious metal that will last forever.”
Buccellati relies on specialized tools called burins to achieve its signature hand engraving. Each stroke of the burin catches the light in a way that lends precious metal an “inimitable softness and silky effect,” according to the brand. Mastering the technique demands remarkable dexterity, as the tool must be held at an exact angle to remove just the right amount of metal—any deviation could alter the beauty of the finished design.
“It’s definitely very technical and disciplined and involves patience, precision, and a steady hand,” agreed Madillian. “Our master engravers are artisans who have been engraving all of their life and usually have inherited the craft from a parent or mentor.”
Sometimes, diamonds within a hand-engraved design are set flush into the metal, while other times, prongs are used for the diamond to stand out. “How the jewelry is engraved has not changed in Hancocks’ 176-year history, and ornate engraving was undertaken the same way long before,” says Burton. “The desired pattern is drawn to the surface of the piece and then finely engraved. We sometimes also carve the metal work on our jewelry, which forms an even deeper pattern – something the Victorians also employed.”
“There is something truly special about the lines created through hand engraving. Laser or machine engraving, which are more often used nowadays, don’t come close,” shares Kia Schwaninger of Jewels by Kia Schwan, who often uses the technique in her bespoke designs. “The lines reflect the engraver’s signature style and add soul & softness to any ring.”
“There is a clear difference between laser engraving and hand engraving,” confirms Gregson. “The hand engraver shows the beauty of the slight imperfections and emotion when the hand dictates the movement of an engraving tool.”
Types of Engravings and Ideas for Personalization
“Engravings can include dates, words, decorative scrolls, sunbursts – just about anything that will fit in the space provided and evokes an emotion or memory from the wearer,” explains Madillian. “Most of the time, details are subtle and meant to reflect an aesthetic – like soft romantic scrolls or florals or bold, geometric details.” The beauty of engraved rings is in their customization—you can truly make the design your own.
“It’s the perfect way to incorporate special details that are meaningful to you,” adds Schwaninger. “Symbolism of your relationship, a special love note, or important dates.” Gregson agrees, sharing, “whether it is an engraved love note or engraved symbol or texture, it can act as an exclamation point in the statement of love between two people.”
Engraved Rings with Romantic Inscriptions
Engraved rings often feature names, initials, or wedding dates as lasting reminders of the love behind the piece. Short phrases—a shared mantra, a simple “I love you,” or a line from your vows—make the inscription even more personal. For couples seeking truly unique engraved rings, thoughtful touches like the coordinates of your proposal spot, a cherished lyric, or even the first text that sparked your relationship can turn a beautiful ring into a one-of-a-kind love story.
Engraved Rings with Symbols and Motifs
If symbols speak to you more than words, engraved rings are the perfect canvas. Hearts or infinity signs make timeless emblems of love, while Zodiac signs offer a personalized celestial touch. For those with a spiritual side, meaningful motifs—whether protective symbols or sacred imagery—can turn an engraved ring into a deeply personal talisman.
Engraved Rings with Patterns and Decorative Details
If you’re drawn to decorative artistry rather than symbolism, engraved rings offer endless design possibilities. Filigree details, florals, scrolls, and geometric patterns are among the most popular hand-engraving techniques.
Filigree, in particular, has a centuries-old history: the metalworking method twists and curls fine threads of precious metal into delicate motifs—often resembling leaves on a vine or the swirling petals of a flower. Beloved in Edwardian and Art Deco jewelry, filigree remains a hallmark of vintage engraved rings, while many modern designers use it to bring timeless elegance to contemporary styles. For a more discreet touch, you could even add an engraved border pattern along the inside of your band as a hidden flourish.
Engraved Rings with Hidden and Secret Messages
Adding a hidden message to engraved rings is a playful and deeply personal way to customize your jewelry—every time you look at your piece, you’ll see a message made for you and only you. Discreet engravings inside the band can hold nicknames, inside jokes, or private symbols. Some couples choose to engrave a favorite song lyric, a family crest, or even a phrase in another language only the two of you share, turning the ring into a secret love letter in gold.
Customizing Your Engagement Ring with Engraving
The engraving process can be incorporated at different stages of creating engraved rings. Some couples choose to add engraving before the stone is set, allowing jewelers to work with a clean surface, while others prefer to engrave after the ring is complete for a more precise placement of details.
Jewelers often work closely with clients to balance the sparkle of natural diamonds with the artistry of engraving, ensuring the two elements complement rather than compete with one another. Engraving can also be combined with unique settings or rare diamond cuts, creating a ring that feels as distinctive as the love story it represents. The result: a piece that’s not only beautiful but also deeply personal.
“It might be a date, a phrase, initials, or a symbolic motif, details only the bride-to-be and her partner truly understand,” confirms Hughes. “When she looks down at her hand, it’s no longer just a ring; it’s a love story told in gold.”
The finished piece carries that extra layer of intimacy and detail, making it feel truly personal and irreplaceable.
Why Engraved Rings Endure
Engraved rings last beyond a single lifetime and often become family heirlooms, carrying the weight of the past and the beauty that lasts forever into the future. “That hidden layer of meaning turns a classic piece into a modern heirloom,” says Hughes. Adding a hand-engraved detail enhances not only the design but the sentimental value of the ring.
“It also makes the ring truly unique as no engraving can ever be replicated in the exact same way,” shares Schwaninger. “Even when done by a master engraver!” Plus, adding natural diamonds to the piece further cements it as an heirloom, carrying both weight, beauty, and inherent value.
Shop Engraved Rings
Erstwhile Engraved Belcher Carved Gold Belcher Antique Engagement Ring, $8,000 erstwhile.com
Buccellati Hawaii Yellow and White Gold Ring with Diamonds, $2,900, buccellati.com
Buccellati Opera Tulle Yellow Gold Set Ring set with Diamonds and Mother of Pearl, $8,200, buccellati.com
Single Stone Amanda Ring, price upon request, singlestone.com
Single Stone Adele Ring, price upon request, singlestone.com
Harwell Godfrey Masego Knife Edge Diamond Band, $5,750, harwellgodfrey.com
Cece Window to the Soul Ring, price upon request, cecejewellery.com
Cece Crescent Moon Ring, $10,116, cecejewellery.com
Ashley Zhang Gypsy Starburst Ring, $2,550, ashleyzhangjewelry.com
Ashley Zhang Carved Victorian Old Mine Three Stone Ring, price upon request, ashleyzhangjewelry.com
Castro Diamond Pavé Signet Ring, price upon request, castrosmith.com
Galaxy Carousel Engagement Ring, price upon request, castrosmith.com
Brooke Gregson Talisman Engraved Raw Diamond Starlight Ring, $9,430, brookegregson.com
Brooke Gregson One-of-a-Kind Engraved Diamond Ring, price upon request, brookegregson.com
Hancocks London 2.5mm Square French Cut Diamond and Platinum Eternity Band, £5,500, hancockslondon.com
21.51ct Asscher Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring, price upon request, Hancockslondon.com
Hancocks London 2.62ct Hand Engraved 3 Stone Diamond & Platinum Ring, £17,500, hancockslondon.com
