22 Unique Engagement Rings That Stand Out From the Rest

Non-traditional engagement rings perfect for the non-traditional bride.

Updated: October 10, 2025
Written by: Jane Asher

22 Unique Engagement Rings That Stand Out From the Rest — Jacqueline Kennedy wears her diamond and emerald toi et moi engagement ring in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

When searching for the perfect natural diamond engagement ring, you might describe your dream ring as timeless, classic or even vintage. But have you ever considered something totally one of a kind? From rare cuts to unexpected details, these unique engagement rings are as distinctive as the natural diamonds they showcase—and just might top your wish list.

Think unique shapes, negative-space accents, bold edges, hidden diamond details, and multi-stone designs. With one of these rings, you’ll stand apart from traditional solitaires, Tiffany settings, and even the once-edgy toi et moi. Today, when it comes to unusual engagement ring styles, the possibilities are endless.

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.

Founder of fine jewelry brand Mociun, Caitlin Mociun spent six years living throughout Asia and Europe before earning a BFA in textiles at RISD. Inspired by Bauhaus design principles, her work reflects a trademark style of simple, unexpected elegance.

What Makes an Engagement Ring Unique?

unique engagement rings: Mociun diamond ring — Mociun Twist Entwine Ring, $45,000, mociun.com

When it comes to unique engagement rings, it’s not just about the center diamond. It’s also about the artistry and the story behind the design. What makes a ring unique varies for everyone and is shaped by individual taste and style. Often, it means a diamond in a non-traditional cut, something beyond the classic oval, round, or emerald, set in a band that moves away from the plain or pavé norm.

Mociun’s newest collection, Twist, is a shining example of how unique engagement rings can still feel timeless. “I sat down and drew all the pieces from this collection at one time. It probably didn’t take more than an hour,” shares the designer behind the brand, Caitlin Mociun. While the designs came quickly, the actual creation process of the pieces was a labor of love. “There was a lot of trial and error to get the look of my drawing in a 3D CAD model,” says Mociun.

“I think Mociun tends to attract a clientele that is also unique in their style and perspective. We offer rare and unusual pieces, but I make sure they are wearable,” Mociun elaborates. “I find it so gratifying to source gemstones and diamonds that don’t look like everything else out there—it’s like finding a treasure.”

Distinctive Diamond Cuts That Feel One-of-a-Kind

Rare and unusual cuts often define unique engagement rings, from rose-cuts and Movals to Asschers and antique cuts like Old Mine and Old European cuts. These vintage-inspired diamonds naturally lend themselves to personalization, as their history and character pair beautifully with details like symbolic engraving, heirloom settings, or meaningful design elements.

Fancy shapes also create eye-catching engagement rings. Trillion, heart, kite, and shield cuts each bring a distinctive sparkle that draws attention. Because these shapes are harder to source, they often require a custom order from an independent jeweler. The result is a diamond with instant character—one that feels timeless while rising above fleeting engagement ring trends.

Colored Diamonds Add Personality

Colored diamonds bring another dimension to unique engagement rings. Ranging from soft pastels to vivid, saturated hues, they offer a striking alternative to traditional white diamonds. Their rarity makes them especially coveted—fancy color diamonds represent only about 0.01% of all natural diamonds—while their individuality ensures no two are exactly alike. For couples seeking a ring that feels truly personal, colored diamonds combine beauty, scarcity, and character in a way few other gemstones can.

Colored diamonds span a breathtaking spectrum, from sunny yellows and romantic pinks to blues, greens, and even the elusive red. Their rarity and beauty make them some of the most valuable gemstones in the world—pink and blue diamonds in particular have set record-breaking prices at auction. It’s no wonder celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham have embraced them as the ultimate statement of individuality.

Not all unique engagement rings are defined by vivid color—some stand out for their natural character. Desert diamonds, prized for their palette of warm sparkle, and salt-and-pepper diamonds, celebrated for their stormy mix of light and dark inclusions, both offer a distinctive alternative to traditional white stones. These diamonds carry a raw, organic beauty that feels modern yet timeless.

Settings That Set Your Ring Apart

Mociun unique engagement rings — Mociun Engagement Ring (Courtesy of Mociun)

Even a classic colorless diamond can feel fresh and distinctive with the right setting. Styles like bezels, toi et moi, east-west, and tension settings instantly set your ring apart from traditional designs.

The east-west ring setting offers a fresh, gender-neutral take on traditional diamond styles, making it a versatile choice for both men and women. By turning elongated diamond cuts—like emerald, oval, pear, and marquise—horizontally, this setting transforms classic stones into something modern and unexpected.

A bezel setting frames the center stone in a rim of gold or white gold, holding it securely in place. Though often considered less traditional than prongs, bezels are among the oldest gemstone settings. Their clean lines and protective design are now experiencing a resurgence, especially with the rising popularity of bold, chunky jewelry over more delicate everyday pieces.

Porter Lyons unique engagement rings — Porter Lyons Eternal Love Ring, $18,000, porterlyons.com

The toi et moi setting, with origins in the 1800s, has recently experienced a revival. This romantic two-stone design has been reimagined in countless modern variations, making it a favorite among couples looking for unique engagement rings with symbolism and individuality.

Unique engagement rings today can lean vintage or modern minimalist. Vintage-inspired designs often highlight ornate details like milgrain edges and intricate metalwork, while minimalist styles embrace clean lines with negative space, asymmetry, and unconventional settings. Whether ornate or understated, both approaches create rings that feel personal and truly one of a kind.

Famous Unique Engagement Rings

Jennifer Lopez unique engagement rings — Jennifer Lopez’s green diamond engagement ring. (Instagram: @tombachik)

taylor swift unique engagement ring — Taylor Swift’s antique elongated cushion cut diamond engagement ring (Instagram: @taylorswift)

Jackie Kennedy unique engagement rings — Jackie Kennedy’s diamond and emerald toi et moi engagement ring. (Getty Images)

Some of the most iconic engagement rings in history are anything but traditional. Jackie Kennedy’s sapphire and diamond toi et moi remains a symbol of romance and individuality. Taylor Swift’s elongated antique cushion-cut diamond feels refreshingly distinctive, while Jennifer Lopez has famously worn not one but two rare stones from Ben Affleck—a pink diamond in the early 2000s and a striking green diamond years later. Even Zendaya’s antique-cut diamond, set in Jessica McCormack’s signature vintage-inspired button-back mounting, stands out in a sea of classic rounds and ovals.

These historic and celebrity-loved rings continue to inspire new interpretations. Jackie Kennedy’s legendary toi et moi has echoed through time, influencing everything from Megan Fox’s emerald-and-diamond design from Machine Gun Kelly to countless modern takes on this romantic, two-stone style.

Customization: The Ultimate Path to Unique Engagement Rings

Adler unique engagement rings — Adler Dome Engagement Ring

Commissioning a bespoke design is the ultimate way to ensure your ring is truly unique and one-of-a-kind. Incorporating an heirloom stone inherited from an older generation makes the ring even more special, imbuing history and family into the ring. Adding personal touches like a hidden halo, secret engraving, and birthstone accents makes any ring one-of-one.

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.

“Most of the time, details are subtle and meant to reflect an aesthetic – like soft romantic scrolls or florals or bold, geometric details,” shares jewelry designer Corina Madillian of Single Stone. “I love the opportunity to include ornamental details that reflect the client’s personality and elements they identify with.” The beauty of engraved rings is in their customization—you can truly make the design your own.

Where to Find Truly Unique Engagement Rings

Ashley Zhang unique engagement rings — Ashley Zhang Edith Asscher Cut Engagement Ring, Price Upon Request, ashleyzhangjewelry.com

While unusual engagement ring styles may take a little more searching, the payoff is a design that feels entirely your own. To help spark inspiration, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite designers and heritage houses creating one-of-a-kind rings.

Contemporary designers like Jessica McCormack, Brent Neale, Mociun, Eva Fehren and Ashley Zhang are known for their one-of-a-kind creations featuring unique cuts and settings. This features a modified rectangular brilliant cut natural diamond. Mociun, for instance, has crafted rings with modified rectangular brilliant-cut diamonds, while Eva Fehren often plays with unconventional shapes ranging from faceted pears to striking shields.

Mociun often makes custom pieces for clients, working with them one-on-one to create something truly unique. “I start with having the client share reference images and talking to me about what they want from the piece,” says Mociun. “These can be past pieces of mine, current pieces, vintage jewelry or anything else they want to use as reference.”

“Some clients come to me for a relatively straightforward design (referencing a past ring or style of mine) while some projects are more involved and can require work for up to a year,” she says. “This can be larger suites of jewelry for events or weddings, sourcing very rare gemstones or diamonds, or designing a piece that is technically complicated.”

Heritage houses also bring their own flair to unique engagement rings. Even a traditional brand like Tiffany & Co. offers unique engagement rings, especially under their Schlumberger umbrella, which is inspired by Jean Schlumberger’s distinctive designs.