Unusual Engagement Rings

Unusual engagement rings are for free thinking girls who like things for what they are and not because someone tells them they should. They shy away from convention and like the idea of having something a little more unique.

If you're the type of bride who doesn’t want to "meet" your exact ring at a party, an unusual piece is definitely for you!

3 Basic Types of Unusual Engagement Rings

Remember, this isn't your average piece of jewelry or something that you'll replace in a few years. Trends and styles come and go and your taste will change. So, avoid anything trendy when looking for an engagement ring, because over time you will get sick of it.

Conventional Materials with an Unusual Design

Traditionally, we all think of gold and platinum with diamonds so your first option is to select a ring with these traditional materials but choose an unusual or unique design like the ones below.

You'll dazzle your friends and family without straying beyond recognition.

Courtesy of JamesAllen

Unconventional Materials with Traditional Design

You still want all the quality and durability of the precious metals but coupling the metal with non-traditional stones is a great way of ending up with something more unusual.

We love the idea of using different gemstones as the primary stone in unusual engagement rings. We've dedicated pages to both gemstone pieces and birthstone rings because they're so important today.

These fabulous pieces are courtesy of Gemvara

Lady Diana was one stylish gal who chose a gemstone ring over a diamond one (lucky Kate Middleton), Penelope Cruz also went with a Sapphire, and Jessica Simpson decided on a Ruby to celebrate her engagement.

So "step outside of the jewelry box" and discover the rainbow of colors that are available today for engagement rings.

Unconventional Materials with Unusual Design

You have to be careful with this category because you may end up straying too far.

There's a fine line between something that is unusual and unrecognizable so make sure that if you're going this route that there are some traces of tradition apparent in either the material or design. You don't want people to have a stunned look on their face when you show them your hand and tell them that they're looking at your engagement ring.

We've seen a ton of jewelry and this Mikimoto pearl and diamond piece is one of the most beautiful and unusual engagement rings we've seen.

It's elegant and classic and achieves a good balance between unusual design and unconventional materials—after all, black pearls aren't very common in bridal jewelry. We'd have loved to be proposed to with this stunner! Learn more about it here.

Here's another eye-catcher that blends unconventional materials (in this case rose gold) with an unusual and whimsical design. The pinky tones in the gold combined with the center champagne diamond really work well together in this restrained and different setting.

If they had gone too far with the design, given the colorful metal and diamonds, it would have looked more like a fun piece of costume jewelry rather than an unusual engagement ring. At around 3K this one's is a real winner!

Our best advice here is not to rush. If you are buying something for your fiancée as a surprise and you aren't quite sure of the style, take her best friend or her sister along with you. The decision is tougher with unusual engagement rings because you aren't going with convention.

If you are choosing something unusual as a couple, visit several sites and stores until you are very, very sure that you've found the right one because what may seem unusual today can end up being a little tacky tomorrow.