The Top 12 Designer Engagement Rings You Don't Want to Miss

The very best engagement rings designers are innovators in their field. They are artists, philosophers and architects who understand ring making as a craft as well as the relationships and stories behind ring selection.

Our list of the top 12 engagement ring designers brings together ring designers that have made their mark on the industry over a number of years and up and coming designers who are starting to make waves.

Verragio Designer Rings founder – Barry Verragio, has been making jewelry since the tender age of 14. He dedicates all of his attention and creativity to the bridal market, making unique engagement rings and wedding bands. He’s known for his love of curves and decorative elements that are staples in European design and creates modern and elegant antique style jewelry.

He makes a point of placing the beauty of diamonds on display such as the creation of the Lumino setting that exposes all the facets of a stone to the light. He once said: “I would never make a mounting that’s going to take away from the intrinsic beauty of the diamond, so we emphasize the main and side stones.”

Beirut-born designer Simon G has said: “Designing jewelry is an all-consuming passion, it is my hobby. It’s my life.” While many designers now work completely on computers, this design devotee still sketches by hand before moving on to the computer.

Simon G is known for his signature style which combines vintage artistry and contemporary trends and while he works predominantly with platinum, his work also features 18-karat yellow, white and rose gold. Simon G is a well-known name that continues to win recognition; he received a nomination for the Jewelers’ Choice Awards just last year.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Danhov was only established by Jack Hovespian in 1984. The brand’s fashion forward designs are fuelled by the interest in fashion Jack developed under the influence of his father, a 'tailor to the stars'.

Innovative processes create stunning pieces that don’t just look beautiful but also have wearability and durability factored in. The brand is particularly known for the range of fabulous platinum engagement rings. Last year Danhov rings featured in the Entry Platinum Jewelry category at the Jewelers' Choice Awards with the Platinum Eleganza solitaire engagement ring.

Each Tacori engagement ring is handcrafted through many hours of work by a skilled crafts team. Each piece passes through dozens of hands at the California studio before it is deemed perfect. Centuries old skills meet 21st century science with the use of 3D technology and computer aided design programs. Diamonds are hand selected for their cut, clarity, color and carat and some pieces have 100 gemstones carefully set into them.

The Tacori family is passionate about every ring created and hope that each piece will become a much treasured family heirloom. Their diamond melee is ethically sourced and each one is certified as Conflict-Free as approved by the World Diamond Council.

This thoroughly modern jewelry design house opened in 1999. Ritani engagement rings are items of beauty that blend technology and old world craftsmanship.

There are many diverse collections of Ritani diamond engagement rings but one feature common to many is the technique known as "micro-pave" consisting of many small diamonds set very closely together. Ritani has perfected this technique which creates the maximum amount of sparkle and reduces the amount of metal that can be seen in the ring.

Another jewelry master who cut his teeth at a young age, Vatche Aghajayan was set on the path to design when he saw a jewelry maker working with fire and gold when he was just 14. By 18 he had mastered the art of cutting rough diamonds. Vatche engagement rings are often sleek and streamlined, which is thought perhaps to have come from his personal love of flying. He was placed first in the Platinum Guild International Retailers' Choice Awards twice in just three years.

Vatche rings routinely win the industry’s top design awards for their renowned classic styles that are unique and innovative as well as timeless treasures. Vatche rings contain high quality G-H color and VS clarity diamond melee.

The philosophy of A.Jaffe is to create artisan rings which have everyday chic combined with heirloom style.

With all engagement rings fully customized to the wearer, the lucky recipient of jewelry from A.Jaffe will know they have a unique and lifelong piece of beauty they can wear at all times. The design focus is firmly on each piece being much admired from every angle and they offer a range of styles from the most contemporary cuts through to vintage and classic looks.