Beautiful and unique ways to add gems to your custom engagement ring

By choosing a custom engagement ring, you have opened the doors to all sorts of unique possibilities. One trending engagement ring design is to mix white diamonds with colored gemstones. If your fiance-to-be likes a little pizzazz in her wardrobe, this might be the right route for you.

Gemstones

Every month, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) features several gemstones that are fit for the season. In perfect fall fashion, the featured stones are emerald, amethyst, sapphire and ruby. So you if you're proposing in autumn, you may consider adding one of these to your custom engagement ring design.

Emerald: Emeralds are known for their brilliant green colors, and the most desirable varieties range from bluish green to pure green. As for the cut, these gems are generally made into a rectangle, as it best complements the natural form of the crystals. Emeralds have a lower density than diamonds, so a lighter weight - or carat - will be larger in size than that of a diamond.

Amethyst: A variety of quartz, the amethyst is prized for its purple color. This gem is versatile when it comes to cuts and can fit into almost any custom jewelry design you can imagine.

Sapphire: Sapphires are most commonly known to be a brilliant, deep blue, though they do come in other colors. This stone is very durable, so if your girlfriend likes to stay active, this gem might be the perfect addition to her diamond engagement ring.

Rubies: Rubies are colorless at their purest, but as they form, trace elements enter the molecular structure to create a vibrant hue. This stone glows red in the sunlight, thanks to fluorescence in the gem. A fiery bride might love having a ruby in her ring.

Pairing

An easy way to mix colored gemstones with diamonds is by choosing a three-stone ring. These designs feature a center diamond that is the star of the ring. It is then flanked by two other stones. You can mix cuts, though certain combinations complement one another very well, such as round diamonds with pear gems. You'll want to make sure that the overall design is symmetrical. The gem you've chosen may help determine what kind of diamond cut you'd like.

If you have chosen an emerald, for example, you'll want a rectangular or fancy cut. For a little inspiration, check out the Emerald and Baguette three-stone engagement ring. The emerald-cut center diamond is set with four prongs. A baguette sits on either side in a bezel setting. For your custom engagement ring design, consider using emeralds for the side stones and a diamond for the center.

Process

Once you've figured out which stones you'd like to feature in your custom engagement ring, get some drawings together. Even if you're self-conscious about your artistic skills, sketching out your design will help the Brian Gavin team see your vision. You can also provide examples of features you like in other rings. If you're basing your design off an existing Brian Gavin ring, have a picture of it to share with the team. You can explain what you like about the ring and what you'd like to change during the custom process.

After some conversation, the Brian Gavin team will draw out the final design. You can make changes here or okay the design for the next step. The team will then make a 3D computer image that lets you look at the ring from all angles. Once that has been approved, you'll get to see a physical wax model. You will be involved from the first steps of inspiration all the way to the final product. The Brian Gavin team will ensure that you leave with one-of-a-kind a ring created specifically for the love of your life.