Some purchases carry more weight than others.
A ring that will live on your hand for decades, that will catch the light during ordinary Tuesday mornings and extraordinary anniversary dinners, deserves more than a quick scroll through the first search result that appears. The brands behind these pieces matter because their craftsmanship becomes part of your story, their design philosophy becomes something you wear against your skin every single day.
Couples searching for engagement rings and wedding bands face an interesting moment. Lab-grown diamonds now account for over 70% of millennial purchases, yellow gold has reclaimed its place as the leading metal choice, and the average engagement ring cost sits at $6,504, though many couples spend far less. The Knot’s 2024 study found that nearly two-thirds of ring buyers spend under $6,000, with a third staying below $3,000. These numbers tell us something useful: there’s room to prioritize quality and meaning over sheer price tags.
What follows is a careful look at nine brands worth your attention, each bringing something distinct to the table. From established houses with generational expertise to independent designers reshaping what commitment jewelry can be, these are names that deserve a place in your search.
Jessica McCormack: London Heritage Meets Modern Wearability
Jessica McCormack works from a simple but powerful idea: jewelry should be worn, not stored away waiting for special occasions. The New Zealand-born, London-based designer has captured attention from celebrities and fashion insiders alike, with Emma Stone and Lindsay Lohan among those spotted wearing her pieces.
Her design language pulls from Victorian and Georgian aesthetics while remaining distinctly modern. McCormack herself describes it as “a very London brand” with “heritage antique style” that somehow feels “fresh and young and cool and wearable.” Her New York store opened earlier in 2025, bringing her work closer to American couples who connect with that combination of history and contemporary sensibility.
Her latest collection, Rush Hour, draws from city life and modernizes working wardrobe accessories with sinuous lines and curves. The pieces work as engagement rings, commitment jewelry, or statement pieces worn daily. McCormack designs exceptional diamond jewelry for the modern woman, creating heirlooms intended for future generations while remaining practical for present-day life.
Grace Lee: Minimalism That Feels Substantial
Grace Lee’s path to jewelry design started with her own engagement ring search. Working in finance at the time, she couldn’t find what she was looking for and decided to make it herself. Twelve years later, she’s become part of a group of young designers expanding what engagement rings and wedding bands can be.
Her aesthetic centers on wearability above all else. “Most jewelers set diamonds up high to look bigger, but I wanted them to be as flush to the hand and wearable as possible,” Lee has explained. “A simple prong setting felt like the Eiffel Tower on my finger.” Her designs sit low against the skin, intended for everyday wear rather than cautious handling.
The collection is built around stacking and layering. Pieces work together, allowing you to add bands over time or combine styles that complement each other. Michelle Obama, Charlize Theron, and Miranda Kerr have all worn Grace Lee pieces, drawn to that combination of fine craftsmanship and practical design.
GOODSTONE: Bespoke Craftsmanship Rooted in Los Angeles
GOODSTONE has built something rare in the fine jewelry space. Every ring leaving their Los Angeles studio is bespoke, handcrafted by generational artisans who treat each piece as a future heirloom. The brand works with both natural and lab-grown diamonds, offering couples the choice that best fits their values and budget without sacrificing quality in either direction.
Their process begins with setting selection. You can choose from existing designs on their site or collaborate directly with their team to create something entirely new. The approach removes the intimidation that often accompanies custom jewelry, making personalization accessible rather than overwhelming. Their Diamond Buying Guide walks you through cut, color, clarity, and carat weight with practical guidance, helping you understand what you’re actually looking at when you examine a stone.
The service commitment extends well beyond the sale. GOODSTONE provides a lifetime warranty on every piece, along with complimentary cleaning, resizing, and inspection services. You can send your jewelry back at any time for these services at no cost. This kind of ongoing care is uncommon in the industry, and it speaks to how the brand views their relationship with customers.
Materials matter here. GOODSTONE offers pieces in 14k or 18k rose, yellow, or white gold, as well as platinum. They use the most durable alloys available, and all gemstones and diamonds are ethically sourced in alignment with Kimberly Process standards. For couples interested in stackable options, their wedding bands are designed to build upon each other, creating combinations that can grow with your family over time. Everything is made in the United States.
Jean Prounis: Ancient Techniques for Modern Commitments
Jean Prounis founded her eponymous jewelry brand in 2017 with a desire to carry on her family lineage of creating treasured memories. Working alongside expert craftspeople in Manhattan’s Jewelry District, every piece is handwrought in signature recycled 22-karat gold and finished with sustainably and responsibly sourced gemstones, diamonds, pearls, and corals.
Her recent Vow collection emerged from increasing requests for custom devotion rings. The collection includes one-of-a-kind classic bands of different widths, eternity rings, and intricate diamond motifs inspired by antiquity. “I feel like the marital landscape has changed in the past ten years as people are looking for more personalized engagement rings,” Prounis notes.
The 22-karat gold gives her work a warmth and richness that lower-karat pieces simply cannot match. Combined with ancient goldsmithing techniques, the result is jewelry that feels connected to something older while remaining entirely suited to contemporary life.
Catbird: Brooklyn’s Beloved Fine Jewelry Destination
Catbird began in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood and has grown into one of the most recognized independent jewelry destinations in the country. Their approach combines accessible price points with thoughtful design, making fine jewelry feel welcoming to couples who might otherwise feel intimidated by the process.
Their engagement rings and wedding bands tend toward delicate, romantic aesthetics without tipping into anything overly ornate. Thin bands, subtle details, and careful proportions characterize most of their work. The brand has cultivated a devoted following among couples drawn to understated elegance.
Catbird also emphasizes ethical sourcing and transparency, working with recycled metals and responsibly sourced stones. For couples who want their rings to align with their values around sustainability, the brand offers that assurance without requiring a premium price point.
Brilliant Earth: Ethical Sourcing at Scale
Brilliant Earth built its reputation on ethical sourcing, pioneering transparency in diamond origins when few others were paying attention to the issue. The brand has since grown substantially, offering a wide selection of engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry.
Their commitment to beyond conflict-free diamonds means they trace the origins of their stones and prioritize those with documented, ethical supply chains. They also work extensively with lab-grown diamonds, which now dominate the colorless diamond category at 76% of purchases in 2025, up from 29% in 2020.
The price difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds is substantial. A flawless natural diamond averages $17,552, while a comparable lab-grown stone averages $5,670. This gap allows couples to choose larger stones within their budget, with the average carat weight for lab-grown engagement stones now sitting at 2.1 carats compared to 1.5 carats for natural. Brilliant Earth makes both options accessible with extensive selection in each category.
Mejuri: Everyday Fine Jewelry for Modern Couples
Mejuri has reshaped how many people think about fine jewelry by positioning their pieces as everyday items rather than special occasion pieces. Their engagement ring and wedding band collections carry that same philosophy, offering designs meant to be worn constantly without worry.
The brand releases new collections regularly, keeping their offerings fresh while maintaining core styles that have proven popular. Their price points tend toward the accessible end of fine jewelry, making quality metals and stones available to couples with more modest budgets.
For those drawn to the toi et moi style, which has become the most-searched and most-saved engagement ring trend heading into 2026, Mejuri offers several options. The style features two stones set together, often in different shapes or sizes, creating a conversation between the gems that many couples find meaningful.
Blue Nile: Selection and Education Combined
Blue Nile operates as one of the largest online diamond retailers, offering selection that smaller brands simply cannot match. For couples who want to compare dozens of stones side by side, filtering by exact specifications, Blue Nile provides that capability.
Their educational resources help couples understand what they’re purchasing. The 4Cs framework developed by the Gemological Institute of America provides a universal grading scale, and Blue Nile explains these factors in accessible terms. For couples who want to become informed buyers before making such a substantial purchase, the brand’s approach supports that learning process.
Price transparency is another strength. With engagement ring spending averaging $6,504 in 2025, couples can use Blue Nile’s extensive filtering to find stones that fit their specific budget while meeting their quality requirements. The brand’s scale often translates to competitive pricing.
Local Artisan Jewelers: The Case for Working Nearby
While national brands offer convenience and selection, local artisan jewelers bring something different to the table. Couples in the United States spend an average of three and a half months searching for the perfect engagement ring, and spending that time with someone in your community can transform the process.
Local jewelers often specialize in custom work, bringing decades of hands-on experience to your project. They can source stones individually, adjust designs based on your feedback, and provide the kind of ongoing service that comes from being physically nearby. Many work in styles specific to their region or background, offering aesthetics you won’t find in national catalogs.
The key is finding someone whose work resonates with you and whose approach to customer relationships feels right. Ask to see examples of their previous engagement rings, understand their process for revisions and adjustments, and confirm their policies for ongoing maintenance.
What Current Trends Tell Us About Ring Selection
Yellow gold has reclaimed its position as the leading metal choice in 2026 engagement ring collections. With gold prices at record highs, couples recognize that substantial gold paired with a quality diamond creates something that feels genuinely luxurious.
Elongated diamond cuts are claiming the most-requested title for 2026. Marquise, oval, and the hybrid moval shapes all create that elegant lengthening effect on the finger while giving the impression of a larger stone. Couples appreciate both the optical benefit and the reality that no two elongated diamonds look exactly alike.
Bezel settings have gained momentum following engagement rings worn by Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Zendaya. Beyond their sleek appearance, bezels offer practical benefits. While prongs can bend and snag, bezels hold stones securely in place, making them smart choices for rings worn daily.
East-west settings, which position the center diamond horizontally along the band, offer a modern twist on classic solitaires. The orientation creates visual interest while maintaining the simplicity that many couples prefer.
Finding the Right Fit for Your Story
The common thread across these nine brands and designers is intentionality.
- GOODSTONE’s lifetime warranty and bespoke process reflects a commitment to ongoing relationships with their customers.
- Jessica McCormack’s insistence that jewelry be worn daily rather than hidden away speaks to a philosophy about how precious things should exist in our lives.
- Grace Lee’s flush settings prioritize comfort alongside beauty.
The brands you consider should align with what matters to you. If ethical sourcing sits at the top of your list, several of these names prioritize that concern explicitly.
- If custom design excites you, GOODSTONE and Jean Prounis offer collaborative processes that result in one-of-a-kind pieces.
- If you want something you can purchase quickly with confidence, established retailers like Blue Nile and Brilliant Earth provide that reliability.
Your ring will be with you for decades. The search takes an average of three and a half months, and spending that time thoughtfully, considering what you actually want and which brands share your values, results in something you’ll wear with satisfaction for the rest of your life.
