5 Engagement Ring Designers to Know in 2025

Where is the best place to find engagement ring inspiration in 2025? You could scroll endlessly on Instagram, save celebrity engagement rings to your Pinterest board, or go straight to the source. Discover the engagement ring designers creating on-trend pieces using natural diamonds and ethically sourced materials. Each year, we look to a handful of independent creators and designers crafting beautiful natural diamond engagement rings and this year’s lineup might be the best yet.

Leen Heyne, Jessica McCormack, Vanessa Fernandez, Sarah Ysabel Narici of DYNE, and Grace Lee are all creating pieces with unique settings and rare natural diamonds. These engagement ring designers bring their distinct identity and signature style, with collections characterized by organic shapes, vintage flair, and unexpected approaches to engagement ring design.

The Designing Process

Jessica McCormack, Leen Heyne, and Grace Lee begin their process with the natural diamond. “This stone becomes the focal point, and from there, the process revolves around crafting a design and a setting that accentuates its beauty,” explains McCormack. Both Lee and Heyne share a similar approach. “I usually start with sourcing the diamond that suits the client’s wishes after we have talked about the ring style,” says Heyne. Lee adds, “Once we determine the center stone, I make my suggestions on different styles based on the client’s ultimate goal for their wedding stack and lifestyle.”

Lee also notices a lot of couples wanting to design their wedding bands while they’re making the engagement ring. “Sometimes I share some inspiration “ringfies” to help them visualize their wedding ring suite,” she says. “Recently, many clients opt to design a custom wedding band simultaneously with the engagement ring so ringfies are helpful to visualize their future stack.”

Vanessa Fernandez has a combination of approaches with her clients. “My client comes to me saying they like a design I’ve created in the past… and then they speak to me about budget and ideal cut of stone and then I guide them towards the stones I like to source.”

For Narici, her process “always begins with the client—their personality, their story, and how they live their lives.” Engagement ring design is more specific than fine jewelry, with Narici’s client becoming her muse. “I take the time to understand what they love, what suits their hand shape, and how the ring will fit into their everyday life. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating something that feels like an extension of them.” All five engagement ring designers agree that, with something as personal as an engagement ring, taking the time to understand the wearer is essential to the final design.

Always Going Natural

And of course, all of the designers gravitate towards natural diamond stones. “I firmly believe in the unparalleled beauty and authenticity that only natural stones can provide,” shares McCormack, the designer behind Zendaya’s engagement ring. “Being of the earth and the history that natural diamonds hold is what attracts me to them,” says Lee of her fascination with natural diamonds.

Fernandez’s loyalty to her natural diamond supplier fuels her love for natural diamonds. “I go to [him] for just about every significant diamond request I have, we trust one another and I love the material he offers,” she explains. Value is also important to Fernandez, especially when a client trusts her with one of the most important pieces of jewelry they’ll ever own. “Natural diamonds hold value over time. A lab-grown diamond is essentially a stone with little or no value at all and will only continue to depreciate over time.”

A common thread among the engagement ring designers is their love of antique stones, which are only found in natural diamonds. “I am obsessed with old cuts, which comes from a deep appreciation of their charm and their historical significance,” McCormack says. “They carry a character and allure that is just impossible to recreate!”

“I like to see the cutter’s hand and decisions in working with a particular rough shape, which, in my opinion, one can really enjoy in antique diamonds,” explains Heyne of his love for vintage-cut diamonds. A recent favorite design of his featured a truly unique center stone: an “antique pear diamond, set in oxidized zirconium.” 

“There is a timelessness that resonates deeply with the ethos of my designs,” says Narici, who also often opts for vintage stones in her designs..“I love objects that are steeped in history, and I love antique gemstones. There is something incredibly special to me about using ancient materials.”

Signature Styles

All five engagement ring designers have a distinct style that sets their styles apart. McCormack is known for her vintage-style button-back rings, Fernandez for her curved and looped settings, and Narici for her standout floating settings. Lee combines traditional cuts in unique settings for a mix of classic and trendy, while Heyne plays with organic shapes and earthy metals.

Fernandez calls out her twisted Curva engagement ring as a recent favorite. “It was a beautiful cushion diamond set without prongs. It’s so sculptural and unique!” McCormack doesn’t have a specific ring to shout out, but she says, “Without wanting to sound cliché, each engagement ring truly is special. It’s such a significant moment for two people, so whether the ring features a prominent large diamond or something more understated, we are incredibly aware of the profound meaning this piece of jewelry will hold for someone.”

Narici shares a sentiment similar to McCormack’s: “The most exceptional rings come from a process that feels almost therapeutic—an intimate exploration of the couple’s story, values, and individuality,” she says. “These deeply personal designs are built on nuances that make each piece entirely unique.”

Narici loves to work with clients who want to imbue themselves and their personalities into the design. “Once, we created a unique pattern for the band by inlaying different types of metals into each other to make up an abstract pattern of the couple’s initials,” she says of one of her favorite rings. “Another ring was inspired by the markings and neck of a penguin – the couple’s favorite animal,” she recalls. “The hidden details matter to me, as they transform a ring into something truly irreplaceable. I’m most inspired when couples are willing to step outside convention and are happy to experiment a little with materials and textures.”

Lee too loves learning more about her couples during the design process. “The most special pieces are always connected to the stories behind the couples or the meaning that the stones hold,” she agrees. “But from the design perspective, our Full Baguette Pear Helix Ring is one of my favorites. It is an engagement ring that boasts a bezel set pear brilliant that looks like it is floating between a triple gold helix of baguette diamonds.”

Get to know even more engagement ring designers, find inspiration, and marvel at the latest trends at the Only Natural Diamonds engagement ring hub.