How To Make Your Dream Engagement Ring A Reality

A custom-designed engagement ring is the ultimate representation of your love story and personal style. Going bespoke guarantees a one-of-a-kind piece packed with intimate details only the two of you know.

Taylor Swift’s old-mine-cut ring is a perfect example of how a custom piece can shine. Swift recently revealed the story behind her ring on U.K. radio show Heart Breakfast, sharing how Travis Kelce worked with jeweler Kindred Lubeck to create the piece. “He designed it with this amazing jeweler; Kindred Lubeck is her name. She does all of her gold engraving by hand,” Swift said. “I had shown him a video—I just thought her stuff was so cool. So, I had shown him a video like a year and a half ago, and he was just paying attention to everything, it turns out, because when I saw the ring I [gasped] … I was like, ‘I know who made this, I know who made this,’ and, ‘You listen to me!’” She added, “He did amazing. It was like, ‘You really know me.’ I didn’t know what I would want, but he did somehow, and that’s kind of a flex.”

Cathy Shen, owner of Ma Folie, a boutique jewellery design studio in Vancouver, says Taylor and Travis are similar to many couples who commission custom rings. The inspiration for Shen’s business came from her own pink sapphire engagement ring—designed for her after a conversation with her husband about wanting something outside the usual diamond options. “He took notes and had my pink sapphire ring designed for me,” Shen recalls. “Before that moment I had never seen such a stone and only knew of diamond engagement rings. I loved it so much I became obsessed with rings, quit my job, and took a course with the Gemological Institute of America to learn about jewellery.”

Since launching Ma Folie in 2023, Shen has become a go-to for couples seeking a bespoke option because they don’t see themselves represented by mass-market retailers. A small jeweller is an artisan who creates something intentional that reflects both partners.

Here’s how the custom design process typically works: couples visit the studio together to begin shaping the ring—choosing gemstone, size, cut, metal, setting, and any unique details. “Typically, at some point the person being proposed to steps out of the conversation. They generally know what the ring will look like, but not when the proposal is going to happen,” Shen explains.

If you’re considering custom, allow time for the creative process. Production timelines vary depending on how busy the jeweller is, but custom pieces require extra TLC—finding the right gemstone and perfecting the setting can’t be rushed.

“The most important thing when it comes to a one-of-a-kind engagement ring is finding the person who will design exactly what you want,” Shen says. “Find someone whose style you love and whose craftsmanship, quality and values align with yours.” —Alison McGill