At Bear Goldsmithing, every engagement ring begins as a conversation about the person who will wear it — her style, her hands, what she loves, how she carries herself. From that conversation, Alex designs and creates a ring that belongs to her completely, one that could not have been made for anyone else.
Most engagement rings are chosen from a case. You point, you pay, you hope. A custom ring from Bear Goldsmithing works the other way around. You come to Alex with what you know about her — the jewellery she already wears, the things she is drawn to, the life she lives in her hands — and he builds the design outward from that. The result is a ring she will recognise as hers the moment she sees it.
Most engagement rings treat the band as a structural necessity. At Bear Goldsmithing, the band is part of the design from the very beginning. Scrollwork, floral motifs, wheat patterns, milgrain edges, geometric forms — designed together with the setting, the stone and the silhouette as a whole. A hand engraved engagement ring looks different from every angle, and it will look better with every year it is worn.
The centre diamond is where the eye goes first, but it is rarely where the design ends. Flush set diamonds within the engraving. Pavé or channel set stones along the shank. Side stones flanking the centre, whether matching diamonds or coloured gems chosen for personal significance. Hidden stones set inside the ring, known only to the person wearing it. Every detail designed as part of the whole.
The shape of the diamond determines everything else about the ring. It influences the setting, the proportions of the band, the way the ring sits on the hand and the way it catches light. There is no correct choice — only the choice that is right for her.
Round Brilliant
The most classic and the most light. A round brilliant is cut to maximise the return of light to the eye. It suits every hand and every style, which is why it has remained the most requested diamond shape for over a century.
Oval
The oval has the warmth and light of a round brilliant but with an elongated silhouette that makes the stone appear larger than its carat weight suggests. It sits elegantly on the finger and is one of the most requested shapes at Bear Goldsmithing.
Marquise
Long, pointed at both ends, and dramatic. The marquise is one of the oldest diamond cuts and one of the most distinctive. It elongates the finger and carries a sense of history that suits a ring with engraving particularly well.
Emerald Cut
Rectangular with cropped corners and long parallel facets that produce a deep, glassy quality rather than sparkle. An emerald cut rewards clarity above all else. It is a stone for someone with a refined and architectural eye.
Cushion
Soft cornered and warm, the cushion cut sits between the round and the square. It has a vintage quality that pairs beautifully with hand engraved bands and milgrain detailing.
Pear
Teardrop shaped, worn with the point toward the fingertip. The pear is romantic and unconventional, and one of the more striking shapes when set in a hand engraved ring.
The metal of an engagement ring is not just a backdrop for the stone. It is part of the design. Yellow gold is warm, traditional and increasingly the first choice for clients who want their ring to feel personal and distinctive rather than anonymous. White gold is cool and clean, with a slightly warm quality compared to platinum — for those who prefer a cooler tone, rhodium plating is an option. Rose gold is soft and romantic, and pairs particularly well with warmer stones and organic engraving motifs. Platinum is the most durable of all the options and heavier on the hand, with a cool, dense quality that no other metal quite matches. Alex works in all of these metals and will guide you toward the choice that serves your design best.
Book a complimentary consultation at the studio in downtown Toronto, or virtually from anywhere in the world.