There will always be something beautiful about a classic solitaire, but lately, it’s the engagement rings with a little more personality that we keep coming back to.
A sculpted band. An unexpected stone. A setting inspired by flowers, fantasy novels or old-world design. The details feel more expressive and less concerned with following a traditional formula.
That’s what first drew us to Valley Rose. Founded by painter-turned-jewelry designer Brittany Groshong, the brand approaches engagement rings more like small works of art. Brittany draws inspiration from folklore, fairy tales, history and nature, then translates those references into organic shapes, romantic details and settings that feel distinctive without being overly trend-driven.
And perhaps that’s where engagement rings are headed. Not toward one defining “look,” but toward pieces that feel much more personal.
1. Choose The Ring You Can’t Stop Thinking About
The old idea of choosing an engagement ring based on what you’re “supposed” to want feels increasingly outdated. Now, there’s far more room for instinct.
The Mariwen is a perfect example. A round center diamond is surrounded by delicate clusters of smaller diamonds, giving the ring a floral quality without actually looking like a flower. The low cathedral-style setting brings in light from different angles while keeping the overall shape soft and romantic.
It’s eye-catching, but still easy to imagine wearing decades from now, which is exactly the balance we love.
2. Let Nature Be A Starting Point
Nature-inspired jewelry can sometimes feel very literal. Valley Rose takes a subtler approach. The Rosewood ring was created as a love letter to the rose, a symbol that has represented romance for centuries. Rather than simply placing a flower around the center stone, sculpted vines travel along the band with tiny leaves, thorns and diamond accents. Even the prongs around the center diamond are shaped like petals.
3. Look For Beauty In The Details
Some rings make their impact through size. Others make you want to lean in closer.
The Celria falls into the latter camp. Inspired by Art Nouveau and the natural world, the design uses fine leaf patterns and small diamond accents around the center stone, giving it a slightly enchanted, almost storybook quality.
It’s a good example of how a nature-inspired ring can still feel delicate and refined. The botanical elements are there, but they don’t overpower the stone.
4. A Little Fantasy Can Still Feel Sophisticated
Brittany’s references to folklore and fantasy come through particularly beautifully in the Elowen engagement ring.
Inspired by fantasy novels, the ring pairs an emerald-cut center diamond with a halo of tapered baguette lab diamonds. The geometry gives it a strong vintage feel, but the unusual proportions keep it from looking like a reproduction of something from another era.
It feels a little otherworldly, but still elegant enough to wear every day.
Let Your Ring Tell A Story
Some of the most memorable Valley Rose rings begin with a world rather than a trend. Brittany’s references move between nature, folklore, fantasy and celestial imagery, which gives the collection a slightly transportive quality.
The Celestial designs lean into stars, constellations and otherworldly shapes, while the Fantasy pieces feel softer and more romantic, with leaf-like details, clustered diamonds and silhouettes that look as though they belong in a modern fairy tale. Even the more whimsical rings still feel sophisticated because the references are interpreted through fine-jewelry proportions and craftsmanship rather than taken too literally.
5. Think About How A Ring Moves Across The Hand
Some of the most compelling engagement rings right now are designed almost like tiny compositions, with the side stones and metalwork pulling the eye outward rather than placing all the focus on one center stone.
The Farren engagement ring uses a center stone surrounded by smaller marquise diamonds shaped like leaves, which climb gently along the sides of the ring. Petal-inspired prongs soften the pointed silhouette and reinforce the nature influence without making the design feel overly floral.
We love how it makes the entire ring feel considered, rather than treating the band as an afterthought.
6. Romance Doesn’t Have To Look Traditional
Then there’s Siriwen engagement ring, which combines an marquise center stone with pear-shaped side diamonds and smaller round diamond accents arranged in a tapered, leaf-like silhouette.
It has all the romance of a vintage-inspired ring, but the proportions and nature-driven details give it something fresher.
Brittany begins with sketches before developing each piece into a three-dimensional model, either through hand-carved wax or 3D printing depending on the design. That allows the proportions, profile and smallest details to be refined before the ring is made in metal.
The finished pieces are then crafted by master jewelers in New York City.
7. Pay Attention To The Story Behind The Materials
A beautiful ring is one thing. Knowing how it was made adds another layer.
Valley Rose works with Fairmined gold, rather than recycled gold, and supports artisanal mining communities through its sourcing practices. The brand also describes its materials as carefully vetted throughout the supply chain and follows a made-to-order, slow-jewelry model rather than producing large quantities of inventory.
There’s a nice connection between that approach and Brittany’s design philosophy. Her work is deeply influenced by the natural world, so considering where the materials come from feels like part of the same story rather than a separate sustainability message.
The New Rule? Make It Personal
What we like most about this new era of engagement rings is that there really isn’t one defining style.
A ring can be floral, geometric, vintage-inspired, sculptural or colorful. It can reference an ancient motif or a favorite fantasy story. It can be quietly unusual or completely unexpected.
Because ultimately, the engagement ring that feels timeless isn’t necessarily the safest one. It’s the one that still feels unmistakably like you years from now.
If you’re already thinking one step ahead, Valley Rose has a wedding rings collection designed to sit beautifully alongside its engagement styles. The same mix of thoughtful sourcing, fine craftsmanship, and slightly unexpected detail carries through the collection, so the band feels considered rather than like an afterthought.
Ready to find yours? Discover your dream engagement ring Explore the Valley Rose wedding rings collection when you’re ready for the next piece. 100 Layer Cake readers can also take 5% off with code 100LayerCake.
