Alternative Wedding Rings: My Thoughts and Top Picks

Model Aleah Hyvonen wears the Rollo Band and Portal Ring on her ring fingers, as well as the Demeter Cigar Band on her pointer. Photo by Chiara Garland.

Let’s be honest, not every woman (or man for that matter) is a diamond person, and it can most definitely be said that not all are seeking that traditional one-carat-diamond-or-larger solitaire engagement look. Not knocking the style - it’s a classic, no doubt. But no one should feel confined to a style defined by mainstream society, should that not fit with who they are as a person. Your love is also unique, and your ring should represent that individuality. Plus, not everyone wants or is able to spend a down payment on a house for their ring.

Aleah wears the Portal Ring and Rollo Band. Photo by Chiara Garland.

I’ve been thrilled over the last few years to design wedding bands, both custom and from the collection, that I feel are at once both very classic and timeless, comfortable, and yet utterly unique and modern. That is Talisman’s look, in a nutshell, after all. It’s such a personal, intimate thing to get to make a ring that someone will wear for a lifetime, and I treat these projects with a lot of special care and honor.

Model Niki Gibson wears the Demeter Cigar Band on her ring finger. I do love this look for a commitment ring <3 Photo by Andrew Vanasse.

Wondering what direction to go, or overwhelmed by all the possibilities? Some of my personal top picks for nontraditional wedding rings from the collection include the Portal Ring, with its comfortably tapered band, and both the Rollo and Petite Rollo Bands - two wonderfully pudgy, donut-like, fully-round bands that work great for both brides and grooms. These are bands that are simple, elegant, yet are certainly statement-making. And, should you want a little sparkle, I’d say that each of these rings, particularly the Rollo and Petite Rollo, also sit really nicely next to a diamond eternity band too. Though for those looking for a one-and-done, packs-a-bold-punch commitment look, going with the Persephone Ring is another great call. I also love the extra wide band and clean lines of the Demeter Cigar Band too. Perfect for the fashion-forward bride.

Model Nyasia Wyani wears the Persephone Ring on her ring finger. Photo by Blake Jackson.

Still unsure? Reach out to me here and we can begin a conversation about designing a custom piece to your liking. I love commissions, and am always happy to make you something one-of-a-kind.

A Wedding Band and More Recent Custom Work

While Talisman Fine Jewelry is mostly known as a seasonless collection of heirloom jewelry, some customers are surprised to learn that a large part of my business actually includes custom jewelry. Hence why I like to occasionally share my latest custom work with you all here.

Most recently, I had the honor or creating a custom 14k white gold men’s wedding band for Nick. Nick liked the subtle wabi-sabi nature of my work, but agreed that keeping the ring low-profile (in a literal sense) would be most comfortable for everyday wear. He also opted for a brushed finish, rather than the bright shine of a mirror polish. The result can be seen below. It is always such an honor to create commitment rings and wedding bands for customers… it’s something they’ll be wearing and cherishing for a lifetime, with so much meaning attached to it. As with all Talisman Fine Jewelry pieces, I imbue each creation with intention while crafting it, and take time to set the finished piece on my altar for blessing. This is especially important for commitment rings, for obvious reasons. So with Nick’s ring completed and a blessing for a happy, long-lasting union bestowed upon it, the ring is ready to ship out before his July nuptials! (Side note: custom jewelry can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks to complete, depending on the piece, so always make sure you’ve allotted enough time when putting in your order, especially if you have a deadline to meet).

Custom 14k white gold wedding band for Nick

Another fun custom project that came across my desk was a request for two pendants to represent a client’s work. Specifically, Alexandra works in the women’s health field as a pelvic care practitioner, and she wanted to be able to wear her pendants daily to honor the important medicine that she performs. Working together on the design, we came up with the concept of the spiral - an ancient symbol found historically across many global cultures - as a representation of the womb and its creation process, and of the life cycle journey, including growth, death and rebirth, and a return always to the Great Mystery.

The spiral, a representation of creation, and the journey of life

The second pendant was a more literal request - a yoni. My version was ever-so-slightly abstracted, but generally pretty anatomically obvious, at Alexandra’s request. Not your typical custom order, but I was thrilled to oblige! Participating in destigmatizing the yoni in particular was something that excited me. Alexandra and I both felt, ‘To he** with people who are freaked out by the organ from which they came into the world!’ For this piece I also added a twisted bail detail, to subtly tie it in with its spiral counterpart. Check out the end result below.

Finished womb spiral and yoni pendants for Alexandra

If you’re looking to get engaged, need a commitment ring, or simply have an idea for a jewelry piece that you’d like to turn into a reality, I encourage you to reach out and start a conversation. The best way to contact me, as always, is email - vanessa@talismanfinejewelry.co

Special thanks to Nick and Maddi, as well as Alexandra, for trusting me with your special creations!