How I'd Design My Own Engagement Ring

I have officially become immune to jewelry. If you run a jewelry brand, that's either a red flag or a superpower.

I've been in this industry long enough to know every clasp, every stone dealer's group chat, and the sleep schedule of a good jeweler. I've built relationships with artisans across three continents, and spent years turning the things that live only in my sketchbook (or, more honestly, my brain) into rings that actually exist.

That's not a flex. It's an occupational hazard.

photo via American Gem New York

On the bespoke side of Matilda, my beloved clients come to me one of two ways: they're resetting an engagement ring that no longer fits their story, or they've seen something — on Instagram, on our website, occasionally nowhere but their own imagination — and they want it made real.

Lately, though, after what I can only describe as becoming clinically immune to engagement rings, I've been asking myself one question on repeat: if I were designing my own right now, what would I actually ask for?

Turns out, I have an answer. A formula, even.

Stone(s): Colombian or Zambian emerald // warm antique diamond
Side stone(s): pavé, prong-set, all around, antique finish
Cut or shape: cushion, or an elongated old mine cut
Metal: 18k yellow gold. Always.
Setting: bezel

And I'd set the whole thing into our signature setting — The Astrid Ring I designed it to be fully reversible and stackable with anything in the Matilda line, or with whatever's already living, half-forgotten, in your jewelry box.

Want to see what this would actually look like? Reach out — or better yet, tell me in the comments.

info@matildabardet.com

-Melanie