He has popped the question. You have said "Yes!". Before you phone the wedding planner and start searching for the perfect wedding dress, you are going to design your own engagement ring. There are many advantages to having a custom made jewelry engagement ring. Firstly, and most importantly, you will have exactly what you want, down to the finest details.

* Vintage or contemporary design. After trawling through magazines, jeweler's windows, and possibly the net, you will probably realize that you are drawn to a particular style. Some girls make a conscious decision to have their engagement ring styled from a particular jewelry era and other girls will want the very latest style. Many contemporary designs right now are very reminiscent of the Art Deco style with the center setting or stone being square. The contemporary twist to this is to have a modern cut diamond like an Asscher style.

* Multiple stones or solitaire ring. A solitaire ring is a spectacular way to showcase a magnificent diamond. Solitaires are also great for girls who are into more simple styles. Having said this, a solitaire stone can have many varieties to the setting from understated to highly intricate. Multiple stones can be utilized in many ways. Many current styles are using smaller stones to decorate shanks and bands. Multiple diamonds can also be a great way to get a sparkling ring at a lesser cost. A solitaire diamond is nearly always going to cost more than smaller diamonds added up to a similar weight.

Various engagement ring settings:

* Bezel. This is a practical setting, enclosing the stone in metal very securely, and drawing visual attention to your stone. Some girls prefer bezel settings as claws can be more prone to catching, and getting banged or bent.

* Claws or cathedral. Claws, also known as prongs, give maximum visibility to a fantastic glittering stone, allowing light to pass through from all sides. The claws need to be substantial enough to keep the stones secure. A cathedral setting still uses claws to keep the stone firmly in place, but it also has the two sides of the ring rising up to the center setting, allowing for a more secure setting. Both claw and cathedral settings involve the center stone having a certain height or being raised from the band.

* Pave settings are a fantastic way to way to add glitter to any ring. Normally involving smaller stones that are firmly inlaid within the band, this gives a more subtle sparkle. Pave settings can be used to decorate the shanks of an engagement ring and make for beautiful settings for wedding and eternity rings.

* Channel settings involve the stones sitting down flush in a groove between the two sides of the metal. This is quite a modern setting, contrasting between metals and stones quite distinctly

* Raised or flat ring settings. Are you going to be a lady of leisure or do your hands see a lot of action? Some girls find flatter settings to be more practical for active lifestyles. However, any well built ring should be able to withstand a certain amount of living.

Saying to a custom jeweler "design my own engagement ring" is for many girls a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the engagement ring of their dreams. Custom made jewelry not only allows you to have a unique ring but to have every tiny detail finished to your requirements.