The 7 Coolest Rings We NEVER Made

Yes, you read that correctly. These are my seven favorite ring designs that never quite made it to the goldsmith's bench--or to the finger of a client. They're conceptual works of art, quietly waiting in the wings for the right person to bring them to life.

Each piece was sparked by a story, an idea, or a flash of inspiration during our custom design process. Some were developed for specific clients who paused before committing; others were simply creative exercises. All are ideas I'd love to see fully realized.

So, which one speaks to you? 

1. Sculptural Mokume Engagement Ring & Men's Band

This decorative mokume gane engagement ring and matching men's wedding band were designed for a client who was inspired by our Falling Water Mokume Engagement Ring and wanted a completely original design. This dramatic pair features sweeping mokume gane patterns adorned with pave-set diamonds. In the engagement ring, open negative space creates a light, sculptural silhouette reminiscent of the curves in a tribal ring, while the men's band mirrors the motif in a bold, complementing design.

The concept is striking with white diamonds--all the little white dots are pave-set diamonds, lightening the engagement ring. But, the men's band has pave-set black diamonds for a look that's both modern and moody.

This image is just a sketch/mockup.  This is a true statement set, designed for the couple who appreciates texture, asymmetry, and the raw beauty of mokume artistry.

This design is a love letter to The Phantom of the Opera. From the front view, you can see a diamond-studded theater mask. From the top, it transforms into a refined, gorgeous three stone engagement ring, unlike any three stone engagement ring that we've created before. The center stone--round brilliant or cushion cut--is flanked by half-moon diamonds or sapphires, creating a balance between drama and tradition.  

I created the original sketch by hand with pencil and paper; John Krikawa completed the modeling and rendering.  He modeled drapery and a wooden stage and added theatrical lighting post rendering to create an image that's as haunting as it is beautiful.

Though we've used this gorgeous artistic rendering in advertisements, it's still waiting for its stage debut. Who will be its leading star?

Originally imagined for a richly colored spessartite garnet, this cocktail ring featured a scalloped diamond halo totaling 1.20 carats, with additional pave detailing and millegraining on the gallery. This ring is bold, yet the proportions remain elegant and wearable.

This newly imagined flower engagement ring, is full of sparkle and designed to delight. It is a setting that would make any center stone shine. While this design is suitable for any large oval colored stone, I can also imagine this design as a unique marquise engagement ring.

Another reason I love this ring is because a large color gemstone looks spectacular with a white diamond halo. Think electric tourmaline, velvet sapphire, or even a warm citrine--surrounded by a halo of brilliant white diamonds. Designed as a cocktail ring, this piece would also be stunning as a bespoke engagement ring for someone with a love of color and a sense of occasion. The entire piece can also be created entirely in natural diamonds or lab created diamonds and jaws will drop.

The image to the left is our classic computer rendering that we create as proof of concept for our clients.  Renderings like this are created after the sketch, and after the deposit.

This men's engagement ring is a concept born from experimentation. To me, this design says modern male. While not quite steampunk, it has a certain futurist allure--refined yet rebellious. It has a slightly gothic edge, balanced by sleek, architectural lines. This unique men's black diamond ring contrasts yellow modern cross motifs against a platinum background, making quite the statement.  

This image is a computer rendering, created for fun when I was playing with the idea of black diamonds and gold crosses.

Creating this piece in real gold, platinum, and diamonds requires expert level goldsmithing, which, of course, Krikawa is known for, to achieve the precision and polish seen in the rendering.

It's a perfect expression of strength and individuality for someone seeking a meaningful--and unconventional--statement ring.

How about a natural fancy colored pave' field of diamonds in pink, yellow or blue, set low and close in a soft, undulating surface of color? This design was sketched for a client who fell in love with the concept, but the labor and cost of natural fancy colored diamonds proved prohibitive.

Still, the design lingers in my mind. Pink, yellow, and blue sapphires or color enhanced diamonds would achieve a similar luminous effect, evoking romance, joy, and opulence in equal measure.

This ring is waiting for someone who wants their jewelry to tell a story through color and craftsmanship. I would love to create this painting in diamonds.

This is one I'd build tomorrow, given the chance. It's a bold, medieval-inspired band combining mokume gane with a dragon scale motif. The wide rails combine layering and texturing we've mastered with our dragon scales wedding bands, and the claw prongs holding the center stone scream Gothic Prince. The mokume gane gives the ring a roughhewn wood look. This ring is mythical, primal, and utterly commanding.

As the center stone, faceted to cabochon stones are compelling in this piece. My favorite center stones for this design are Black diamond or pigeon's blood red ruby. After all, this isn't just a ring--it's a relic from a fantasy realm, forged with intention and presence. The client for this ring is seeking an heirloom that nots to fantasy, history, or personal mythology.

Designed as an addition to our collection of Infinity Engagement Rings, this cathedral-style ring blends architectural structure with delicate detail. We've layered elements from some of my favorite ring designs, including our trademarked Krikawa infinity wedding rings, the ornate gallery and fine beading in many of our vintage engagement rings, and the unique use of two tone features often found in many of our art deco engagement ring designs, to create a masterful object of wearable art. 

This is a classic cathedral design ideal for a round brilliant or cushion shaped diamond or gemstone. It is a design that bridges classic and contemporary with poetic elegance. 

I already have the perfect men's ring that complements this design, in our men's infinity symbol wedding rings. Those rings are bold and masculine in contrast with the ultra-feminity of this engagement ring design.

Whatever your dream ring is, here at Krikawa we can help you visualize it in a myriad of ways. Whether one of these designs sparked your imagination or our envisioning something entirely new, we thrive on turning ideas into heirlooms. With our passionate team of designers, artists and engineers, we help bring your untold story to life.

Every custom ring begins with a conversation about you--your story, your style, and what you want to celebrate. Schedule a complimentary consultation and let's explore the possibilities together.

Your dream ring deserves nothing less than masterful execution and a design as unique as you are. These seven rings we've never made may be waiting, and with your vision, one of them could be next in line to becoming something unforgettable.