For many people the wedding ring is the first piece of fine jewelry (or even jewelry at all) that they will wear. It’s something you are going to wear every single day, so you want it to be perfect, right? This expectation can make shopping for a wedding ring feel like a very daunting task.

We at Catalyst love all of the jewelers in our Vendor Directory, and here are just a few of their rings that will change how you think about the traditional engagement ring, with some starting at just $420.

We are huge fans of Aide-mémoire Jewelry, and owner Aran Galligan is the designer behind this all-inclusive, queer woman-owned studio in Seattle, Washington, and her pieces never cease to amaze us. Continuing to “wow” us is her new Sculpted collection, which offers a softer and more subtle departure from her more geometric designs.

Artisan jeweler Lori Linkous Devine makes wedding jewelry with a modern aesthetic that is perfectly suited for texture-lovers with an avant-garde streak. Here are six ways her designs set her apart from other wedding rings on the market.

For millennials who wants to see our world become a more socially aware and sustainable place to live, mined diamond engagement rings are simply no longer an ethical choice. Thankfully, Clean Origin exists. Clean Origin is paving the way with their collection of ethical lab grown diamond wedding engagement rings available in a variety of vintage-inspired, classic, halo, and solitaire styles.

Looking for the perfect engagement ring or wedding band? Here are our 8 favorite rings by Valerie Madison Jewelry.

We love modern takes on the traditional engagement ring, and we love ring stacks even more, so we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Rebecca Mir Grady Jewelry to our Catalyst vendor community. Not only are Rebecca's rings stunning, but they are all handmade from reclaimed precious metals and ethically sourced stones in her Santa Fe studio so there's no diamond guilt here. Plus, you can feel awesome rocking your engagement or wedding ring for the rest of your life knowing you supported a LGBTQ+-owned business. It doesn't get better than that!

You see those little flecks of (gold/silver) on the band? Most metalworkers collect these tiny filings and metal scraps that are made during the finishing stages of jewelry-making and send them out for refining. There, the scraps are melted back into bigger pieces and shipped back out to jewelers — a great first step in the metal reuse process. But at Forge & Fountain, they skip the extra fuel consumption involved in refining. Instead, Josh and Holly sprinkle gold or silver grains across the surface of a ring to make their signature moondust texture. It's one of their favorite styles to create.

Are you looking to breathe new life into a family heirloom piece or a vintage ring? We know just the place for you! Bario Neal is an amazing jeweler, not to mention they are an ethical company run by WOMEN. We have profiled their gorgeous, creative, inspiring jewelry before, and we have talked to them extensively about using white sapphires as an ethical diamond alternative. What always amazes us is that many of their rings are one-off pieces created for a special individual, often recycling family pieces.

Elaine was trained in metal smithing and glass blowing at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. "Inspired by minimal but inventive designs, rough stones and geometric shapes, and the versatility of jewelry meant for work or play, she created her small business, Elaine B Jewelry."

Elaine's designs are perfect for gifting to dear friends or family members who have played a part in your wedding day, or for the holidays.

Are you looking for the perfect engagement ring that will match your personality and your star chart? Are you maybe a little into astrology, moon phases, and all things woo woo? If so, then this roundup of gorgeous rings from ethical and independent jeweler Bario Neal will show you what’s in store for you this season and help you find the perfect engagement ring for your astrological sign.

Jasmine is joined by artist and metalsmith Mariele Ivy, to discuss her unique engagement ring sets that marry inlaid stone with brilliant cut diamonds. Together they discuss choosing an engagement and wedding ring that works with your lifestyle, living a creative life, and how the suggestion of a stranger can send your life in unexpected directions.

Many jewelry retailers have jumped on the ethical bandwagon or tout conflict-free diamonds, but what does ethical really mean for the conscientious shopper about to commit to an engagement ring or wedding band? How do you cut through the noise and the the green-washing to get to the truth? What questions should you ask to ensure that your rings are made with standards that address glaring issues like unsafe working conditions at mines and cutting facilities, the environmental effects of mining, and child labor? The following tips should help you navigate through the complex process of choosing truly ethical wedding rings, and create a ring that both represents and supports love and progress.

Kendra Renee is a metalsmith in Oakland who truly brings couples’ stories to life through their wedding bands by involving them in significant elements of the ring-making process, from collecting the raw materials to pouring the metal in the cast, creating the actual ring — talk about an awesome date night! Kendra says, “It’s kind of magical.” Recently one of her clients brought in gold nuggets that her grandfather had once been paid in for his work as a dentist. With Kendra, the client alloyed them and melted them into her wedding set so she will always have a little piece of family history with her. “People love to see the process behind the scenes — they literally see their ring take shape and become a part of its story.”

Every couple wants an engagement ring that perfectly reflects the union of their two personalities. But when my now-husband, Bill, decided to propose, he had something more to consider: my sensitive skin doesn’t let me wear metal.

What’s a groom to do? He found a solution both beautiful and possible in a ring made entirely of wood by David Finch. Finch produces handmade rings at Touch Wood, the company he and his wife, Nicola, run from their off-the-grid farm in western Canada.