The notion of your fiancé designing your engagement ring is a precarious thing; obviously he has fantastic taste (he is marrying you, after all), and the idea of a one-of-a-kind sparkler on your finger is an appealing one, but shouldn't some things be left to professionals?

Enter Cartier's Set For You collection. An entirely new concept from the historic jewelry house, Set For You walks the line between off-the-rack and couture by allowing your fiancé to handpick each element of your ring with the guidance of Cartier's designers. "It's really for the groom or bride who wants to feel they were a part of the entire process," explains Mercedes Abramo, director of Cartier's Fifth Avenue boutique in New York.

The Process

Clients begin by selecting a Cartier diamond, which must meet the house's strict cut, color and clarity standards and be examined by an expert gemologist before being approved for sale. "If you know the price range you'd like to be in, we can show you our range of diamonds in your category," Abramo explains. "We use any of the parameters you set…and find you a loose stone."

Settings are selected from Cartier's four classic mountings: the Solitaire 1895, Solitaire 1895 Pave, Declaration and the Ballerine. Though each setting is produced in the house's Paris workshop, the diamond is actually set in each boutique, allowing buyers a custom-designed ring in roughly two weeks (rather than the months-long span of time required to produce a traditional custom ring).

The end result is a stunning ring tailored to suit your taste from start to finish—with the Cartier pedigree to top it off. "[Set For You] is one aspect that makes us stand apart," Abramo says. "Our standards are the best and the highest. Having that special service on top of it, and being a part of it, makes the process even more special."