An engagement ring is one of the most personal, meaningful gifts a person will ever receive. So it’s no wonder ladies spend hours perusing Pinterest and the Internet for the one that perfectly reflects their sense of style.
Every year we see several engagement ring styles continue to be extremely popular – including classic and timeless options – but we also witness new trends emerge. As you might imagine, millennials and other modern shoppers want something more unique – an engagement ring that feels like it was made just for them. One gal might desire a slight twist to a stunning solitaire, while another wants a different metal type or a different center stone.
When the sky is the limit, how do you buy the right diamond, how do you narrow your choices? Read on to discover more about engagement ring trends, and what to expect for 2018 and beyond.
A Quick Look at Trends since 2000
Ringing’ in a new century seemed to have created a desire to relive tradition, which was very clear from the types of engagement rings that were popular in the early 2000s. Couples opted for classic and demure settings, such as solitaires and three-stone rings. Three-stone rings were especially popular for their representation of the past, present, and future.
Couples will likely continue to desire solitaires and diamond settings, but for the past decade customers have begun to embrace new styles, various metal types and colors, and different center stones as well. Over the past few years vintage-inspired styles and diamond halo settings have been all the rage, as have different cuts for the center diamond such as cushion and emerald cuts.
Rings in 2018 will be more inspired than ever before, unique to the couple and their love story.
Trend Trio – Style, Setting, Stone
With so many options available, it’s helpful to consider three aspects that create the final product: style, stone, and setting.
Style
An engagement ring style is what gives it personality. There are tons of settings for each style, so it’s best to browse styles and see which ones stick out to you. Maybe you want something classic and timeless, flashy and trendy, vintage-inspired, three-stone, or unorthodox. It’s possible to create a unique ring that suits every style.
Once you start to determine your engagement ring style, you can hone in on what you’re looking for, and stop into a jewelry store to try on rings. You might be surprised how you feel once you have certain styles on your hand.
Stone
The stone or stones are typically what people notice first about an engagement ring, simply because they are the focal point. You may want one, three, or more stones. A diamond as a center stone is most popular and you’ll want to become educated about the 4 ‘C’s of diamonds as you shop (carat weight, cut, color, clarity).
Other center stones are becoming increasingly more common. The center stone or stones can stand alone or be surrounded by a diamond halo, which adds more prominence.
Setting
The setting refers to the mounting of the engagement ring, the band of the engagement ring. Again, there are hundreds of setting options for each engagement ring style. The setting can be only metal or include diamonds and other stones, as well as design accents for different parts of the band such as engraving details, milgrain details and more. Current trends pay homage to the setting, which creates a more holistic look for the entire ring instead of focusing only on the center stone.
5 Engagement Ring Trends for 2018
Here are 5 engagement ring trends to watch for in 2018 and beyond:
Colored Diamonds and Gemstones
The traditional diamond is beautiful, but more people (including royal and celebrity couples) are choosing colored diamonds and gemstones for something a little different. Watch for rings to include yellow diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, spinels, morganite, and more. If you’re partial to a particular stone or color and it would make the engagement ring more personal to you and your love story, consider going that route.
Marquise, Pear-Shape, and Oval Cuts
Whether you want a more traditional diamond, one with color, or a gemstone, watch for marquise, pear-shape, and oval cuts. Emerald cuts are worth noting as well. These cuts are more unique and call attention to the focal point of the ring, while complementing the setting.
A New Take on Halos
Halos have been one of the most popular engagement rings for the past year or two, but in 2018 look for more unique halos. A halo setting with a trendy diamond cut will also create a stunning ring.
Yellow Gold
We see all metal types, but yellow gold is making a statement once again. Expect to see more yellow gold settings. And remember, if you fall in love with the look of a particular ring, most jewelers can get it in yellow gold or rose gold, or even incorporate two metal types into a ring.
Custom Creations and Family Heirlooms
Thanks to technology and highly skilled designers, some jewelers are able to create rings completely custom or use parts of rings, such as diamonds from a mother’s or grandmother’s ring. The result is an engagement ring that is stylish today, yet sentimental and carries a family legacy. Something old, something new, a thing of beauty and completely you.
Getting engaged is incredibly emotional – a moment you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Whether your engagement ring fits these engagement ring trends or not, your ring will be exactly that. YOURS, completely special and beautiful. Take time to discover your engagement ring style, and be sure to choose a jeweler who will work with you to make sure you get the ring that will reflect the love that you share.
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