Engagement Ring Styles: Seven Irresistible Trends
Love may be eternal, but trendy engagement ring styles are meant to capture the moment you fell in love. Trending diamond shapes include marquise, cushion cut and oval. Pink is in, as are two-tone halo settings.
Let’s look at these and more.
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Trend #1: Marquise diamond engagement rings The round brilliant diamond is an engagement ring classic and it’s not going anywhere soon. But brides-to-be are falling in love with engagement ring styles that feature diamond shapes other than round – like aristocratic marquise diamonds.
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Trend #2: Cushion cut diamond engagement rings Oozing old-world charm, cushion cut diamonds have wooed the hearts of romantics, nonconformists and those looking to recreate vintage engagement ring styles. Reminiscent of the old mine cut diamond (which dates back to the early 1700s), cushion cut diamonds have curved sides and rounded corners. They also have considerable variation: Some have elongated, rectangular proportions and others resemble rounded squares. The great diversity of their facet arrangements also affects their appearance.
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Trend #3: Oval diamond engagement rings There’s a lot to love about an oval diamond. Because it has a larger surface area than a round diamond of equal carat weight, it can appear larger to the eye. It can also make the finger look longer. Since an oval doesn’t have sharp angles or corners, it’s less prone to chipping compared to other fancy shape diamonds. And because it’s faceted in the brilliant style, its fire can rival a round brilliant. With all these enchanting qualities, it’s no surprise that the oval diamond is one of the most popular engagement ring styles. Learn about the qualities to look for in an oval diamond engagement ring.
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Trend #4: Morganite engagement rings Pink has long been associated with romance, and this, along with its relative affordability, helped morganite become one of the more popular engagement ring styles in recent years. Morganite is a delicate pastel pink to purplish pink (“rose”), yellowish pink (“peach”) or orangy pink (“salmon”) variety of beryl, a mineral species that also includes emerald, aquamarine and beryls in other colors. The most prized morganite color is strong pink, often the result of heat treatment.
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Trend #5: Two-tone halo engagement ring settings A look that’s been popular for years, the halo is a setting with diamonds (or other gems) that encircle the center stone. The reasons for its appeal are simple: Not only does a halo make the center stone appear larger, but it also creates more sparkle because it adds more diamonds to the setting. Designers have recently taken this motif and added a second halo in a contrasting color. It might be set with a different gemstone, or perhaps another row of diamonds set in a different color of metal. It’s a design choice that creates drama and adds excitement to an engagement ring. The double-halo setting can also evoke the Art Deco period when diamonds are paired with rubies, sapphires or emeralds to create bold color combinations. This makes it a popular choice for those who are looking to recreate vintage engagement ring styles with a contemporary flair.
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Trend #6: Yellow gold and rose gold engagement ring settings White gold and platinum have been the metals of choice for engagement rings for years. They’re still a favorite option, but yellow gold and rose gold engagement ring settings have been increasing in popularity and are one of this year’s trending engagement ring styles. Yellow gold has a rich, warm color and a look that can evoke Art Nouveau–era engagement rings. Rose gold has soothing tones and can also create an antique look. In addition, it complements most skin tones. Rose gold was popular in Victorian engagement rings and Retro engagement rings. Choose a yellow gold or rose gold band and your choice will be both timeless and trendy.
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Trend #7: Custom engagement ring styles There is no shortage of gorgeous and trendy engagement ring styles. But sometimes love is best expressed with a custom-designed engagement ring. Here are two tips you can use to make sure your foray into custom design is successful. First, ask how long it will take the designer to make the ring. If you’re planning to propose on a special day, talk to the jewelry designer right away. A ring with a simple design will usually take at least two weeks; a ring with a complex design can take upwards of five weeks (or longer) to create. Second, find out what diamond shapes she likes. If you don’t know, look at her favorite rings for clues. Still not sure? The most popular diamond shapes are: round, princess, marquise, cushion, emerald, oval and pear.