An engagement ring is the most important piece of jewellery a woman will own in her lifetime, so picking the perfect ring involves finding a timeless design that will compliment the wearer’s style. Typically many diamond jewellery trends are influenced by new wedding styles and celebrity engagements so the jewellery industry will find a compromise between contemporary and classic styles in order to help newly engaged buyers find the ring of their dreams.
So with that in mind, here are some of the trending styles for engagement rings in 2021…
Gemstone and fancy diamond engagement rings
A white diamond is usually the most popular choice for centre stones, but recently, gemstones such as blue sapphire, emerald or pink sapphire are rising in popularity, providing the perfect option for those who prefer a more unique ring.
Reflective of how popular customisation has become, rings with a personal touch are becoming more popular than mass produced alternatives. Therefore, gemstones also offer a way to make a proposal more personal, particularly if the stone chosen represents your partner's birthstone, or is their favourite colour.
If you would like to add a touch of colour to your engagement ring but prefer a diamond as a centre stone, fancy diamonds could be the best choice. Diamonds are naturally available in different colours, with the most eye-catching being yellow, black and champagne. They add a distinct look to a diamond ring, combining both glamour and personality.
Rose Gold
A rose gold band makes an engagement ring unique and feminine. This romantic and warm colour suits all skin tones and enhances the sparkle of the diamond. Rose gold engagement rings are also incredibly versatile, pairing perfectly with a number of different stones. Warmer and pink toned stones in particular, sit beautifully on a rose gold ring creating a seamless and cohesive look.
Fancy diamond shape
The round brilliant or princess shapes never go out of style, and are a perfect choice for the classic woman. But this year, fancy diamond shapes such as pear, oval or baguette, have become sought after for those who want something a little different.
This is reflected in popular culture, with many celebrity engagements in recent months featuring beautiful and distinct cut diamond rings. For example, Cardi B and Paris Hilton both stunned fans when they flaunted their stunning pear shaped diamond engagement rings on Instagram.
Again, these cuts provide a way to personalise a proposal by choosing a shape that is more meaningful to your partner.
Solitaire with a twist
A solitaire is quite possibly the most timeless ring style. And although solitaire rings remain popular, we are seeing an increase in demand for the style, but with a modern day twist. This includes anything from rose gold settings, to contemporary band shapes for example.
It seems as though in a year full of uncertainty and the unknown, couples are gravitating towards something more familiar with their ring styles but without compromising their personality and style.
Halo Engagement Rings
Halo engagement rings made a huge comeback a few years ago. This vintage-inspired style is increasing in popularity and this year we are still seeing the trend, but with something new... double halo settings and split shanks.
The halo designs, inspired by Art deco style, create an elegant, classic look. By surrounding the centre stone with smaller diamonds, the illusion of a larger stone is created, allowing couples on a budget to find their dream ring without compromising on size.
East West set rings
As well as distinct stone cuts, settings are also beginning to be given more focus. East West settings, where the stones are placed horizontally on the band create a really distinctive looking ring. Many traditional cuts, including emerald, marquise, oval and pear can all be set in an East West setting resulting in a very contemporary and often more personalised looking ring.
This is another trend we can see in celebrity culture, with the likes of both Catherine Zeta Jones and Ariana Grande choosing beautiful East West set oval cut diamond rings.
Heirloom rings
The vintage style has been sweeping engagement ring collections for some years now. However, this year we are seeing an even bigger demand for the most unique category of rings. This is largely due to lockdown restrictions, whereby people have spent their extended time at home clearing furniture only to discover hidden heirlooms - either items they have forgotten about or that have been gifted or passed down to them by someone else. The trend we are seeing is restoration and remodelling of older engagement rings into more modern day designs.
Stacking rings
Stacking is another trend that is gaining traction among modern day brides and brides-to-be. Stacking refers to the wearing of multiple rings on a single finger. And while the style is nothing new, particularly with many stylish individuals choosing to wear their everyday fashion rings in this way, it is becoming much more popular and trendy for sentimental pieces, such as engagement rings too.
The trend typically sees engagement rings sitting between a wedding band and an eternity ring, with the three types of rings all in a similar style, colour and metal to create a cohesive or when the metals are mixed, a more bohemian look.
Of course, it can take time for the ring stack to feel complete, with the engagement ring often the first to be received, followed by a wedding band and eternity ring some years later. Therefore, it is always an option to stack your engagement ring with two other precious rings, perhaps one received as a previous gift or one that has been passed down through generations. These can always be swapped out for a wedding band or eternity ring in later years.
Sustainable rings
Sustainability is an increasing issue across all areas of daily life, with jewellery included. More and more, we are seeing a rising number of people make conscious decisions on the items they choose to add to their collection, and engagement rings are no different.
The ethical sourcing of diamonds, gemstones and precious metals is one of the most important things to take into consideration when buying an engagement ring. Issues involving conflict diamonds for example, are widely known and avoided, but greater consideration of the environmental costs associated with a ring is also on the rise for today’s couples.
As a result, we are seeing more people opt for recycled materials. This can be in the form of a vintage diamond or gemstone that can be restored and reset, or even the use of recycled gold or platinum which can be remoulded into something stunning yet highly contemporary.
Engagement ring trends are ever-changing. We ensure our collection is kept up to date, and we also offer a bespoke ring designing service to help you find your dream engagement ring. For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
