‘Trend’ is not exactly a word we like to use when it comes to engagement rings. Nobody wants to look at their left hand in 20 years’ time and feel the same way we feel today about, let’s say, early-2000s Von Dutch trucker caps…
However, if you’re not yet 100% sure what style of ring makes your heart go boom boody-boom, then it can help to take a look at some of the – yes, sigh – trends that are currently out there. Your dream ring could be something you’ve never even considered before, or you may want to cherry-pick features from a few different aesthetics to create a look that’s uniquely yours.
With that in mind, here are five engagement ring trends we’ll be looking to for inspiration over the next few years:
Call us hopeless romantics, but these side-by-side stones are a beautiful metaphor for two hearts solidifying into one future. In fact, you may have seen this style dubbed ‘toi et moi’ (that’s ‘you and me’ in French, bebe). This engagement ring features two large centre stones, either side by side in matching sizes and cuts or, for a more contemporary look, in contrasting gems, cuts, sizes and colours.
But don’t go thinking that two-stone rings are a recent trend courtesy of EmRata or Megan Fox, because Jackie Kennedy’s emerald-and-diamond engagement ring had every other woman in the 1950s green with envy. And the style goes even further back than that: it first became popular in 1796, when Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Joséphine de Beauharnais with a sapphire and diamond toi-et-moi ring (Napoleon may not have been great for 18th-century global politics, but the man knew how to do romance).
Excuse us while we swoon over the sublime sophistication of these beauties. We’re not the only ones, either: Google Trends reported that ’oval engagement ring’ was the most-searched ring style of the past five years.
An oval diamond has more going for it than beauty alone. Thanks to its dimensions, it can appear larger than a round cut of an equal carat weight – essentially you’re getting more bling for your buck. North-south oval diamonds are also very flattering on short fingers, as they create the illusion of length. For a more updated look, though, an east-west oval gets an instant ‘yes’ from us.
Welcome to the Roaring 20s, take #2. After the absolute trash fire that was 2020 and 2021, there’s a definite lust for life floating around this year. Art Deco-inspired jewellery fits the bill if you’re looking for something that captures a spirit of rebellion but comes with a side of vintage sophistication, too.
This look is all about geometry, so a three-stone ring with a step-cut centre diamond will do you proud. What’s a step-cut? It’s a square or rectangular diamond with facets arranged as parallel lines to one another on all four sides – think of an Asscher, an emerald or a baguette. You could also get away with a cushion cut, for a slightly softer look. And, of course, it’s hardly Art Deco without a bezel setting…
Unlike the more ubiquitous prong and claw settings, a bezel setting partially or fully encircles your stone, creating a thin rim of visible metal. It’s a look with a lot of history behind it that nonetheless feels very modern in its simplicity.
A diamond set east-to-west in a half-bezel? Shut up and take our money.
On a more practical note, a bezel is also one of the most secure stone settings, so it’s a great option if you’re very active or you tend to be rough on your rings.
If bright, white diamonds are a little too normcore for you, then you’ll be tickled pink (or blue, or yellow, or green) to hear that coloured stones have made their way into the engagement-ring game in a big way. Don’t feel restricted to fancy-coloured diamonds, with their fancy price tag to match. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds and even onyx are all coming to this rainbow party.
