What Kind of Engagement Rings are Popular?
When buying an engagement ring, you need to consider that this is likely going to be the one piece of jewelry that you’ll wear for the rest of your life. With that, you want to make sure you get an engagement ring that is timeless in style. Luckily, most engagement ring styles have perennial appeal, like the solitaire engagement ring, which has been the most popular choice for over a century. On the whole, if you avoid overly trendy creations and stick to classic options, you can be confident that your engagement ring will be in style forever. Engagement rings are not like clothes. Generally speaking, they don’t fall in and out of fashion.
On that note, we want to discuss the most popular engagement rings of the modern-day. And while the engagement ring styles we chose for this are the most trendy these days, they are also timeless. So, you simply can’t go wrong with any of the below engagement rings.
Antique & Vintage-Style
If you have a retro taste, a vintage-style engagement ring may be the perfect option for you. You can get the classic look of the Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian, or Georgian era but with modern shine and that brand new look. These kinds of rings have an interesting story to tell and they are often unique, unlike many of the contemporary cookie-cutter engagement rings you find on the market.
When you go for an engagement ring that pulls inspiration from any of the classic jewelry eras, you can be sure it has style-staying-power.
You can also get an actual antique or vintage ring. To be considered a vintage engagement ring, it must be older than 50 years, and 75 years for Antique. Antique and vintage rings have incredible craftsmanship and history. Not to mention, they hold their value and appeal very well. And if you want to upgrade to a modern diamond, you can do so at a jeweler. This will give you the setting you want with a diamond cut that is up-to-date in the radiance department.
Minimalist Solitaire Engagement Rings
Many modern brides want a sophisticated look that stands out, yet without overstating the point. With minimalist solitaire engagement rings, the main focus is on the diamond. They have clean, sleek lines with very little in the way of frippery.
For those who have been living under a rock, a solitaire setting is characterized by a single diamond center stone held in place by prongs.
Having a minimalist solitaire engagement ring definitely doesn’t mean you are sacrificing beauty. These rings often feature large center stones and they provide a very elegant, refined look.
Engagement ring styles like this have been around and highly popular for centuries. They aren’t going anywhere. If traditional and minimal sounds good to you, a plain or pave diamond band with a solitaire setting is a no-brainer.
Halo Engagement Rings
Like solitaire engagement rings, halo engagement rings have been popular for a very long time. They have never lost their appeal, and they never will. Rightfully so, it is a gorgeously eye-catching setting.
A halo engagement ring features a center stone surrounded by smaller diamonds (often round brilliants). A halo engagement ring can have any diamond shape at the center.
The halo engagement ring is not only popular, but it also has special advantages. It allows the center stone to appear bigger (around .5-1 carat larger in appearance) without breaking the bank, as smaller stones are far more affordable than going up a carat size for your center stone. Moreover, your center stone has extra protection. The halo adds a powerful layer of security to the center stone. Plus, with a halo engagement ring, you have a lot of extra radiance. Each diamond sparkles on its own and as a whole. You can also add contrast in colors by adding a halo of fancy colored diamonds rather than white diamonds or using a different metal for the halo part of the setting. With a halo setting, you can get really creative, allowing you to express more individuality through your engagement ring.
Yellow Gold
While yellow gold is the most classic precious metal of them all, and that includes engagement rings, white gold and platinum have ruled the engagement ring market for the last five decades or so. However, these days, there has been a huge spike of interest for yellow gold engagement rings.
First of all, yellow gold is the most traditional precious metal for an engagement ring. So you don’t have to worry about this being a “fad”. After all, yellow gold has been around since the dawn of gold discovery and it is the true king of gold. When you think gold, you think yellow gold.
Modern brides appreciate yellow gold for its ability to stand out. No other gold has the striking luster that yellow gold has. Moreover, it will never fade like white gold and its the least hypoallergenic.
With yellow gold, you also have the advantage of getting the best bang for your buck in terms of the diamond centerpiece. You can get a bigger diamond for a better price by going down a little bit in the color grade. This is because the yellow gold setting will show a yellow hue through the diamond even if it is perfectly colorless. So, you can worry less about the color grade and more about the carat size!
All in all, yellow gold is classic, timeless and gorgeous. It is the gold of heirlooms. A yellow gold engagement ring can be worn with immense pride far into the future. And then it can passed down to future generations with a guarantee of “still in style”.
Rose Gold
Although rose gold is somewhat new in the world of jewelry, the precious metal is now considered a classic for engagement rings. Right now, rose gold is the hottest and “trendiest” gold for engagement rings. And while “trendy” may seem like it is liable to be a fad that fades, it is certainly not. Rose gold is here to stay.
Rose gold offers a very unique appearance. It is warm, romantic and it has a vintage quality to it. What’s more, the color is very versatile, which helps with its popularity. It looks great on every skin tone.
Additionally, with rose gold, you don’t have to worry about tarnishing or replating, like you do with white gold. Rose gold is not plated, it is an alloy. It gets its pinkish hue from the copper in the gold alloy.
Also, like yellow gold, with rose gold, you can worry less about the color grade of the center stone, allowing you to put more money into the size of the diamond.
Overall, rose gold is a great choice for those who want to be a little different, a little classy, a little romantic.
Three Stone Engagement Rings
The three stone engagement ring has been around for a very long time, but it is now more popular than ever. This is partially because Prince Harry gave Meghan Markle a three stone engagement ring. But mainly, it is because it’s an absolutely stunning style.
The three stone engagement ring is that extra sparkly alternative option. These days, it is more versatile and customizable than ever. From different diamond shapes to the use of gemstones and fancy diamonds, you can get a three-stone engagement ring that no one else has.
Another thing people love about the three stone engagement ring is that it has meaning behind it. It is known as a trilogy ring, with the stones representing past, present and future, and friendship, love and fidelity.
All in all, there is something regal about the three-stone engagement ring. It is very elegant and sophisticated. It is the perfect ring for those who can afford a few larger diamonds for the finger.
Floral Motif Engagement Rings
An engagement ring that looks like a flower may seem like a trend that would come and go, but the fact of the matter is, floral motifs for engagement rings have been around since the Georgian era. So, for a woman who loves flowers, which most do, a floral engagement ring is a fantastic choice. It’s a flower that will be alive and beautiful forever.
A floral motif engagement ring offers a very distinct look with a lot of contrast. Many are similar to the halo engagement ring, but they stand apart with more pronounced edges and larger accent stones. However, some floral motif engagement rings are completely unique, using various diamond shapes to create the appearance of a flower. Like real flowers, they come in all shapes and sizes.
On the whole, a floral engagement ring makes for a blossoming beauty. It’s traditional, original, and chic.
Engagement Ring with Gemstone
Pre-1900s, giving an engagement ring to a bride-to-be was something only afforded by the rich and royalty. What’s more, back then, diamonds were very rare, as the major mines were yet to be discovered. So, rather than diamonds, which we all come to expect in the modern age, other precious gemstones were used. Sapphires were the most popular, but emeralds and rubies were also used. For those with less means, semi-precious gemstones were an accessible choice for jewelry.
These days, incorporating gemstones into engagement rings is very modish. By accenting the white diamond with colorful gems like sapphires, emeralds and rubies, you can create very powerful and stunning contrast. It is a look that is both ultra-modern and wonderfully-historical.
And while it may not be among the most popular of styles like a solitaire or halo engagement ring, it is a look that is greatly appreciated and highly desirable by women who want to stand out among the rest. An engagement ring with gemstones provides a uniquely regal appearance and it adds a splash of color that will brighten up each and every day far into your future.
SECOND HAND ENGAGEMENT RINGS
This might not be exactly what you were expecting when discussing what engagement ring styles are popular, but we’d thought we’d add this as more of a realization slash tip.
Nowadays, second hand engagement rings are more popular than ever. Millennials realize that second hand engagement rings are just as good as new engagement rings. After all, engagement rings are made from the hardest rock on the planet and precious metal can always be polished to look brand new. It’s not like a pair of shoes or a used car, a used engagement ring is intrinsically as good a new one.
Moreover, you get the best value with second hand engagement rings. Not only does it cost less, but the value of your engagement ring will hold. When buying new, you lose a significant amount of value as soon as you take it out of the store. This is not the case with used engagement rings.
So, if you are not opposed to second hand engagement rings, we highly recommend you look to jewelry stores like Raymond Lee Jewelers and Diamonds By Raymond Lee for used engagement rings. You will find all of the popular options we mentioned above plus much more. You can find all the same new engagement rings on the secondary market, plus a lot of older, vintage styles. Furthermore, consider this, most of the new engagement rings on the retail market are mass-produced, so if you want something more original, looking to jewelry stores with pre-owned engagement rings is a great plan.
New vs Pre-Owned Engagement Rings
WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR DIAMOND CUTS RIGHT NOW?
These days women like to express their individuality, so you will see a lot of diamond shapes out there. However, the most popular (meaning most purchased) is the round brilliant diamond, followed by pear, oval, cushion cut, princess cut and emerald cut diamonds.
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