Getting an engagement ring is a pretty big deal. After all, it is a sign that you plan on spending the rest of your life with one single person. Therefore, choosing the right engagement rings takes a whole lot of consideration.
You need to get an engagement ring that suits both you and your partner; something you will want to wear for years and years to come. That being said, traditional engagement rings, while they can definitely look nice, aren’t suitable for everybody. Some of us like more modern and trendy fashion choices, and this goes for engagement rings, just like for clothing and anything else.
The fact of the matter is that there are plenty of fashion trends, ones that have been popular for a couple years or are just becoming popular now, that you could go with for a modern engagement ring. Remember folks, and engagement ring doesn’t always have to be the same skinny white metal or sterling silver setting combined with a round cut diamond.
There are plenty of different options to go with. When it comes to the setting, there are dozens of materials and shapes to choose from, and this is also true for the stones. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular trends for modern engagement rings that are common around the world right now.
Some Popular Trends for Modern Engagement Rings
Let’s get right to it and take a look at some of the most popular trends for modern engagement rings that can be found around the world right now.
1. The Bezel Setting
One very popular and upcoming trend to consider is the bezel setting. This is an especially popular choice right now when it comes to many different Instagram jewelry brands. Yes, this is a very trendy type of setting to go with, and it means that the main stone features a metal rim that surrounds it, instead of the traditional prongs.
This allows for the gem to be protected on all sides, while also delivering quite a modern and sleek appearance. Many people really enjoy having that rim surrounding the stone, as it adds a certain aesthetic appeal to the equation. It really depends on how much you want the stone to stand out when compared to the setting.
2. Cluster Stone Rings
Something that has been popular for quite some time now, although it is still growing in popularity, is the cluster stone ring. For those of you who don’t know, cluster stone rings are very unique because each one is different from the last. Cluster stone rings generally feature a large center stone, but then also have clusters of other stones surrounding that center stone.
However, the defining feature here is that those clusters of stones are not organized in any specific manner and they are certainly not symmetrical. In fact, one of the defining features here is that cluster stone rings are not symmetrical, therefore making them really unique.
That said, if you are getting married to someone who is a stickler for symmetry, then this is probably not the best option to go with. However, if you are looking for something very unique and one-of-a-kind, then the cluster stone ring is definitely a good option to consider.
3. Wavy Engagement Bands
Another cool trend that is rising in popularity at this time are wedding bands that are curved or waived, combined with a traditional solitaire ring. This is starting to become extremely popular. Sure, going for a regular round ring or setting is still quite popular.
However, it’s also fairly old and it’s been done many times. If you want something that is truly unique, something that people are really going to ask about when they see it, getting an engagement band that is wavy or curved is always a good idea. It’s just something that helps make things a little more unique.
That said, be aware that for many of these uniquely shaped wedding bands, you are also going to have to get a stone that matches the setting, which means that getting something like a round or Marquis cut diamond is not always going to be an option.
4. Using Laboratory Grown Diamonds
One of the most popular trends that is going around the world right now as far as diamond engagement rings are concerned is using laboratory-grown diamonds as opposed to natural diamonds that are mined from the ground.
One of the biggest reasons as to why using laboratory-grown diamonds is a big deal right now is because they tend to be much more affordable than diamonds that are mined in the ground. The next reason why people like using lab-grown diamonds is due to ethics and sustainability.
Simply put, people feel much better when they know that their diamonds come from a lab where people get paid decent wages, as opposed to potentially having a blood diamond mined in a conflict zone.
At the same time, diamonds are finite in nature, which means that there is only a limited amount of them, a problem that doesn’t really occur when they are lab grown. However, beware that lab-grown diamonds are still real diamonds. Although they are man-made, there is nothing fake about them and they can look just as good as the real thing.
5. Using Emeralds
Sure, diamonds look really nice in any kind of arrangement, whether an engagement ring or otherwise. That said, not all people like diamonds, plus there are many to other types of precious gems out there to choose from. One of the most expensive and popular gems out there, even more expensive than your average diamond, is the emerald.
If you have that special somebody who really likes the color green, then getting an emerald engagement ring is always a great idea. For instance, if we are talking about celebrities, MGK recently proposed to Megan Fox with an emerald and diamond engagement ring. That bright green color that emerald features is really going to make any engagement ring pop.
6. Chunky Wedding Bands
One of the most popular trends that is emerging for engagement rings around the world is the chunky wedding band. Yes, traditionally, wedding bands, were fairly thin and slim. Most women said that they preferred it this way.
However, during the 1990s, very thick wedding bands, usually made out of 18-karat yellow gold, were extremely popular for a time. Now, this trend is starting to make a big comeback. Many people are choosing wedding bands that are just as thick as the diamond or stone in the center is. This does make for a unique look.
We do suppose that a chunky wedding band is going to look a little better on a larger finger, but this is really all a matter of personal preference. If you like having more precious metal compared to the amount of stone on the ring, then getting in engagement ring with a chunky band may be a good idea.
7. Pear-Shaped Rings
Although historically speaking, pear-shaped engagement rings have not been overly popular, they are making a bit of a comeback. Pear-shaped diamond engagement rings were also quite popular during the 1990s, just like the chunky wedding bands we looked at above, and both of these trends are now making a big comeback.
One of the reasons why pear-shaped diamond engagement rings are so popular is because they spread out really wide, which means that they actually look much larger than their size, even bigger than oval diamond rings look.
Therefore, if you want to get a diamond engagement ring that looks really large, and is definitely going to impress anybody who sees it, without having to spend a whole lot of money, then getting a pear-shaped diamond engagement ring is always an option for you.
8. Black Diamond Rings (and Colored Stones)
Although definitely one of the more unique trends on the list today, if you like having a whole lot of contrast in your diamond rings, then getting a diamond engagement ring that features both white and black diamonds is always a choice.
Black diamonds are definitely not for everybody, although some people do very much prefer them, and will definitely produce a very unique and edgy appearance. if you want something that is a little more uniform and conservative in nature, you can always go for something like a white gold wedding band combined with a black diamond.
However, some people will also choose to go for a yellow-gold wedding band, combined with both black and regular white diamonds. Once again, a whole lot of this does of course really come down to what your own personal preference is.
Now, the diamonds in question don’t have to be black, and they don’t have to be white either. There are plenty of colored diamonds out there, such as rose gold diamonds. You don’t even need to get a diamond but can use other colored gemstones. Yes, we did already touch on using emeralds, but there are plenty of other options as well. You have rubies, sapphires, and so much more.
9. Using Yellow Gold Engagement Bands
Historically speaking, sterling silver and white gold wedding bands have generally been the preferred option. However, things are slowly changing, with yellow gold being requested more and more. Yes, white gold and other white metals look really nice with diamonds, but so can yellow gold. Moreover, if you are using a stone other than a normal white diamond, using yellow gold may be very complementary.
10. Using Step Cut Diamonds
Get another trend that is becoming increasingly popular is using the step-cut diamond. The step-cut diamond features a rectangular or square-shaped diamond stone combined with parallel facets cut into it on all four sides, therefore creating what are effectively steps, such as on a set of stairs.
This is a trend that is slowly starting to emerge as far as diamond engagement rings are concerned. If your partner is a minimalist and doesn’t like things that are very flashy, but does like style, uniformity, and symmetry, then the step-cut diamond engagement ring is a good idea to consider.
11. Vintage Style Diamond Rings
Sometimes, being modern might mean being vintage. The simple fact is that many things that were popular 10, 20, or 100 years ago, are starting to become more popular once again. This theory of old meets new is something that is slowly becoming more popular in diamond engagement rings.
This could mean using old types of diamond ring settings, such as art deco, as well as older types of diamond cuts, including older European styles. Sometimes, the best new things come straight from the past.
Popular Engagement Ring Trends: Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of different popular engagement ring trends out there. There are ones that were popular decades ago that are now reemerging in popularity, as well as ones that were never popular, and are just being discovered now.
Whatever the case may be, remember that your partner’s engagement ring is going to be something they wear for life, so choose wisely.
