Ring Trends: Modern Engagement Ring Ideas
It’s relaxing to know that your special someone is the one you want to spend your life with. And when conversations start to turn to marriage, you can’t help feeling excited. But planning for marriage should not be the first thing you need to think about. First, you need to be engaged. And to be engaged, you need to look for the perfect engagement ring.
When it comes to these proposal rings, most people end up buying a solitaire ring. It’s a timeless classic that shows off the diamond’s brilliance. But if you want to skip the solitaire engagement ring, there are plenty of modern ring ideas to choose from.
To help you decide, we compiled some engagement rings with contemporary designs. Feel free to choose whichever one resonates best with you. Remember that your engagement ring design should be something you love since you’ll be wearing it every day.
Engagement Ring Stones
The stone on your engagement ring is what captures everyone’s attention. If you want to show off your ring, you need to choose the one that looks best on you. Colorless diamonds work well with anyone, but if it’s not your type, here are some other ideas.
1. Colored Diamonds
If you’re the type to express yourself through symbolism, you will like colored diamonds. You can find one with your or your partner’s favorite color and some that make you stand out.
Colored diamonds were once just a fashion statement, but even celebrities pick them over colorless ones. Plus, you can still enjoy the best features of diamond jewelry.
But if you’re choosing colored diamonds, go for lab grown diamond engagement rings. These engagement rings are cheaper than those with genuine diamonds. But even so, they both have the same brilliance with only microscopic differences. That means no one will be able to tell the difference without using specialized equipment.
So, lab created diamond rings are still a good choice. Pair that with colored diamonds, which are often less expensive than colorless ones, and you’ve got yourself a good deal.
2. Rare-Cut Diamonds
As you know, there are different diamond cuts for you to choose from. The most popular ones are princess-cut, emerald-cut, and round-cut diamonds. Another way of rocking diamond engagement rings in a unique way is to find rare-cut ones.
These unconventional diamond rings can better grasp your personality and style. If you don’t want to get that much attention, consider getting portrait-cut diamonds. They’re ideal for people who want to keep their engagement a low profile.
And if you’re more inclined towards low-lit date nights, then you’ll love rose-cut diamond rings. This type of diamond cut has a flat bottom, a dome-shaped top, and surface faceting. You’d be thrilled to see this diamond sparkle with a candle lit at night.
3. Sapphire
If you really want to ditch the traditional diamond engagement ring, go for the next classic stone there is. Sapphire is a popular gemstone both for engagement and wedding rings. Like diamonds, they are also considered timeless and appealing. Plus, they are the “jewel of dedicated affection” or the “stone of faithfulness.”
Despite being the second hardest gemstone, you can buy them at an affordable price. They’re less expensive than diamonds, so you can put that extra money towards marriage expenses.
And, contrary to popular belief, you can find different sapphire colors aside from blue. There are pink, yellow, and white sapphires. The rarest one is a mix of orange and pink.
Engagement Ring Settings
When you buy engagement rings, there are a few things you need to consider. One of the most important factors is engagement ring settings. This feature helps to keep your center stone from falling off the ring.
1. Flush Setting
Flush settings keep the stone from falling off by nestling them in between the metal of the ring. That means you won’t find the stones protruding from the ring. If you have an active lifestyle and don’t want to worry about missing diamonds on your ring, this ring setting is for you. But it only works for smaller stones since bigger ones are harder to flush into the ring.
2. East-West Setting
This setting gives you a fresh look at your engagement ring. Most rings feature elongated stones vertically put on the setting. With an east-west engagement ring setting, the stone of your choice is fashioned horizontally.
Nothing is more contemporary than this type of ring setting. It breaks the traditional code of fine jewelry, yet still captures the brilliance of the center stone. They work best for elongated stones, like this rectangular-shaped diamond engagement ring.
3. Invisible Setting
Have you ever seen engagement rings without a setting? Well, clearly, they still have a setting, but you won’t see what’s keeping the stone in place. These are what they call “invisible settings,” and these rings don’t have prongs or bezels on them. It looks like one big stone if you don’t look closely enough, since it’s hard to distinguish the grooves.
4. Hidden Halo Setting
A halo engagement ring setting is a popular and sought-after ring worldwide. Even if you don’t know what a “halo” is, you will be able to recognize the style right away. It features a row of diamonds or any other stone surrounding the center stone.
The hidden halo setting, on the other hand, is a more modern take on this traditional setting. The halo serves as a base for the stone rather than framing the central stone. If you’re looking at it from the top, you won’t notice the halo. But it is visible from other angles and you’ll see how it highlights the priceless central stone.
This ring setting makes the center stone appear 15% larger. It is ideal for people on a tight budget and who want diamonds on their engagement rings. You can also choose to go with an emerald center stone and adorn the halo with small diamonds.
Engagement Ring Styles
Modern engagement ring styles give you all the freedom to be creative with your jewelry. You can choose how your engagement ring looks, or you can also find some ideas online. If you pick the latter, the list below will help you in your search for the right engagement ring for you.
1. Stacking Rings
You’ve seen people stacking fashion rings at casual events. But, who’s to say you can’t stack your engagement rings? The best thing about modern engagement ring styles is that anything is possible. One prime example is stacking engagement rings.
Whether you’re sporting a solitaire ring or a more elaborate ring setting, stacking them improves how they look. This style also highlights a piece, especially if you choose to buy a 3-carat diamond ring. But be careful when you choose your engagement ring designs. Some ring styles don’t match up with others.
Much like wedding sets, you can find engagement ring sets that are made for stacking. Or opt for a U- or V-shaped engagement ring. It is the best choice if you’re planning to stack it with your diamond wedding band.
2. Three-Stone Rings
Three-stone rings are a magnificent and quite glam style for an engagement ring. And we have Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to thank for its return.
This ring style is not only fashionable but also holds a deep meaning. Each of the stones represents you and your partner’s past, present, and future. The center stone, being the present one, is often bigger than the other two.
The classic 3-stone ring has a diamond as the center stone paired with smaller diamonds on both sides. But you can always choose to put a different stone at the center, with two small diamonds on either side.
3. Chevron Rings
Chevron engagement rings have a unique twist to a rather minimalist ring style. What sets them apart from other ring styles is the curve they have on one side. That’s why some people refer to them as curved or V-shaped engagement rings.
This engagement ring style is designed in that way so that you can pair them with your other rings. So you can still wear your favorite ring together with your engagement ring.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to choose an engagement ring if you opt to buy one with a traditional design. But if they’re not the ones you want to wear for the rest of your life, you have the freedom to choose other designs.
With these modern engagement ring trends, you can’t go out of ring choices to pick from. But make sure to pick one that suits your personality and style. After all, engagement rings are personal. They are the symbol of your love for your partner. To better grasp how unique your love is for each other, go with one-of-a-kind designs in this list.