You (or your betrothed) will wear an engagement ring throughout your life. Choose a ring that displays personality and a glittering reminder of your eternal love. Today, that task is easier than ever.
Modern jewelry artists go beyond the traditional solitaire diamond setting to create engagement rings that offer individual style and eye-catching brilliance. Here are three trends to explore when selecting or designing your engagement ring.
1. Bold and Elegant Colors Are Encouraged
In the recent past, the clearest diamonds were considered the most acceptable gemstones for engagement rings. Couples today are more adventurous, and they're not afraid to use colorful gemstones as the main stones in their engagement jewelry. You can still choose a diamond center stone if you want color, since diamonds are available in hues including yellow and pink.
For bolder color, choose a bright green emerald or crimson ruby for your engagement ring's center stone. Blue sapphires offer color and a timeless grace, while peach-colored sapphires offer understated elegance. Aquamarine, amethyst, spinel, and garnet are other colorful stones that offer uncommon engagement-ring hues.
Add more glitter by having your jewelry artist surround the colored gemstone with a halo of smaller diamonds. Or, have the band set with pave stones for shine all the way around.
2. Extraordinary Shapes Are in Demand
A traditional brilliant-cut round diamond will always be stylish and is a good choice if you prefer the classic look. However, the boundaries have stretched when it comes to the shapes of center stones in engagement-ring settings.
Go for a shape that echoes your personality and shows off the gleam of your gemstone. Oval and pear shapes are popular choices for couples who want wedding jewelry that's uniquely their own.
Other gemstone cuts you can choose include:
- Art-Deco-inspired hexagon or octagon
- Princess-cut square diamond
- Marquis-shaped navette
- Emerald-cut rectangle or square
- Cushion-cut semi-rectangle
If you want a truly original gemstone, choose a center stone cut in the shield style. This unusual setting is cut with side-to-side symmetry while offering asymmetrical shaping from the top to the bottom of the stone. A Portuguese cut is another rare gemstone choice. When the technique is used on a round stone, the Portuguese cut resembles a blooming flower.
Any shape of stone is possible today, including parallelograms, triangles, and rhomboid-shaped jewels. Ring-band shapes are another way to show character and individuality. Curved and sculpted ring bands offer special shapes to accent and enhance stones and wedding bands.
3. Bands Are Stacking Up
Some couples prefer engagement rings without protruding stones. Perhaps the ring-wearer works at a job where a raised gemstone setting will snag on equipment or fabric. Maybe they have a minimalist's outlook on personal fashion.
The eternity band is one type of ring that appeals to this demographic. An eternity band can be made with round, rectangular, square or pave diamonds in any combination that suits your style.
If you want a low-profile engagement ring with an individual appeal, have a simple band made with your choice of colored gemstones. Since stacking rings on one finger is fashionable and classy, your engagement ring-wedding band combo will look right at home on your ring finger.
Choose a coordinating set of rings to add interest to your hand. Or choose a matching wedding band and engagement ring that seamlessly encircle the finger with gleaming stones and shiny precious metal. Couples can also choose matching wedding bands that echo the look of the eternity band.
Contact
Marla's Gem Creations today to get started on designing your engagement ring and wedding bands. We create traditional and custom rings to suit any couple's style.
