Shopping for an engagement ring can be completely daunting if you don't know where to begin. With so many factors to consider like stone shape, gemstones, setting styles, vintage versus new, and more, the number of potential combinations approaches infinity. In other words, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices you can make. So before you get in over your head, we're here to help guide you to (hopefully) finding your perfect match.
Since we're a trend-minded bunch here at Who What Wear, we wanted to look at engagement rings through that lens. Let's face it, even though they're a jewelry staple that's supposed to be a "forever" item, they're also subject to the ebbs and flows of the trend cycle. So to get you up to speed on which ring styles will be the most popular for brides-to-be in 2020, we tapped an expert who knows a lot more about the topic than we do. We sat down with Olivia Landau, a fourth-generation gemologist and founder and CEO of The Clear Cut, who clued us into four engagement ring trends she's noticed cooling off this year as well as four more that she's flooded with requests for, a telltale sign of an emerging trend.
Scroll down to learn everything you need to know about the engagement ring trends for the year ahead and peruse our picks of the incoming trends.
On the decline: Pear-shaped diamonds
"Pear-shaped diamonds were super popular last year, mostly because of the large number of celebrity engagements that featured a pear-shaped diamond (Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Paris Hilton). I think people were looking for a shape that was a bit unique and a great value. This year I think the demand for pear shapes shifted to ovals (many celebrities were engaged with ovals this year) and antique diamonds, like old mines and ole European cuts."
On the rise: Oval-shaped diamonds
"Oval diamonds have been one of the most popular shapes for a few years now. Blake Lively skyrocketed this trend with her engagement ring, and since then many celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Sarah Hyland were engaged with oval bling. Ovals are amazing because they show their carat weight well and are very finger flattering."
On the decline: East-West settings
"East-West rings were on the decline this year as well. We saw this unique setting style replaced with more dainty solitaires or toi et moi (two stone) rings."
On the rise: Platinum settings
"Plain yellow gold or platinum with pavé diamonds has definitely been the most requested ring style of the year. People are trending toward a more classic/ timeless style while still having more of a dainty and modern twist."
On the decline: Rose gold
"Rose gold was one of our most popular metal requests for bridal last year, but this year seems to be all about the yellow gold! I think rose gold has still been popular for more of the smaller everyday pieces in our collection, and it is definitely still a great choice for those whose skin tone is best complimented by rose gold."
On the rise: Super-skinny bands
"Our super-skinny solitaire, featuring a very thin 1.5mm band, is definitely the most in-demand setting. People love the thin delicate band because it is classic with a modern edge and makes the diamond really pop! This setting is timeless and amazing for stacking and styling with other rings."
On the decline: Chunky halos
"Chunky halos that were solely meant to make your diamond appear larger from afar have been on the decline for a while. They have been replaced by super-thin dainty halos that almost appear to be an extension of the center stone."
On the rise: Hidden halos
"Hidden halos have become one of our most popular requests. A hidden halo is essentially decorating a structural part of the existing ring. It is adding pavé diamonds to the metal wire on the basket of the ring. A hidden halo doesn’t change or affect the look of your overall ring as a typical halo would. It just provides a glimpse of sparkle from the side that may bring you a bit of joy."
Next up, the jewelry trends I'm buying to make my outfits look expensive this winter.
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