When shopping for the perfect engagement ring for either yourself or your partner, it can be daunting when faced with so many styles, cuts and settings to choose from. To ensure you make a decision that is right for you, this blog post is going to arm you with all the important information you will need for when you’re ready to buy your forever ring.
We have been so lucky to have had lots of amazing couples choose Rocks for their forever ring over the last few months. There have been many lovely moments spent in our private consultation areas seeing couples choosing and designing their dream ring.
We always keep an eye on the trends to see what is changing or emerging. So, to help you find the ring of your dreams, whether you are looking for something on-trend or unique, we have analysed some of the top styles and cuts chosen by our customers. Read on to discover more.
Top types of engagement ring styles:
- Solitaire
- Halo
- 3 stone
- Fancy diamonds
Top types of engagement ring cuts:
- Round brilliant
- Oval
- Emerald
- Cushion
- Pear
- Marquise
- Princess
Top Engagement Ring Styles
We have done all the necessary research so that you don’t have to, and discovered which styles and cuts have come out on top over the years. Thanks to its classic design and timeless appeal, almost 50% of our customers have opted for a solitaire style engagement ring. A third of our customers preferred the halo style, and fancy coloured diamonds were the less common choice, appealing to those looking for something unique. To help you understand the appeal of each design, we have given you a breakdown of the top engagement ring styles.
Solitaire
A solitaire engagement ring refers to a diamond setting whereby one single diamond is mounted onto the ring. Its popularity is retained in its incredibly simple design that promises to remain stylish and timeless, making them great for not only yourself, but also as an heirloom for the generations you create. Thanks to their simplicity, they will pair perfectly with any existing jewellery collection. For this reason, solitaire engagement rings are popular amongst brides-to-be all over the world.
Recently, 4 claw solitaires remain the popular choice, beating out 6 claw solitaires. However, fancy cut solitaires have begun overtaking the traditional round brilliant cut solitaire. We have also seen oval, pear, cushion, princess and Marquise cuts increasing in popularity for solitaire rings.
Halo
The halo engagement ring style typically features a central stone that is surrounded by a collection of smaller diamonds, creating a halo-like effect around your diamond. The cut and style of the central stone is entirely up to you, and can be any diamond or precious gemstone, including sapphires, emeralds, rubies, to name a few.
If you choose a smaller diamond or gemstone as your centre stone, you can make it appear larger with the design of the halo without having a significant impact on your budget. Therefore, if size matters to you or your partner, a halo setting is a great way to adapt your ring to your budget and add extra sparkle to your diamond.
Single and double halos are also an option for your ring, but currently the popularity of single halos far outweighs double halos. However, the double halo is certainly a growing trend for its unique and different design, and so we predict 2022 will see a lot of the double halo ring.
3 stone
The 3 stone diamond engagement ring traditionally features a large central diamond and two smaller stones on either side. However, today, the ring can be adapted to feature three stones of equal size, or you can have all three vary in size completely. You can even introduce gemstones and coloured diamonds for a truly bespoke look.
The 3 stone diamond ring rose in popularity in the early 2000’s due to its symbolism. The trilogy style ring is said to represent the past, present and future of a couple’s love and life together. Some also believe the three stones represent friendship, love and fidelity, and for others, there is religious meaning, with the three stones representing the father, son, and holy spirit.
Fancy coloured diamonds
Only one in every 10,000 diamonds classify as a fancy colour, therefore they make a unique engagement ring choice for the bride that desires something a little different. Trend shifts have revealed women are gravitating towards bridal jewellery that is unexpected and especially for the non-traditional couple, a fancy coloured diamond can offer a striking and contemporary look to an engagement ring.
Fancy coloured diamonds are available in a spectrum of shades, including yellow, pink, brown, black, blue and green.
It is a great idea to first find the coloured diamond you are looking for and not to limit yourself to any specific cut. This way you will be able to source the exact right colour and can then build your ring around your diamond to showcase it in a way that you see fit.
Top Engagement Ring Cuts
Once you have decided on a diamond style, you then need to choose a cut that will help showcase your diamond in all its glory. For this, we have broken down the most popular engagement ring cuts.
Recently round brilliant cuts are preferred amongst almost half of our customers, and a third of our customers have gravitated towards an oval cut diamond. For those yearning for something less expected, princess and marquise cuts are the less common choices.
Round brilliant cut
The round brilliant cuts have been the most popular choice as of recent. The style refers to a diamond stone that has been cut into a classic rounded shape. Its brilliance is its illusory ability to appear circular to the eye, but in actuality, the cut has 58 facets by tradition. The facets enable the diamond to interact with light in a beautiful way that lets off a brilliance and sparkle that is unique to the round brilliant cut.
What’s more, the shape of the round cut stone enables it to pair perfectly with almost every type of setting. For instance, in a solitaire setting, the stone will forever look chic and timeless and complement your existing rings. In a halo setting, the diamond will be enhanced in size and sparkle, appealing to the bride that wants her ring to exude opulence and luxury.
Oval cut
The oval cut shape was designed to optimise the carat weight of a diamond. They feature no sharp points and give the diamond a greater, stretched out surface area, allowing it to appear bigger than a round brilliant diamond of the same weight. The oval form offers a lot of versatility and suits any number of gemstones, from diamond to sapphire.
The oval cut is second to the round brilliant cut in popularity. However, the oval cut picks up a similar brilliance and sparkle as the round brilliant, and its faces are cut to create brightness and fire to the stone. Despite the similar properties shared with the round brilliant, an oval cut offers a contemporary look, making it an excellent alternative to the traditional style.
The elongated shape of the oval cut, paired with its narrowing effect, means it comes as no surprise that it has captured the spotlight amongst brides-to-be.
Emerald cut
The emerald cut diamond features in the top three most popular cuts, earning its appeal amongst brides-to-be because the stone shape tends to look larger than others, making it desirable to couples that want a show-stopping ring that doesn't compromise your budget. It is immediately recognisable from its rectangular form and precision cut corners. The cut features small rectangular facets that look like steps, which separates it from more common brilliant cut engagement rings. The emerald cut has 58 facets (25 crown, 8 girdle, and 25 pavilion), which allows it to emit sparkle and brilliance in a much more subtle way compared to other cuts.
Pairing the emerald cut diamond with a halo around the centre stone gives your ring a modern twist. You can also add side stones for extra sparkle, or even use the emerald cut diamonds as side stones to another different cut centre stone diamond for a ring that is a little out of the ordinary.
Pear cut
Pear cut diamond engagement rings blend the best of the round brilliant and marquise cuts to create a graceful shape to any diamond or gemstone that tapers to a soft point. The tip of the pear cut is designed to be worn pointing upwards or downwards depending on your preference, making it a versatile style.
The pear cut has also been dubbed the tear drop due to its soft and hard edges, said to symbolise tears of joy. Its distinctive silhouette is unmissable, and due to their extended shape they look larger than a round diamond, with a surface area that is 80% larger on top.
A pear cut diamond is great for all manner of brides-to-be, whether you’re looking for a vintage, modern or classic look.
Marquise cut
Characterised by an elongated shape with opposite ends that draw to a sharp point, the marquise cut dates back centuries and is adored by women all over the world.
The stretched out shape of the marquise cut flatters every wearer by elongating the finger, making it appear slimmer and longer. The extended shape of the marquise cut makes any stone appear larger, ensuring your engagement ring design makes a statement.
Despite its winning characteristics, the marquise cut is not as commonly chosen as others, making it the perfect option for those who seek something different.
Princess cut
The princess cut is characterised by its squared, geometric design which features straight edges, sharp corners, and a pyramid shape. They are amongst the most unique cuts, and unlike most other square shaped stones, the princess cut possesses a level of brilliance that echoes traditional round designs.
Due to their geometric design, the princess cut diamond will speak to the modern and contemporary woman, but thanks to their simplicity and long-standing reign, they can also portray an essence that is both classic and timeless. Of all angular stone styles, the princess cut diamonds are by far the most sparkly.
We hope this blog post has provided you with insight and inspiration for finding an engagement ring that is perfectly suited to you. If you require a ring that you feel hasn’t been covered, be sure to browse the Rocks engagement ring collection and discover an unrivalled and diverse range of engagement rings that can be tailored to fit your preference. What’s more, you even have the opportunity to create your own bespoke ring by working with our expert team of in-house designers.
Browse the complete collection online and in store, or book an appointment to discuss your dream engagement ring design.
