Engagement Ring Trends
Engagement season is here and celebrities are having a huge influence on proposal jewellery choices
Have the photos started flooding your social media feed yet? We’re rapidly heading towards the height of engagement season for the arrival of spring brides. The period runs through to Valentine’s Day when many a proposal takes place and couples share their happy news with snaps from the momentous occasion.
Just as certain wedding dress styles fall in and out of fashion, engagement ring trends come and go too. At the moment, celebrities and royals are having a major impact on what’s hot, with many brides-to-be preferring more unusual cuts and colours over traditional diamond designs.
We asked jewellery expert, Zack Stone, managing director at Steven Stone, to run down the engagement ring trends he predicts will be big in 2022… here are his top picks.
1.Geometrical shapes
Round and oval stone shapes have dominated in 2021, but that’s all set to change in 2022, Stone says: “Expect to see an increase of geometrical shaped stones, from triangles, hexagonal, and kite shapes. This will be paired with minimal, simplistic settings – another trend which will sail into 2022.”
WEIR Platinum Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Ring €5,830, visit weirandsons.ie
ANN CHAPMAN Straight Silver Quintet Ring With Diamond €490, visit stonechatjewellers.ie
APPLEBY Tranquility with Emerald Cut Diamond from €4,295, visit appleby.ie
2.Personalised rings
Stone predicts 2022 will be “the year of matching wedding bands and personalisation,” inspired by a certain pop princess’ recent betrothal.
“Britney Spears reignited the trend when she revealed her engagement ring from partner Sam Asghari, featured an engraving of her nickname ‘Lioness’ on the inside of the band. Since then, the number of couples requesting these meaningful anecdotes has started to grow, and we expect this will become the next big trend for wedding and engagement rings.”
THOMAS SABO Ring Together Forever €149, visit thomassabo.com
TIFFANY & CO Customised Engagement ring, visit tiffany.ie
3.Non-traditional sapphires
“Towards the end of 2021, the demand for alternative sapphires, particularly in shades of teal, have soared, and we expect this to continue into 2022,” Stone says. Sunset hues like pink and orange are also proving popular thanks to Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring, and another famous royal ring is likely to renew the sapphire trend. Stone explains: “With the release of season fi ve of The Crown at the end of 2021, which follows the story of Princess Diana, it’s no doubt this will have also an impact on the sales of sapphires. This time around, however, consumers will seek more untraditional stones in a bid to give the classic style a modern twist.”
AOIFE O’MAHONY Isabel Platinum Ring 0.45Ct Oval Padparadscha Sapphire €1,950, visit aoifeomahony.ie
EVA DORNEY GOLDSMITH Orange Sapphire 18Ct Yellow Gold Ring €1,200, visit evadorney.com
NATASHA SHERLING Roses Pink Sapphire Ring €945.00, visit shop. natashasherling.ie
FIELDS 9Ct White Gold 0.05Ct Diamond Hexagon Topaz Ring €350, visit fi elds.ie
4.Two-stone asymmetrical rings
Known as Toi et Moi (meaning you and me in French), two-stone rings have been a celebrity favourite this year. “Ariana Grande popularised this ‘toi et moi’ design in 2020, when she showed o an alternative oval diamond and pearl engagement ring, with the two stones sitting side by side,” says Stone.
He predicts these designs “will soar in 2022, with irregular shaped coloured gemstones, pearls, and diamonds sitting imperfectly, yet perfectly, side by side.” But it’s not a new trend – the style became famous in 1796 when Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Josephine de Beauharnais with one. Stone adds: “Traditionally, they feature two different stones in matching sizes and cuts, but today, jewellers are experimenting with contrasts in gem cuts, sizes, and settings for a more contemporary look.”
FOREVERFORLOVE 4Ct Pear and 4Ct Radiant Crushed Ice Moissanite Engagement from €882.17, visit etsy.ie
BRERETON Emerald and Diamond Moi et Toi Platinum Ring €1,575, visit brereton.ie
5.Eternity rings
Eternity rings, meant to symbolise lasting affection, are usually set with gems all the way around
and designed to sit parallel to a wedding band. However, there’s a new trend for more unusual styles that sit separately or leave a gap.
Stone explains: “From floating diamond pave bands to garlands and twisted bands, eternity rings are about to make a huge statement and will no longer ‘fit in’ with the engagement ring – instead, they will stand out. This alternative approach creates contrasting shapes next to each other and amplifies the new, exciting, untraditional approach to wedding jewellery.”
ROCKS Sapphire & Diamond Half Eternity Ring €470, visit rocks.ie
VOLTAIRE DIAMONDS Eternity HET2377, visit voltairediamonds.ie
PAUL SHEERAN 0.79Ct Diamond Eternity Ring 18k Yellow Gold €2,495, visit paulsheeran.ie
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