New Trends in Engagement Rings (and Other Wedding-Related Things)

Here comes engagement season (Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day)! More people will become engaged this December than in any other month of the year. So says wedding authority The Knot, which also reports, more surprisingly, that October has surpassed June as the most popular month for weddings.

The Knot has just released its 2017 Jewelry & Engagement Study: “The Facts of Love.” Results of their survey show that the average cost of an engagement ring in the U.S. is $6,351. We thought it would be interesting to take a look at what you can buy in and around this average price point, filtered through the lens of some new trends in engagement rings for 2017-2018.

Halos with Double Bands

Halos continue to be a popular trend with modern brides, with the added luxury detail of double diamond bands. Blue Nile Studio’s Cambridge Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in platinum with a 0.50-carat round diamond has another .70 to .80 carats on the twin bands. $6,142 at bluenile.com.

Colored Gemstones

The Knot reports that among the 11% of brides who favor precious stones other than diamond, the top three are: 10% moissanite, 14% morganite, and 20% sapphire. This Solitaire Cushion-Cut Tanzanite Ring with Trio Diamonds is a contemporary style that delivers a large size stone (4.69 carats) and a sapphire’s intense blue color at a fraction of the price of a similar size sapphire. $6,629 at angara.com.

Vintage Settings

Fine jewelers tell us that there has been an uptick in the purchase of Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco-style engagement rings. We love The Ling Ring, a bold and dazzling Edwardian-style platinum design featuring a brilliant-cut diamond and cascading diamond accents (approx. 1.27 total carat weight). $6,009 at angara.com.

Split Shanks

From the Solomon Brothers Fine Jewelry “Geometric Inspiration Collection,” this Two-Sided Pavé Diamond Halo Engagement Ring with Split Band reflects a growing trend. The Karl Lagerfeld design stars a 1.03-carat round brilliant diamond of G-H color and VS clarity. It’s a lot of ring for $6,000, available at solomonbrothers.com.

Rose Gold

According to The Knot, the majority of brides (65%) still prefer traditional white gold or platinum settings, but rose gold and yellow gold are on the rise (11% and 9% respectively). In addition, 33% of brides prefer a shape of engagement ring stone other than the classic round cut. Here we have chosen a ring that combines three current trends: a colored gemstone, an oval-cut, and a rose gold setting. This Oval Emerald Diamond Engagement Ring in Rose Gold from Angara is glamorous and trendsetting at the same time. $7,009, at angara.com.

From a related survey, here is the Average Wedding Budget Breakdown from The Knot’s “2016 Real Weddings Study” of 13,000 U.S. Brides and Grooms. (Figures are based on respondents who hired a professional vendor for the service.)

2016 National Average Spend

In related posts, see: What’s New in Fall 2016 Engagement Rings

Source: theknot.com; jckonline.com