There are some engagement ring styles that will always be popular. For as long as engagement rings have been popular, these styles have outperformed all others. These styles transcend fashion and trends and achieve the status of being truly timeless.
If you’re not sure what type of engagement ring to choose, opting for a timeless classic is a safe bet that will always be popular. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular timeless classics that seem to never go out of style.
Timeless or trending engagement ring?
With so many engagement ring styles to choose from, you might feel overwhelmed at the prospect. Should you choose a trending style or opt for something timeless? There are benefits to both, and your final decision will rest on your knowledge of the person who will be wearing the ring.
Some people always want to stand out and have something completely unique, so they will lean towards a trending style that makes a real statement. Those with a more classic style will be happy with something timeless. Those who aren’t too fussy in their style are also likely to lean more towards a timeless style.
The factors that contribute to the overall style of the ring include the setting, the stone shape and the metal. We will explore the three most popular choices for these three common ring style choices. These three factors can be combined to create a wide range of ring styles, all of which will be incredibly popular and timeless.
The most popular ring settings
The ring setting refers to how the stone is attached to the band.
1. Solitaire engagement rings
A solitaire engagement ring features a single stone raised above the band on a prong setting. This could be a 4-prong setting or a 6-prong setting. This is an ideal choice to showcase your choice of diamond as it allows light to enter the diamond from all angles. For large diamonds that you want to show off, this is an ideal choice.
2. Halo engagement rings
The halo setting is another popular choice, but it is more commonly used to make smaller stones appear larger. With a halo setting, the centre stone is surrounded by a circle of smaller stones. These will enhance the sparkle and make the diamond appear much larger.
3. Trilogy engagement rings
The trilogy is a popular choice because of what it signifies. A central stone is flanked by smaller stones on each side. This is commonly placed in a cathedral setting, which elevates the central stone. The three stones signify the past, present and the future.
The most popular stone shapes
1. Round cut diamond
A round cut diamond is one of the most desirable diamond shapes as it allows for a large number of facets which helps to enhance the fire, or sparkle. Round diamonds also retain their value well.
2. Cushion cut diamond
A cushion cut diamond is a square or rectangular diamond with softened edges. These softer edges create a cushion appearance that is incredibly popular and timeless. The cushion cut is popular because it wastes less of the raw diamond material than a round cut diamond, but with the rise of lab grown diamonds, this is becoming less relevant.
3. Princess cut diamond
The princess cut diamond is a perfect square that offers sharper angles than the cushion cut. While it doesn’t reflect as much light as the round cut diamond, it is still an incredibly popular choice for solitaire rings. The angles of the diamond contrast with the roundness of the ring to create visual interest.
The most popular band material
There are a wide range of choices for your engagement ring band. When choosing the band material, you need to know if the wearer prefers cool-toned or warm-toned metals. The choice of metal will also influence how strong the ring is, which can be more important when choosing a setting like a prong solitaire ring.
1. Platinum
This shiny grey material is one of the most popular choices for engagement rings as it is so strong. Platinum is visually similar to silver, but much stronger. This makes it particularly popular for prong settings, as it means the diamond is less likely to come loose. The cooler tone of the metal means that it should only be paired with diamonds that are graded as colourless or near colourless. This is because the white of the metal can make the diamond appear more yellow.
2. Gold
Gold has always been a popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. Perhaps the best part of gold is that it is available in a range of shades, including white, yellow and rose. It’s also not uncommon for vintage style rings to include a mixture of gold shades, such as white gold and rose gold, to create visual interest. Gold is softer than platinum, but still very durable when cared for well.
3. Silver
Silver is the cheapest option available, but it offers good durability and is quite strong. Like platinum, silver is a cool-toned metal, so you’ll need to be careful when pairing this with a stone. The stone should be colourless or near colourless to prevent it from looking too yellow. A popular jewellers trick is to place a diamond in a gold cathedral setting and then pair this with a silver band. The gold will prevent the diamond from appearing too yellow, but the wearer can still choose a cool-toned band.
Closing thoughts
Now that you know the most popular setting, stone and metal types, you can mix and match these to create something timeless. For example, a platinum band solitaire ring with a round cut diamond will always be popular. Likewise, a white gold trilogy ring with princess cut diamonds offers timeless elegance. Or you could opt for a gold halo ring with a cushion cut diamond for a vintage style that is enduringly popular. Once you know the most popular elements that make up the popular styles, it becomes much easier to select the perfect ring.
