Engagement rings shine in new colors, styles in 2020
There are hundreds of Pinterest-worthy engagement ring designs, settings and styles from which to choose. Selecting an engagement ring is an important job, since it’s a piece of jewelry that symbolizes a relationship’s love and commitment. Couples are now taking the standard diamond engagement ring trend and turning it upside down, opting for more nontraditional ring choices.
All about color
It’s no longer just gold or silver. Engagement rings now feature settings with unique materials, such as rose gold and mixed metals. Two-toned aesthetics are rising in popularity, with combinations such as white gold and rose gold or silver and gold. Platinum settings are on the rise because they create a clean, timeless look with a modern flair.
Stones with softer, dreamier colors are becoming sought after. Morganites, opals, aquamarines, amethysts, sapphires, emeralds, and black diamonds are up-and-coming choices in oval-shaped or pear-shaped, which flatter the finger and are very feminine. Stones with hidden halos or thinner bands are expected to be a big hit of 2020.
Other popular trends include raw or unpolished stones, constellation engagement bands, Georgian-inspired cuts, hexagon-shaped, double-banded rings, and multistone bands.
Popular culture has reflected these trends, with celebrity brides and unique engagement rings, including Blake Lively’s light-pink opal engagement ring in rose gold, Kate Middleton’s blue sapphire, Olivia Wilde’s aqua-emerald or Carrie Underwood’s yellow and white diamonds.
Alternative ways
In lieu of a jeweler, couples are turning to antique stores to find vintage engagement rings. Certain cuts such as old mine cuts or old European cuts are harder to find and more valuable. Going vintage may be a good way to find a certain style, such as Art Deco or Edwardian.
The average cost for a diamond engagement ring is estimated at more than $6,000. Lab-created diamonds and precious gems are not only easier on the wallet, they’re an eco-friendly alternative.
An unromantic history
As a symbol of love, engagement rings have a rather unromantic history that does not reflect the traditional diamond engagement ring that we know of today. Looking back 2,000 years to the ancient Romans, engagement rings were used to signify ownership or to show obedience, like a wearable business contract. As a Roman custom, wives wore rings attached to small keys to indicate their husband’s ownership, according to the American Gem Society.
Engagement rings were not always made of traditional materials like modern-day rings of gold, platinum and silver. In ancient times, rings were made of various materials including bone, flint or iron. In Pompeii, an iron ring was worn at home and a gold band outside the home.
It wasn’t until the Victorian era that engagement rings were viewed as symbols of love and sentiment. Engagement rings came in a variety of precious gems including amethysts, rubies, emeralds and garnets.
In 1477, Mary of Burgundy received the first diamond engagement ring on record from Archduke Maximilian of Austria, which inspired the trend among the nobility. But diamonds truly became the staple stone choice for engagement rings after a clever marketing slogan: “A diamond is forever” by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. in 1947. This historic slogan made diamonds the new it girl.
Precious gemstones have come back in style as well as newer trends including lab-created diamonds and gemstones in new creative settings.
