2018’s Best Engagement Ring Styles: Trends and Top Picks From Our Jewelry Insiders
Big trends for 2018 brides: Rose cut diamonds, asymmetrical settings, and black diamonds.
Engagement ring styles on the brain? Welcome to engagement season! If you’re getting engaged this year, you’re probably analyzing all of the new engagement ring trends popping up for 2018. Hey, it’s hard work staying ahead of the curve. Buying an engagement ring is a major decision, and though there are perennial classics (we’re looking at YOU diamond solitaire), future brides will always be curious about what’s just around the corner. If 2018 is your engagement year, the new engagement ring trends 2018 is serving up are sure to please.
At Abby Sparks Jewelry, we spend a lot of time thinking about engagement rings, dreaming up new styles, and taking note when new trends are on the rise. As custom engagement ring designers, we’re on the front lines and see the first waves of change in the market. When you look at popular engagement ring styles, you get a sense of what people are buying. But because we work with brides to design every element of their ring from scratch, we see over and over again the special little aspects that bride after bride are swooning for. Here are our top picks for 2018’s biggest engagement ring trends.
EAST WEST SETTINGS
MADDIE, ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY DESIGN AND ACCOUNT MANAGER
I’m seeing east west engagement ring settings as a powerhouse trend for 2018. I’ve had several clients come through asking for this unique horizontal stone alignment in the past few weeks alone and mega sartorial and bridal guides like Martha Stewart and The Zoe Report have been spreading the buzz. I’m a huge fan of east west settings because they are a great way to give a little extra stability to an elongated shape stone. Less popular stone cuts like marquise or emerald step cuts are great choices for a horizontal setting, because an east west alignment gives their astringent shapes a fresh, unexpected look. It seems like modern women are stepping away from north, south heavy rings that put a lot of pressure on their band, sometimes to the point of damage, towards more ergonomic options – and east west settings are an attractive, fresh ergonomic option.
DARK AND ROSE CUT DIAMONDS
ABBY, ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY FOUNDER & BOSS LADY
Engagement rings with rose cut black or dark grey diamonds will be front and center for 2018. More women are bucking the traditional route of white brilliant cut diamond rings and opting for a more bold, design-forward, and truly original design look by choosing diamonds in darker hues with less opacity and more depth of color. Black rose cut diamond engagement rings will be contrasted with a yellow or rose gold setting, often opting for accent stones of white brilliant diamonds for a look that’s essentially the “little black dress” of engagement ring styles. Black diamonds ooze confidence and more women simply don’t fit into the proverbial ring box that their mothers chose- namely white round diamond solitaire settings. 2018 is all about women empowerment, of challenging systems and finding new ways to share her truth and her light. What better way than pairing light and dark diamonds, rose cuts and brilliant cuts; however, still with classic design in order to keep the ring timeless.
ORGANIC SHAPES AND ASYMMETRY
KYLEE, ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY OPERATIONS INTERN
Organic and imperfect shapes will be a big jewelry trend in 2018. At the end of last year, I loved seeing more asymmetrical ring designs, like the Liz and the Andrea. I love this trend because its a tribute to both nature and the imperfectness of everyday life. It also allows for more diversity and individuality between pieces–something we really cherish at Abby Sparks. With Pantone’s color of the year being a night sky inspired Ultra Violet, I think organic shapes will incorporate well with engagement rings in this rich blue/purple hue.
MONTANA SAPPHIRES
STEPHIE, ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY DIGITAL BRANDING & MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Maybe I’m just being biased because I think they’re so fab, but Montana Sapphires will be massive in 2018. I’m a huge fan because of their airy, unique color selection, but they’re also sourced ethically in the U.S., right out of Montana. I love seeing rose gold engagement rings that incorporate blue Montana sapphires; something about the contrasting colors makes the ring so beautiful and unique. Even as accent stones for a diamond ring, Montana sapphires are a must for 2018.
Stacking Ring Bridal Sets
SARAH, ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY SEM & MARKETING COORDINATOR
The biggest 2018 engagement ring trend is incorporating the look of stackable rings into engagement ring design. Stacking rings have been on trend for a few years now (remember midi rings?), and online searches for ring stacks surged over the holidays. 2018 brides are viewing their engagement ring and wedding ring as the ultimate stack. Some of our brides achieve this look by being super intentional with how their bridal set fits together and the powerful, crown look the two pieces achieve as a whole. Other brides are fusing their set, creating the illusion of multiple rings that are actually securely connected in the back. I love this trend because of the utilization of negative space. It creates depth, movement, and just the slightest peek-a-boo of skin.
Want to create your own custom engagement ring? Abby Sparks Jewelry is a Denver, Colorado based custom fine jewelry design studio. Contact us to get started on your design.
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