Photo credit: Jessica Davis Photography

Deciding to pop the question is exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time! There are so many things to think about when deciding where and when the big moment will happen, not to mention finding the perfect ring. Take the stress of ring shopping off your shoulders with this guide to the most popular engagement rings and all the diamond details that will help you find the ring of her dreams.

Diamond Basics

Before you can browse today’s most popular ring styles, you’ll want to arm yourself with a basic education on diamonds so you can make the best selection possible. When it comes to diamonds, there are four C's to keep in mind: carat, color, clarity, and cut.

Carat

Carat refers to the size of the diamond, in terms of how much it weighs. In the United States, the most popular carat size of diamond engagement rings is around 1 carat, but we see Marrow babes every day who love their 1.5ct or 2ct+ engagement rings. Rings can be comprised of one single diamond or many smaller carat diamonds, depending on the style. Larger diamonds are rarer than small diamonds, so the price tends to increase as the carat size goes up, but there are several other factors that go into diamond pricing.

Color

Not all diamonds are clear and colorless like we typically think of. When it comes to diamonds, color refers to the lack of color and is rated on a D-Z scale, where D indicates a colorless diamond (super rare!), and Z refers to a colored diamond (more champagne diamond vibes!). While most people opt for a diamond that is as colorless as possible, colored diamonds have increased in popularity thanks to high-profile celebrity engagement rings, like Jennifer Lopez’s pink diamond or Heidi Klum’s canary yellow diamond ring.

Clarity

Clarity plays a significant role in the cost of a diamond as it refers to the absence of imperfections. The majority of diamonds have flaws like blemishes and inclusions that can be seen under magnification. Diamonds with many inclusions may appear less brilliant than those that are flawless or nearly flawless.

Cut

A diamond’s cut indicates the interaction between the light and the diamond’s facets. There are many cut options, with round being the most popular, as well as marquise, oval, emerald, pear, and more. A masterfully cut diamond has elements like symmetry on its side, making it look more brilliant and sparkly than lesser-quality diamond cuts.

Photo Credit: Dear Juliet Photography

Today’s Most Popular Diamond Engagement Rings

We’ve briefly touched on the basics of diamond buying, and the selection of your gem will depend on the combination of the four C's as well as your budget. Once you’ve narrowed down how much you want to spend, it’s time to get to the fun part – choosing the style and design of your ring!

You might opt to work with a designer to create your own ring, or you can browse a designer’s selection for the perfect piece. Some ring designs, like a solitaire setting, are timeless and will always be in style. Other styles are trendier, like marquise-shaped or oval diamond rings. We’ve rounded up some of the most popular diamond engagement ring styles for 2019 that we’ve seen so far:

Antique

Antique and vintage diamond engagement ring styles make great choices in 2019 and beyond—they’re one of our personal faves! Whether you select a genuine antique ring from a jeweler that specializes in vintage jewelry, have a family heirloom available, or are shopping from a modern selection of antique-inspired rings, the options are endless. Antique-looking rings are unique and vary based on the era they are emulating. 

For example, you might choose from a 1920s-inspired art deco ring or a floral-style ring that’s reminiscent of the 1900s. Just look to Miley Cyrus’s art nouveau engagement ring if you need further proof that antique diamond rings are a must-have in 2019.

Antique-style diamond engagement rings feature intricate patterns and designs, both in the layout of the diamonds and the intricate settings. They also were typically cut by hand, which means each one is unique and one of a kind.

Pavé

Pavé diamonds are small diamonds set close together with barely visible settings, creating the look of continuous sparkle. Pavé diamonds are typically placed around a larger center stone as a complementary design element that enhances the brilliance of the ring. In 2019, we are seeing an increase in pavé designs for brides who love luxury and extra sparkle. 

Oval Cuts

Oval cut diamonds are having a major moment right now, mostly because they combine the elegance of the elongated emerald cut shape with the brilliance of a round diamond. Oval cut diamonds are a timeless choice that looks fantastic on their own or surrounded by smaller diamonds, like Blake Lively’s art deco-inspired ring. 

Mixed Stones

2019 has brought in a stunning trend of mixed gems to accompany diamonds. You might opt for eye-catching sapphires, emeralds, or even garnet to add to an engagement ring to make the diamond stand out. Some rings may feature an alternative stone surrounded by diamonds, like Princess Diana’s famous diamond and sapphire engagement ring, while others may be designed with the diamond taking center stage, flanked by colorful stones. 

The gems you choose to accompany your diamonds can have personal significance, like birthstones, or they may be chosen simply for their visual appeal and color. 

Blue-Green Oval Sapphire Ring

Minimalist Modern

Modern-style engagement rings feature a clean and elegant design, rather than busier styles like antique or pavé rings. If your bride favors a minimalist style, look for stones with fewer facets, like emerald-cut diamonds, that look sleek and contemporary. 

A modern look typically features a solitary stone or one larger stone flanked by two smaller diamonds, rather than multi-diamond clusters that we see in other styles. 

The Jillian Round Brilliant Ring

Halo Rings

Halo rings are showstoppers in their own right due to their unique design where small diamonds encircle a larger center stone as if they are floating. Our personal favorites to design are microhalos! We don’t love a chunky halo, as it tends to take away from the center stone, so all of our halo designs incorporate smaller diamond halos! A cleverly designed setting does the work of making the center stone stand out and seem larger than life, and this ethereal, romantic look is perfect for a boho bride or someone who loves statement jewelry pieces.

Champagne Pear Perfect Halo Ring

Pink Sapphire Perfect Halo Engagement Ring

Stunning Settings

An engagement ring’s setting is the metal that affixes the diamond to the ring, technically speaking, but that’s not very exciting when you look at some of today’s innovative setting designs. For 2019, jewelry designers are thinking outside the box when it comes to where they can add more diamonds and even more sparkle to a ring, and the setting is the ideal area for creativity. 

Settings are increasingly becoming blank canvases for in-laid pavé diamonds in intricate patterns, giving a simple ring a striking appearance or making elaborate styles even more brilliant.

Winter’s Rose Engagement Ring

Diamond Bands

Band-style engagement rings don’t feature a larger center stone, and they are a hot trend in 2019 for brides who prefer simpler styles. A band-style ring features a row of stones that may continue around the entire ring or may just be visible on the front of the finger. 

Diamond bands are popular with brides who don’t want to wear an additional wedding band along with their engagement ring, either due to financial restrictions or simply for a minimal, effortless personal taste. 

August Rose Band

Choosing the Right Engagement Ring for Your Bride

Many grooms are overwhelmed with choices when it comes to shopping for engagement rings, even after learning the basics of the four C’s. To help narrow down your options and find the perfect piece for your bride-to-be, here are some factors to keep in mind:

Metals

An easy place to begin is by looking at the other jewelry she wears to determine the type of precious metal that you’ll choose for her engagement ring. If she prefers silver tones, a white gold or platinum setting will be a perfect match with her other pieces. If gold is more her style, look for yellow or rose gold settings. Modern women often wear mixed metals together at the same time, so you can choose the metal you prefer and can be rest assured that it will fit seamlessly with her other jewelry. 

Personal Style

As mentioned, a woman’s personal style should be the main consideration when choosing her diamond engagement ring. If she dresses in sleek, contemporary clothing and gravitates to modern-design in architecture or interior design, she will likely love a ring that’s equally modern. On the other hand, if she has a more feminine style or loves antique shopping, a vintage-looking ring is a better choice. The goal should be finding a ring that she adores and is proud to wear every day as part of her overall look. 

Design Trends

Jewelry trends often follow in the footsteps of fashion and interiors so you can take some cues from what’s hot in the world around you. For example, antique furniture and shabby chic décor items are popping up everywhere in stores and magazines, so it’s no surprise that jewelers are embracing vintage-inspired cuts and settings in their designs. 

Whether it’s the latest colors of stones or metals, like rose gold or pink center stones, you’ll notice that diamond engagement ring designs echo the other trends in fashion and décor that are happening around you. 

Shape

Certain people are attracted to certain diamonds, and there’s not always a logical explanation for it. You may also have heard her talk about certain cuts that she’s admired on other people, like Meghan Markle’s cushion cut, Lady Gaga’s heart-shaped ring, or Kim Kardashian’s enormous emerald cut, and you can use that information for your own engagement ring shopping mission. 

Do's and Don’ts of Engagement Ring Shopping in 2019

Today’s man is educated in his buying choices and diamond engagement ring shopping is no exception! After taking all of the information above into consideration, you can be sure to find the ring of her dreams with a few helpful diamond ring-buying tips. 

Don’t Only Think About Yourself

Remember, she’s the one who will be wearing the engagement ring every day for the rest of her life, so it’s vital that she loves it. This might mean passing an heirloom onto another family member if you don’t think it’s her style, or you might want to hold off on getting the first ring that catches your eye if it might not suit her personal style.

Do Seek Inspiration

Once you’ve decided to propose, keep your eyes open for engagement ring inspiration. Browse engagement or ring related hashtags on Instagram or look up 2019 celebrity engagement rings. You might not have the budget for the rings you’ll see on the Royals, but social media and pop culture will give you a great idea of what’s trending and what design elements you can incorporate into your diamond engagement ring shopping or design experience. 

Don’t Ignore Your Other Options

While you might set out with a specific ring in mind, it’s important to look at all your options before making your final purchasing decision. Buying a diamond engagement ring is a huge decision, not to mention a significant expense and a purchase that she will wear forever, so don’t rush into it and lay down your cash on the first ring you see. 

Do Be Open-Minded

It’s common for men to enter into buying an engagement ring with some hesitation or reservations, but don’t let your nerves get in the way of making the best purchase for your bride-to-be. You might be surprised at what you can find if you keep an open mind and look at styles or cuts that you wouldn't have considered before. While round diamonds are the most popular engagement ring cut, you may find a gorgeous marquise or emerald cut, or an antique stone that will be “the one”.

Take-Home Message

If you’re in the market for a diamond engagement ring, congratulations on this great adventure and remember to enjoy every moment of picking out the perfect ring! Keeping these top 2019 trends and buying guidelines in mind, you’ll have no trouble finding the right ring for your bride-to-be. A well-selected ring is an investment that lasts forever, and looking to today’s hottest trends is the perfect place to start when shopping for the diamond engagement ring of her dreams.

Contact Marrow Fine today for a custom consultation!