Classic Engagement Rings Are Back in Vogue

This winter, couples are seeking out simpler styles as minimalism rules and cushion-shaped diamonds make a comeback.

Both independent jewelers and chain retailers are seeing newly engaged couples move back to basics with sleeker, more sophisticated bridal looks, as well as traditional lines that let the center stone stand out.

“I’m seeing a real trend toward the very basic, very classic, almost Tiffany-style solitaire diamonds with a plain band,” says David Lampert of Lester Lampert Jewelers. “It seems like almost everyone is asking…for very simple engagement rings.”

Angie Kennedy at Zales has also noticed the move to a more pared-down look, but sees it as a way for customers to steer the emphasis toward the main attraction. “Think of a solitaire that has a diamond band with it, but no halo around it,” she says. “Or a halo that’s very subtle and small, a micro-halo, versus the single, double or triple halos of the past, where the perimeter is the same size as the main stone. So it’s definitely much more about showing off a center and really letting it breathe.”

And stones will need the extra breathing space this year as shoppers upsize their diamonds for the holidays. Consumers have waved goodbye to the traditional 1-carat and under, and are embracing the idea that bigger is better. “People are making an investment in their engagement ring,” asserts Kennedy. “If 1 carat was the old normal, now they’re wanting 1.25, 1.50 and 2 carats.”

While round diamonds still lead the pack, other shapes are gaining — or regaining — speed. “Rounds are probably three-quarters of what we sell, but ovals are tremendously hot right now,” says Jack Carter of Jack Lewis Jewelers, adding that pears and emerald cuts are also in demand. 

Another old favorite is staging a return to the spotlight: “Cushions are making a little comeback,” reports Lampert. “I feel like they’re getting strong again.” Stewart Brandt of H. Brandt Jewelers has also seen interest in the cut grow tremendously.

Yellow gold has been having a revival of its own. Plain or diamond-studded, the buttery metal is proving popular. “What we have trending right now in engagement rings is ovals set in yellow gold,” says Caroline Hill of Van Scoy Jewelers. “I can’t tell you how many we’ve sold. It’s crazy.”

Main image: Ashley Zhang engagement ring with a 2.04-carat diamond. (Ashley Zhang)