The engagement ring landscape is ever-evolving, and this year the trends are leaning towards individuality and uniqueness, with a touch of classic elegance. Whether it’s the rise of pavé settings, the timeless allure of solitaires, or the intricate details in vintage rings, there’s something for everyone. Halo settings are getting a modern twist, and colored gemstones are making a bold statement. Three-stone rings are also gaining popularity, offering a blend of tradition and modernity. When shopping for an engagement ring, look for designs that resonate with your personal style and consider the quality of the diamond, as it greatly impacts the ring’s beauty
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Here is what we’ll cover in this article:
Trend #1: Pavé
Trend #2: Milgrain
Trend #3: Halo
Trend #4: Solitaire
Trend #5: Three-stone
Trend #6: Vintage
Trend #7: Colored gemstone
Trend #8: Cathedral
Why you should trust us
To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #1: Pavé
Why you should trust us
To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.
While pavé settings have long been a favorite, we’re still seeing an increase in their popularity. In addition to classic pavé settings, like this 1.46 Carat micropavé ring from Blue Nile, we’re noticing prevalence of more unique pavé settings. For example, engagement rings like this 1.53 Carat with the pavé metal twist from Blue Nile, are topping the charts.
You can tell a ring has a pavé setting if there are several small diamonds embedded around the band held by tiny metal beads or prongs that are barely visible.
“Pave is an elegant setting. But if the wearer is extremely active, the diamonds can be vulnerable to falling out, and therefore should be handled with care.” Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
A pavé setting compliments every Diamond Shape, with Oval, Round and Cushion Cut being the most popular for 2023. We’re seeing most pavé settings being made with white gold, opposed to yellow gold or rose gold.
The effect of a pavé setting is one of continuous sparkle. Overall, pavé settings are stunning, without overpowering the center diamond.
Pavé engagement ring inspiration:
Deal Alert: Get 25% off sitewide at James Allen
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #2: Milgrain
Milgrain (or millgrain) settings are taking center stage in 2023 as part of a general increase in interest in vintage jewelry. Made of a row of small metal beads, milgrain creates detailing around diamonds and on the borders of rings.
We’re particularly seeing a lot of petite milgrain rings like these on Blue Nile, with a tapered pavé side enveloped with milgrain, like in this heirloom ring from Blue Nile. The milgrain design makes for a stunning backdrop to an otherwise simple design.
Similar to pavé settings, milgrain designs work well with many Diamond Shapes. You can also pair it with another setting style like a halo or three-stone ring. A milgrain setting done right is elegance and simplicity at its finest.
Milgrain engagement ring inspiration:
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #3: Halo
Halo settings continue to be a major driver in engagement ring collections. They’re changing in subtle ways, however, becoming more unique and eye-catching. For instance, a drop halo like this one from Blue Nile—with an extra ring or row of pavé diamonds—has become an engagement ring trend in 2023. We’re also seeing more shield halos, like this vintage engagement ring from Blue Nile, along with floral motifs like this white gold scalloped halo.
In a halo setting, smaller diamonds surround the center stone in a concentric circle (or whatever shape the diamond is). With these additional stones, the center diamond often appears larger.
The most popular diamond shapes for a halo ring include the Round Cut diamond, the Oval and the Cushion Cut. Again, the 2023 engagement ring trend for halos are ones with unique touches, like this floral halo ring from Blue Nile. The design is absolutely stunning, but remains timeless.
Halo engagement ring inspiration:
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #4: Solitaire
It’s not surprising to see solitaire engagement rings near the top of the list. Solitaires are truly timeless: they never go out of style. This six-prong solitaire from Blue Nile, for example, is one of the most popular engagement rings of 2023.
Solitaire settings are designed with a singular diamond or stone in the center. The solitaire is a classic engagement ring, ideal for wearers with a traditional or simple style. You can design a solitaire ring with any diamond shape—from Round Brilliant rings like this one from Blue Nile to Cushion Cut rings like this one from James Allen.
Solitaire engagement ring inspiration:
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #5: Three-Stone
As its name indicates, three diamonds (or gemstones) are set closely together in this type of engagement ring. Usually the side stones are half, or one quarter the size of the center stone like in this case from James Allen.
For 2023 engagement rings, we’re seeing a number of Radiant Cut diamonds flanked with tapered Baguettes on either side, like this 0.91 Carat ring from James Allen. We’re also seeing Emerald Shape diamonds with Baguettes, like this 0.96 Carat ring from James Allen. Many of these popular three-stone rings are made with white gold, and include a pavé band like this ring from Blue Nile.
With three-stone engagement rings, you can add additional sparkle and personalized features. For instance, you can choose a mix of diamond shapes or keep them the same. You can also choose to flank the sides of your diamond with other diamonds, or with colored gemstones like sapphires and emeralds.
Three-stone engagement ring inspiration:
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #6: Vintage
As we’ve mentioned, the top engagement rings for 2023 include intricate details and accents. Vintage settings are a stunning way to design a ring with unique traits while still maintaining timeless beauty.
Like the other ring styles, we’re seeing most vintage rings in white gold settings, like this floral engagement ring from Blue Nile or this hand-engraved halo ring from Blue Nile.
Wondering what classifies as a vintage ring? Most settings mirror the styles of the Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco time periods. Vintage rings like this selection on James Allen tend to feature detailed work and are intricate in nature.
Vintage engagement ring inspiration:
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #7: Colored Gemstone
While most women prefer a diamond for their engagement ring, many women gravitate toward a colored gemstone instead. By choosing a color for the center stone, the ring has a personal touch and stands out from the crowd.
In 2023, we’re seeing the majority of colored gemstone engagement rings with blue sapphires and green emeralds. This blue sapphire double halo ring from Leibish & Co., for instance, is an example of a popular alternative to a diamond.
Like with a diamond ring, you can choose the setting style and color of your precious metal. From Pear Shaped sapphire rings like this one from Leibish & Co. to Oval emerald rings, the options are endless.
Colored gemstone engagement ring inspiration:
2023 Engagement Ring Trend #8: Cathedral
Both an elegant and unique setting, this design is meant to resemble the arches of a cathedral. In this setting from James Allen, the center diamond is mounted with arches above the shank. A large amount of light is able to pass through the diamond, giving it increased brilliance and fire.
We’re primarily seeing cathedral settings in white gold, although there are yellow and rose gold rings as well. The cathedral setting is most popular with the Round Brilliant Cut like this from James Allen, but other shapes can be supported by this design as well.
Cathedral engagement ring inspiration:
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Here are more diamond ring related topics to browse:
- Where is the best place to buy a diamond engagement ring?
- What does the average engagement ring cost?
- When is the best time to buy an engagement ring?
- What are the best engagement ring brands?
- How much should you spend on an engagement ring?
- What is the average diamond carat size for an engagement ring?
- Should you ask her what engagement ring to buy?
- What is the best place to buy a vintage engagement ring?
- What are the different types of engagement ring settings?
- What are the best engagement rings for different types of fingers?
- What are the best engagement rings for nurses and doctors?
- What are the thinnest bands available for engagement rings?
- What is the best metal for an engagement band?
- What are some unique or unusual engagement ring ideas?
- What are the best engagement ring boxes?
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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