NJ Bridal Jewelry Style: Your Guide to The Hottest Engagement Ring Trends of 2019

For every boom and bust of the cultural landscape nothing captures our attention more then the glittering world of engagement rings—it must be the romantics in us!

The Inevitable Return of Yellow Gold

For the last fifteen-odd years, a palpable rejection of yellow gold has been a reoccurring undercurrent in the engagement ring market. Since time immemorial the traditional hue had dominated the engagement ring landscape and many folks were looking for something different. While yellow gold never truly went away. It was in this climate that rose gold carved out a niche all its own, but according to Google Trends the high-watermark for rose gold was the holiday season of 2017. Even silver gold saw it’s last peak in the same holiday season.

So what happened between then and now? Meghan Markle got an engagement ring that turned heads across the world! Prince Harry’s beautifully (and personally) designed ring for the Duchess of Sussex signaled the return of yellow gold as the king of alloys. Since their engagement and subsequent nuptials the color of choice for engagement ring shanks has shifted back to traditional yellow in a big way.

Modern Renditions of Three Stone Classics

Speaking of Meghan Markle, she (or perhaps Prince Harry) takes responsibility for another trend on our list—the growing popularity of three-stone settings. Brides this year are upping-the-ante with elegant trilogies of center stones. These gemstone trifectas—once considered a retro-only pick—are now creating an effect of utter grace and grandeur for thousands of women around the world. You really don’t need a professional appraiser to know that three rocks are better than one!

In some cases (such as that of last year’s Royal Wedding) the two flanking stones can come from other pieces of sentimental value; while the larger, center stone is a reflection of the joys and traditions of marriage. Of course that’s just for inspiration and doesn’t need to be your reason for going with one of these gorgeous rings. All you need is a lover who’s ready to pop the question and an appreciation for the finer things in life.

The Slow Rise of Avant-Garde Geometries

Now that we’ve covered the return of traditional elements, let’s switch gears and cover the trends at the bleeding-edge. Unless you’re a royal yourself, there’s a good chance that you are looking for a piece that reads “not-your-mother’s” engagement ring. Whether it’s for the glittering glamour of Art Deco or the simple sophistication of a minimalist design, many couples are choosing to ditch the plain, circular rings of yesteryear in favor of stylish new geometries.

This movement covers a lot of smaller trends such as asymmetrical settings, modernist geometries, sculpted shanks, split-shank rings, cushion-cut diamonds, and stackable settings. The overarching idea is that the actual shape of many rings are getting a lot more creative. Today’s brides are empowered and with their freedom comes the playful deconstruction of the engagement ring. Shape is not only the only aspect of rings that is getting an overhaul, there’s going to be a whole new splash of color as we’ll see in our next section.

Color My World: How Colorful Gemstones are Taking Over

There’s nothing wrong with the classic look of a diamond center stone—formal, elegant, austere. It’s been the choice of millions of women because it is indeed a very nice style, but an engagement ring stays with you for a lifetime and the look must match the personality. If you’re more fun than formal, entertaining than elegant, awesome than austere—then you might be interested in the pop of color that comes with a gemstone center.

If this growing trend appeals to you’re sense of style then there’s a couple considerations that you should keep in mind before proceeding onward:

1. Not all rubies are red and not all emeralds are green. There are more pink rubies than red, and emeralds can be yellow or even brownish, whereas many sapphires can be quite green. The point that I’m trying to make is that building a ring around a non-diamond center stone opens the door for so many different stones, that a particular color can be accomplished by a number of different stones and that certain stones do not guarantee a particular color.
2. The color is going to dominate the conversation, so choose carefully. If you purple is already your favorite color and amethyst is already your favorite gemstone, then maybe it’s a no-brainer what you should, but for those of us who aren’t sure which matches best with our eyes it is important to take it slow, as this is most likely the most-important single piece of jewelry in our lives. Pick a color that will look good on you for decades.
3. Diamonds are forever, but other gemstones might need special care and precautions to last as long. Due to their heartiness and relative indestructibility, there is little chance that you will damage a diamond in everyday use, but softer gems may need to be kept with a little more care as it is possible to scratch or damage many stones such as opal or pearl.

The Conclusion? 2019 Is Going to Be A Great Year for Engagements!

Thanks for letting us inspire you with this quick run-down of this year’s hottest engagement ring trends. Please keep us in mind as you continue on your journey towards marriage. Our team of world-class jewelers can help you accomplish any of the visions you might have for your wedding. We would love to be a part of your special day and are always available for contact.