Favorite Engagement Ring Styles for 2014

What are women looking for in an engagement ring? To help answer that question, we’ve visited the Wedding boards of brides and brides-to-be to find the most popular and favorite engagement ring styles that women are pinning for 2014…

Cushion Style Halo Engagement Rings

One of the most popular and frequently “pinned” rings is the Halo Engagement Ring. And by far and away the most popular Halo style is the Cushion style. Recognized by its “cushiony” rounded corners it has a gentler and softer feel than the traditional round halo or square “princess” halo.

Below are two beautiful cushion style halo engagement ring designs, both with the popular flush center diamond, and “no gap” and pave diamonds.

Interestingly, the cushion style halo doesn’t necessarily need to use a cushion cut diamond as the center stone! Just as popular (or even more popular) than a cushion cut diamond is to use a round cut diamond as the center stone. By cleverly designing the Halo, jewelers are able to have the look and feel of the cushion halo while using the more brilliant round cut diamond. The ring (above left) uses a cushion cut center stone, while the ring (above right) uses a round cut diamond as the center stone.

While not as frequently “pinned” as the cushion style, the round halo (below left) is still very popular. Less popular is the square style Princess cut halo (below right).

When choosing your halo design there are a couple more choices you need to make. One of which is whether the center stone should be flush with the halo or raised above the halo.

When the center diamond is flush to the halo (below left) the two blend together, adding more sparkle, and making the center diamond appear larger than it actually is. With the less popular raised design (below right) emphasis is placed on the center diamond and the halo acts as an accent.

Another choice you will need to make is whether there is a gap between the halo and the center diamond. The “no gap” design (below left) is the most popular, and like the flush design it makes the center diamond appear larger and more sparkly. The less popular “gap” design (below right) emphasizes the center diamond with the halo again acting as an accent.

Yet another feature to consider is whether there should be diamonds along the band (above left), or whether the band should be plain (above right). Designs with diamonds along the band, known as pave set diamonds, are the most popular of the two styles and add more overall sparkle to the ring.

In general, the rule of thumb for halo rings is that the more sparkle the ring has, the more popular it will be! For more information on halo designs, please visit our Halo Engagement Rings page.

Infinity Bands, Twisted Bands, and other Intricate Settings

Another popular trend that women are pinning are designs with intricate settings. Rings with Infinity Bands are romantic and timeless. Settings with split shanks, twisted bands and diamond-encrusted braids add extra sparkle and give a new look to classic designs. To learn more, check out our article on Twisted Band Engagement Rings.

Thin Band “Petite” Pave Engagement Rings

Like the Cushion Halo, rings with thin bands are another popular pin. Known as “Petite” designs, they are delicate and feminine. Petite refers to the width of the band (not the size of the diamond!), and typically are between 1.5mm and 2mm wide. One nice feature of the petite ring is that the thinner band makes the center diamond appear larger.

Going virtually hand in hand with the Petite style are designs with diamonds along the band. Called pave set diamonds (pronounced pah-vay) they are one of the most beautiful settings and add extra sparkle to the ring. Check out our article on Pave Engagement Rings to learn more about pave and petite pave settings.

The Classic Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring

Nothing says tradition like the classic “Tiffany” style diamond solitaire engagement ring. Introduced in 1886, it is one of the most popular pins for brides-to-be. The Classic setting is available in either four or six prongs, and is designed to hold one perfect diamond snugly and beautifully in place. It is the perfect setting for a woman who is looking for a ring filled with elegance and tradition! Find out more on our Classic Solitaire Engagement Ring page.

 

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