Whether you’re choosing your own engagement ring or looking for inspiration for the perfect piece to match your heartfelt proposal, we shine a light on the biggest engagement ring trends for 2023.
Just as wedding dress trends ebb and flow with the fashion movements of the moment, jewellery styles come in and out of favour.
This is also true when it comes to engagement ring trends. So if you want a ring that’s going to hold its own in the style stakes, take a look at our edit of the latest on-trend engagement ring styles for 2023.
2023 Engagement Ring Trends
With social media and celebrity influence stronger than ever, brides-to-be are looking for something to make their engagement ring stand out from the crowds, and proposal picture-clad Instagram feeds.
We spoke to Plum Diamonds co-founder Kristy Cullinane to discover the engagement ring trends to look out for in 2023 wedding proposal season.
From bold coloured diamonds, to chunky bands and oval diamonds, the old adage that ‘size isn’t everything’ certainly rings true when it comes to looking ahead to engagement ring trends in 2023.
’90s-Inspired Classics
It’s no secret that Gen Zs love the ’90s, and we expect to see even more influences from that decade as these couples pair off. Look out for geometric cuts with settings that we’d actually consider fairly traditional such as a pear-shaped diamonds set atop a simple pave band.
Maple Leaf Diamonds 18ct White Gold Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring, £3,250
White Metal
We’re seeing a new trend toward smaller, more restrained carat sizes, alongside white metals, especially platinum. Platinum – unlike white gold, which contains yellow gold mixed with other metals – is naturally white and doesn’t require plating to stay white.
Platinum Diamond Halo Ring, £3,500
Bezels and Chunkier Bands
We’re seeing chunkier bands and bezels coming back onto the scene, after a few years of a frenzy for very delicate rings.
Besides being chic and a tiny bit daring, bezels are a great choice for durability. Nothing will protect your diamond more than a bezel setting, which hugs your diamond all around, protecting it.
Diamond Engagement Ring Emily Round in 18K White Gold, now £1,097
Buy now from The Diamond Store
Oval Diamonds
This classic, soft shape is not going anywhere. Oval diamonds are timeless because they have a graceful, elongated look that flatters the finger. We keep seeing celebrities getting engaged with their oval-cut diamond rings.
Taylor & Hart Thyme Oval Engagement Ring, £1,440
Cushion Diamonds
Square cushions with their subdued sparkle can feel a bit vintage and are making a steady comeback. For a while, we saw a trend toward elongated cushions (with a length-to-width ratio of about 1:2+), but there is more interest for square cuts (1:1 length-to-width ratio) again for 2023.
Grand Delicate Halo Ring, from £1,145
Yellow Gold & Recycled Gold
White-coloured metals (platinum and white gold) are going strong in part thanks to the ’90s comeback, but we don’t expect yellow gold to drop off the radar at all. It’s bold and bright, and feels organic!
Recycled gold will continue to be important in engagement rings in 2023, and reusing gold that’s already in circulation is important.
18ct Gold Diamond Three Stone Ring, now £2,080
Modest Centres
Cluster rings typically have a centre diamond surrounded by a mix of smaller diamonds, sometimes set asymmetrically. It’s a pretty, feminine look that’s been trending over the past couple of years.
In contrast to that, we’ve seen an increased interest in requested rings with one centre diamond with more modest proportions instead. It’s a cleaner, less organic look that might be in response to the recent economic climate or just the pendulum swinging away from the large centres and clusters from the past few years.
Platinum Diamond Solitaire Ring, £2,548
Non-Traditional Engagement Rings
As micro-weddings and unusual ceremonies have become super-popular since the pandemic, brides are looking to display their uniqueness and creativity more than ever which will continue into 2023.
This is where non-traditional engagement rings come in, perfect for the modern bride, whether that’s a rose gold understated style, a vintage-style colourful ring or an abstract shape.
Kimaï Billie Pavé Ring, starting from £3,040
Pre-Loved Engagement Rings
As up-cycling and being aware of the environment becomes more and more important, 2023 is set to be the year where brides and grooms will buy pre-loved rings more than ever.
Evelyn Diamond Mid-century Engagement Ring, £1,990
Buy now from The Vintage Ring Company
Black Diamond Engagement Rings
Black diamond engagement rings are a modern trend that is on the rise and particularly popular with male engagements, like this stylish, understated option from Beaverbrooks.
Men’s Titanium Black Diamond Engagement Ring, £245
Colourful Engagement Rings
Coloured diamonds and gemstones are showing no sign of slowing down in popularity going into 2023, and are a great way to make simple and elegant styles even brighter and bolder.
Whether you opt to set them on a white, yellow or rose gold band, the plethora of coloured gemstones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires will enable you to express your own personal style and creativity with your engagement ring.
Blue Topaz and Diamond Shoulders Astoria Ring, £1,895
Buy now from The Diamond Store
Vintage/Heirloom-style Engagement Rings
Just as vintage and up-cycled wedding dresses are set to be a big trend in 2023, vintage engagement rings are also making waves. Opt for Art Deco and ultra glamorous just like this Jenny Packham design for Goldsmiths.
Jenny Packham Three-stone Brilliant Cut Art Deco Style Ring, £1,875
Three-Stone Rings
A diamond solitaire is considered to be the archetypal engagement ring. However, when Meghan Markle upgraded her gold band and solitaire to a three-stone engagement ring in 2020, new trend took off.
Most often a thin band with a large diamond or gem supported by two smaller stones, the three stones are said to represent a couple’s past, present and future. Add a twist with unique colours and diamond cuts.
18ct White Gold Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, £4,750
5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Ring
We spoke to London jeweller Emma Clarkson Webb who specialises in the design of engagement rings, who answered the most common questions and things to bear in mind before shopping for your ring in 2022.
- How much should an average engagement ring cost?
Spend enough to make your eyes water but not enough that you’re not able to whisk your significant other away on a honeymoon. Don’t bankrupt yourself – all this nonsense about spending the equivalent of three months salary is an old-fashioned marketing gimmick!
- How do I find out my partner’s ring size?
We have lots of questions which we ask to work out finger size including pictures of hands, the size of rings she currently wears, shoe and dress size etc. To avoid raising suspicion I also recommend using a pen and paper to trace the inside diameter of an existing ring at home.
- What should I consider before approaching a jewellery brand?
I would always recommend doing your due diligence – Instagram is a great way of getting a feel for a designer’s style and design aesthetic. Speak to your friends and ask them about their experience of choosing an engagement ring: a word of mouth recommendation is always the ultimate endorsement.
- What are the four C’s?
Carat weight, colour, cut, and clarity are all very important characteristics to a diamond that affect price and beauty. The 4 C’s are really important to consider when buying a diamond ring as it’s essential to understand why a certain stone might differ in value to another stone.
- Should I consult my partner first before sourcing the ring?
A few hints are always a good idea. It’s personal preference whether to involve your partner – some have a specific idea of what they would like, others love the element and romance of surprise.
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Read More:
- The Top Wedding Trends for 2023 You Need to Know
- The Top Wedding Dress Styles and Trends for 2023
- The Best Bridesmaid Dress Trends and Ideas for 2023
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