Giving an engagement ring as a promise to marry the love of your life has been a tradition for a long, long time. Some say the ancient Egyptians started the trend and that the ancient Greeks adopted it. Others say it was the ancient Romans who started it all. And then there’s the diamond engagement ring, which became wildly popular in the Western World in the 1940s.
However it all began, the point is that today the diamond or cubic zirconia engagement ring is still the everlasting symbol of love and one of the most important purchases of anyone’s life. But you don’t want just any engagement ring. You want a ring that’s not only unique to your tastes but also one that reflects contemporary style – something that’s an eternal reminder of that day when a knee was bent and you screamed “YES!”
With that in mind, today we’re taking a look at some of the hottest trends in engagement rings for 2014. Diamonds may be forever, but styles aren’t. You want a ring that’s a symbol of your time, and The Knot recently broke down exactly the type of rings that are most often finding their way onto bride-to-be’s fingers in 2014. Let’s take a look!
Floral Accents
Spring may be well behind us and winter might be on the way, but something is still blooming in 2014 – engagement rings. Ring designs that prominently feature vines, petals and other floral details are big this year, including those with little flower buds sprouting down bands. It’s a style that’s as feminine as it is romantic.
East-West Settings
Vertical is out in 2014, and horizontal is in. An east-west stone setting makes for a fresh vibe and can trick the eye into thinking it’s bigger than it actually is – a feature no one is going to complain about. It’s recommended that oval-shaped, marquise or emerald cuts be chosen for the best horizontal setting results.
Colored Stones
Particularly for those women with nontraditional styles, colored engagement rings are good choices in 2014. Fancier colors (pink, yellow) can be truly stunning, but they aren’t your only options. Most people think of sapphires of being blue, and that is one great option, but they also come in yellows and oranges. Finally, rubies and emeralds are two more popular options this year.
Double Halo Settings
Yes, it’s true that the halo setting has been a popular one for a while now, but 2014 has seen an uptick in double-halo rings, which result in even more amounts of sparkling beauty!
Mixed Metal
Platinum or gold? Yellow or rose gold? You could go back and forth on that debate in your head a million times and still not be sure. In 2014, many are avoiding making that decision all together. How? They’re putting both or all three in mixed-metal bands.
Twisting Bands
There’s an old saying that “it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,” and many engagement ring designers seem to be taking inspiration from it this year. Bands with unique twists ranging from artsy swirling diamond bands to streamlined braided takes on this approach bring a contemporary element to the classic solitaire.
Art Deco
Speaking of swing, here’s another nod to the 20s – art deco! This type of design may have faded from architecture long ago, but its timeless beauty and glamor is making a big comeback in engagement rings.
Bows
How does a literal tying of the knot sound? To many women who’ve said yes so far this year, it sounds pretty great. Engagement ring bands featuring bows allow you to embrace your feminine side, and the design can be mimicked on your wedding band too.
Splashy Side Views
Don’t be boring — add a little splash to the sides of your engagement ring! It’s common to focus on the top of rings because that is the part of the ring that will be most often noticed. But if you’re going to be wearing a ring for the rest of your life, don’t you want every part of it too look fabulous? Of course you do, and that’s why rings with splashy side views have taken off big time this year.
Split Shank
We can all agree that a band full of diamonds is great, right? Well, what if you could have something even better? Pavé bands that split in two make for rings that are twice as nice!
Rose Gold
Pink is of course a historically feminine and beautiful color, but it’s also a modern color for engagement rings. Rose or “pink” gold has made a tremendous comeback, and not just because it is pretty unto itself – it also flatters almost all skin tones!
Cubic Zirconia
Don’t forget to consider your cubic zirconia engagement ring options, either. Birkat Elyon has an enormous stock of engagement rings, including all of the latest trends as well as the classics. Whether you’re looking for the perfect diamond alternative for cz jewelry to wear every day while keeping your authentic jewels safely locked away for special occasions, you’ll find a ring that will look fantastic on your finger at Birkat Elyon.