Of all the engagement ring trends we’ve seen lately, I may be most surprised by the one that stood out on the show floors of Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
There’s been plenty of talk of white metals, lab-grown diamonds, and customized, deeply personal engagement rings. Those were all on display in abundance in Vegas, with a number of truly unforgettable options to boot. But the style that stole the show this year (at least in my experience) was the elongated center stone.
I have a complicated relationship with the marquise cut—it’s just not for me—but I’ve softened when the stone is set in an east-west fashion, like a football or an eye. In these latest popular iterations, it is set lengthwise, yet with its elongated proportions and complementary settings, the marquise has taken on a refreshed, irresistible presence.
The same is true for oval, pear-shape, and even more rectangular cuts like the Asscher or emerald. The proportions on these cuts make them appear skinnier, elongating the finger and taking up more vertical space, but the carat weights are still relatively significant—these are not small stones (though smaller is widely available, if that’s what the budget allows).
Though I’ve long found these particular shapes to be more niche—they don’t have the mass appeal of a classic round brilliant, that’s for certain—right now they’re making a case for alternative cuts that’s hard to ignore. Whether they have the staying power of styles that swept the engagement ring industry in the past—like the halo, RIP for now—we’ll have to see. But if a wave of consumers can see engagement rings as collectible (as in, over time they accumulate more than one), not just an investment (financial or emotional), then there’s room for more fun and fluctuation in our style choices.
Top: Cupid ring in 18k yellow gold with 3.72 ct. diamond, price on request; Rachel Boston
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
