The new wave of engagement rings break with tradition….Unconventionality is the bridal trend of the moment. After a disruptive year, with weddings postponed – and then postponed again – the classic path down the aisle has been turned on its head.
Large-scale weddings with 100 plus guests are being traded in for more intimate affairs. Frothy dresses are being cast aside for ‘fashion’ dresses, from the likes of Roksanda, BERNADETTE, and Simone Rocha, which can be worn again. The same goes for engagement rings. Millennial brides are looking for modern pieces rather than traditional heirlooms: from coloured gemstones and cocktail rings, to minimalist designs over maximalist bling.
Here are 11 designs to consider, for a refreshing way to say ‘I do’.
Vashi is the modern fine-jewellery brand, breathing new life into a staid industry. Bringing manufacturing in-store, they have streamlined and demystified costly and elusive supply chains to offer impeccable diamonds across a range of price points. Vashi's bridal selection has something for even the most exacting of brides-to-be. Customers can start from scratch with the ‘build a ring service’; however, their ready-to-wear collection may very well hold 'the one'. This classic solitaire strikes a perfect balance between tradition and modernity. With a sleek and simple gold band, it lets the dazzling solitaire diamond take centre stage.
Launched in 2019, Fenton’s rise in popularity has been cataclysmic. With an online-only business model, this has been compounded by a year of lockdown in which engagements soared for couples who realised how compatible they were after spending 24/7 within one metre of each other. Taking inspiration from vintage jewellery to produce modern heirlooms, Fenton specialises in bold gemstones and offers a riot of colour. This pleasingly chunky signet ring, set with an asscher-cut emerald, is an homage to the Art-Deco era. Perfect for brides who prefer an adrogynous feel to their jewels.
Playful brides will love this yellow gold and diamond ring from Dior. What could be more romantic than the joyful declaration of love in the form of looping ‘Toi et Moi’, punctuated by a pair of white diamonds?
Alice Cicolini’s jewellery is exuberantly colourful. Drawing inspiration from the Silk Route, every design is handmade using Persian enamelling techniques passed down through generations. We love the use of mixed metallics, and the sugary pink tourmaline is definitely something of a conversation piece.
Bringing a touch of Scandi cool to proceedings is Copenhagen-based fine jewellery designer Sophie Bille Brahe. Known for her understated approach to fine jewels, she quickly gained a cult following for her inimitable fashion-forward, contemporary pieces. She designs almost exclusively in yellow gold, diamonds, and pearls for a simple, chic aesthetic. We love this deconstructed ring, with subtly different sized stones for an avant-garde twist on an eternity ring.
Receiving a dainty box from Chanel will undoubtedly spark joy, particularly when it reveals this ring inside. The camelia is a quintessential brand code from the house of Chanel, lovingly infused into their face creams, and stitched into the brocade of the tweed jackets. Now it can sit resplendent in white gold and diamond around your finger too.
A ring fit for a queen, the Crown Double Diamond Ring Stack combines yellow and white gold with diamonds. The intricate details resemble lace, with a nod to bridal tradition. We love tactile jewellery, and this ring cluster is simply made to play with and re-stack to suit your personal style.
Jessica McCormack has that unique talent of creating jewels so beautiful they make your heart skip a beat. I for one am fully obsessed with everything McCormack does (a quick scroll through the saved tab of my Instagram account is solid proof), but her button-back rings are a true understated signature. This charming ruby heart ring would make a fantastic alternative engagement ring. It's also available in emerald, sapphire, or white diamond if your heart desires.
Minka Jewels puts strikingly alluring coloured gemstones at the centre of what they do, and this blue tourmaline cocktail ring is no exception. Destination wedding off the cards? No matter, looking at this stone is so mesmerising it's like diving head first into the Pacific Ocean.
Heart shaped jewellery is anything but passé, especially when imagined into a glorious chunky ring by third-generation jeweller Carolina Bucci. What Bucci has done is no mean feat, she has made traditional Florentine techniques de rigeur with her modern designs. This ring, with the appearance of frosted gold, is perfectly set with a smattering of pavé diamonds. You'll fall in love all over again if presented with this beauty.
New-York based jeweller Jemma Wynne set their precious gemstones with a ready-to-wear sensibility, for a intentionally devil-may-care vibe. We love the offbeat pairing of this pear-cut diamond and asscher-cut blue sapphire, the very definite of undone glamour.
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