What Engagement Rings and Diamond Settings Will Shine Brightest in 2013?
Most American women shudder to think of a proposal with a skimpy diamond ring, but until the 20th century, the majority of engagement rings didn’t feature much of anything when it came to diamond settings. It was much more common to receive a simple band at the wedding itself. Some brides, especially those with simple means, were proposed to with a sewing thimble. Luckily this tradition did not last forever, and diamonds were introduced and encouraged as engagement rings, starting in the 1930s. Even though some women accept rings made from non-traditional stones like sapphires or emeralds, nearly 80% of American women today prefer diamond settings.
These days, it’s not just the diamond that’s important, but also its presentation. An up-and-coming trend for 2013 features what is known as pave engagement rings. “Pave” comes from the French word for “paved.” The diamonds are seated close together, the same way historical streets were covered in cobblestones. An extremely popular pave setting today is the halo technique, when significantly smaller diamonds surround a dazzling, large diamond. Often with this setting is additional pave work, with small stones lining the band as well. A great example of this kind of engagement ring is the one Katherine Heigl received from her now-husband, Josh Kelly.
It’s not just the stones that are getting all the attention this season. Be sure to keep an eye out for rose gold engagement ring trends. Rose gold is a rich, faintly blush-tinged yellow that looks particularly stunning when paired with a canary or champagne diamond, also hot picks this year. Blake Lively’s ring, a lovely light pink diamond, uses rose gold in its setting, as does LeAnn Rimes’. While platinum and white gold will always be considered the standard choices, a rose gold engagement ring offers uniqueness and romanticism, two things the cutting-edge world of fashion sometimes misses out on.
If 2013 is anything like the past few years, there should be a rash of new celebrity engagements and trends to follow besides just pave settings and rose gold. Let’s just hope things don’t go so retro that proposals with thimbles become popular again!
