Fashion People Are Standing Behind These 6 Controversial Engagement Ring Trends

Although I can't believe I'm admitting this on Beyoncé's internet, I've secretly wanted the craziest engagement ring in the room for years—the type of ring that people raise their eyebrows at or half-heartedly say "Oh! That's really different!" toward. Maybe it's my superiority and individuality complex or the fact that I work in fashion, but more often than not, I'm finding myself gravitating toward nontraditional, almost controversial engagement ring trends. My friends and other editors will agree with me. Over the last few years, more and more fashion people have brushed past the inoffensive and timeless solitaire gems and dainty pavé bands in search of jaw-dropping styles that are reflective of someone's personality rather than a safe trend.

While there are arguments to be made for how overly trendy, nontraditional rings may look dated in a few years, jewelers are revealing that the number of couples looking for unique engagement rings and vintage styles is on the rise, taking to either designing their rings themselves alongside experts or opting to skew toward younger, fresher jewelry designers offering unconventional silhouettes.

"The style of an engagement ring is truly all about who is wearing it and their taste. If you are looking for a more adventurous style, I recommend settings with asymmetrical patterns or scattered diamond shapes on either side of your center stone for a fun and fresh design," explained Lorraine Brantner, gemologist and James Allen's director of sales and service. As someone who's played around in James Allen's custom digital Ring Studio to come up with the wildest and most expensive creations (to the annoyance of my boyfriend), I can attest to the detail firsthand. "Whether they're looking for something simple and classic or elaborate and trendy, we can create something perfect to meet any customer's needs," she added.

If shopping in-person is more your speed when it comes to a fully unique design, look no further than The Clear Cut, the largest digitally native natural-diamond company in the United States. Founder Olivia Landau has built a cult of personality when it comes to her bespoke Earth-mined diamond engagement ring process, working one-on-one with clients to fully help their designs come to life.

I visited the brand's New York City showroom earlier this year, where Landau walked me through the entire process of crafting a ring, top to bottom. Afterward, I fully understood why both Instagram-famous clients and regular ole couples reach out to her to make their dreams come true. "Anything our customer is looking for, we can make [it] happen," Landau explained. "Our customer wants an engagement ring with a personalized touch rather than a design straight out of the box. Many clients opt for sentimental personalizations such as hidden burnished birthstones or unique engravings."

Clearly, custom is the way to go. Even our own senior beauty editor, Jamie Schneider, got in on the fun. Her stunning toi et moi ring from the New York classic Greenwich St. Jewelers wasn't complete without an offset marquise diamond. "I love a marquise shape. It's so timeless and elegant, and I adore anything vintage inspired. The tilted orientation from the toi et moi adds a playfulness that just feels so me," she said.

Below, I've rounded up the six controversial engagement ring trends fashion people are firmly into this wedding season and beyond. From chunky, cigar-style bands to offset diamonds, these ring trends are more than what meets the eye.

East-West Settings

East-west settings are some of the most popular growing styles of the last few years, according to the diamond experts I spoke with and the fashion crowd. After Antoine Arnault, son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, proposed to his girlfriend with an east-west-set ring at the start of 2020, the look catapulted in popularity among the "if you know, you know" crowd.

Marquise-Cut Diamonds

Landau told me that, by far, one of the most surprising cuts she's been seeing more and more recently is an elongated marquise. After being deemed incredibly untrendy until the last year or so (with some gem-cutters even going so far as to shape unsold marquise diamonds into their trendier cousin, the oval), the pointed shape has risen in popularity, but there are still deniers to the It girl factor of this style.

Sculptural Bands

The Clear Cut is known for its Ahead of the Curve engagement setting, so it's no surprise the overall vibe of the sculptural style has landed on the Instagram Explore pages of prospective brides-to-be scoping out unusual ring styles. It may be harder to find a wedding band that sits flush with the style, something Brantner notes to keep in mind while shopping, but the style definitely takes my breath away.

Toi et Moi Rings

Call it the Emily Ratajkowski or Ariana Grande effect—the toi et moi style is still major among fashion people circles, but some people may think the style is too clunky and unwearable.

"We are still seeing customers wanting to customize two-stone engagement rings with different shapes, which is always fun for [the James Allen] team to work on," Brantner told me. "Two-stone rings have become trendy in recent years as more celebrities are flocking to this style. They're still uncommon enough to remain unique and a bit unconventional, especially since there are so many shape combinations to choose from."

Chunky Gold Settings

One of the most eclectic styles, chunky engagement rings including bezel-set diamonds and cigar-style gold bands are divisive among the jewelry community. While the style may not be for everyone, the people who love it are die-hards.

Tilted Rings

Just like Schneider's ring, a slightly offset ring is the style of the moment, slowly gaining traction with the crowd who prefers a more traditional look while still being slightly unique and different. "I have definitely seen an uptick in styles with offset diamonds. Similar to EmRata's divorce ring, many clients are opting to have their diamond set akimbo," explained Landau. If you're not feeling that bold, a tilted right might just do. Just look at Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's ring for inspiration.

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