Brides across the globe have had to content with a myriad of wedding-related issues over the last 12 months: rules, restrictions, cancellations, tucking away a dress time-after-time and dealing with florists, bakers and more going out of business.
The pandemic has hit the wedding industry particularly hard. However, as we all look toward a brighter and more “normal” future, it seems one area is on the rise. As a beautiful symbol of hope, romance and a future together, interest in engagement rings has boomed since last March.
Looking ahead, we check out the top engagement ring trends for 2021.
Bespoke designs
With all the additional savings many people are enjoying in lockdown, couples are starting to invest in one-of-a-kind, bespoke engagement rings that really show off their love, style, taste and personalities.
Couples are embracing their creativity, developing mood boards, and enlisting help of industry-leading ring designers to create bespoke rings in the finest metals and stones around. If you can’t have a wedding for the foreseeable future, it seems sensible to invest in a sensational engagement ring instead this year.
Coloured stones
One of the biggest trends of the early 2000s, coloured stones are making a huge comeback when it comes to engagement. The rise in crystal usage in the last few years has inspired many brides- and grooms-to-be to incorporate their favourite and most symbolic stones into their rings.
Rare and semi-precious stones are particularly desirable at the moment. Expect to see red spinels, blue sapphires, emeralds and more adorning the hands of your recently engaged friends in 2021.
Unique details
From horizontal-set emerald-cut diamonds to crafting a completely unique piece with a ring designer, many proposers are searching for rings with unique and original details.
Bored with classic solitaire-cut diamonds, brides and grooms today are hoping to receive a ring that showcases their personality and taste. Social media has accelerated the trend for original and unique ring designs. Stars like Ariana Grande have recently revealed non-traditional rings that are inspiring younger couples to embrace unique ring details.
Cultural references
More and more brides-to-be are embracing their cultural heritage. From the clothes they wear to hairstyles and dining, connecting with your cultural and racial identity has never been more significant.
In a move toward accepting and championing who they are, some people are looking for cultural references in their engagement rings too. In Chilean culture, both partners receive an engagement ring; French brides-to be favour gemstones over diamonds, and in Kenya beaded jewellery replaces rings all together. In 2021, expect to see many people opting for less traditional and more cultural engagement rings and jewellery.