Latest wedding ring trends

Traditional wedding rings are fairly simple in design, typically a plain metal band. But modern trend has seen more intricate wedding ring design, with carat stones and carving details similar to engagement rings.

A wedding ring and engagement ring are traditionally worn stacked on the same finger, but it’s also common to wear the engagement ring on one hand, and the wedding ring on the other.

In this article, we’re going to look at some of the latest wedding ring trends, that buck the tradition of simple metal bands.

Colored Gems

There are some great alternatives to traditional diamonds, and they’re becoming more popular than ever. CNBC, Bloomberg, and other news outlets have reported that millennial couples are snubbing diamonds, and the diamond industry is experiencing a slump because of it.

Sapphires

Sapphire has long been used by royalty, and sapphire continues to be one of the most sought after alternatives to diamond. Sales of sapphire engagement rings went through the roof after Kate Middleton’s engagement ring was revealed. Sapphire is also a great gemstone choice for its hardness rating of 9 on the Mohs scale, just a step below diamond’s 10.

Rubies

Ruby is the red variety of corundum - all other colors, including colorless, are called sapphires. The most sought after ruby color is “pigeon blood red”, which is prized for its purplish red hue, with vivid saturation and medium-dark tones. Singer and actress Jessica Simpson revealed a gorgeous ruby ring, flanked by two smaller diamonds, when she became engaged to singer Eric Johnson.

Morganite

Morganite is an excellent alternative to pink diamond. It’s a pink to orange-pink variety of beryl, and has a high degree of brilliance, giving it a lustrous pink hue. They’re also much less expensive than diamonds, costing around $300 per carat, compared to diamond’s $2,000 or more.

Intricate bands and engravings

Engraved messages will always be in fashion, as it adds a touch of sentimentality to the ring. Whether it’s personal poem stanzas or simple declarations of love, engravings are like the final piece of the wedding ring puzzle. Laser-engraving companies like Needham Laser use specific jewelry machines that can make highly sophisticated engravings and marks on rings, and can even write almost microscopic lettering to be shared as a secret between you and your partner.

The actual wedding band itself doesn’t have to be a simple band either, as the band itself can have trendy curves and cuts. Double-bands and two-stone rings are also very much in trend.

Emerald cuts

For diamond rings, emerald cuts are the most beautiful and sophisticated silhouettes, and are perfect for larger carat sizes. Even set east-west, emerald cuts allow a lot of room for adorning the ring with other stones, whether it’s three-stone settings or multi-stone bands.