Choosing a piece of jewelry you will wear for the rest of your life is no simple task. It not only has to be beautiful and symbolic,it also has to say something about you, the buyer. We scoured the internet for engagement ring predictions and trends for 2023 to make sure you tie the knot just right. Here are five of them:
Chunky engagement rings
Heavy, chunky engagement rings are nothing new, and actually predate delicate solitaire settings. They offer a greater visual impact than more delicate designs and in contrast to prongs, wider bands actually decrease the exposure of the center diamond.
One high-profile celebrity to wear a chunky ring is Emily Ratajkowski, whose wedding ring set included an asymmetrical cluster ring, coupled with a thick gold cigar band.
Vintage-inspired engagement rings
Going for a vintage-inspired engagement ring offers a wide variety of styles (like Art Deco) and diamond cuts. For couples who wish to customize their pieces, a vintage-inspired ring allows both bride and groom the option to set a precious heirloom within a new, more modern design.
LGD-set engagement rings
Lab-grown diamonds have been increasingly popular with younger consumers, namely millennials and Gen-Zs, who are looking not only for sustainability, but also for a larger stone for a much cheaper price tag.
A recent research by MVI Marketing LLC has shown “clear evidence that the mined diamond business is now being cannibalized” by the lab-grown diamond business. The study found that among those consumer respondents who have recently shopped for and purchased an engagement ring or wedding set, 46% were shown a lab-grown diamond while shopping. Of those who were not shown a lab-grown diamond, 87% said they “may or definitely would have bought” a lab-grown diamond if it had been presented to them.
In addition, 46% of jewelry retailer respondents in this study (who currently sell lab-grown diamonds) said lab-grown diamonds are “absolutely” taking business away from their mined diamond.
Single-stone engagement rings
Solitaire – a ring with a single diamond – will never, ever go out of style, and they’re not predicted to fade out in 2023, either. De Beers’ round brilliant diamond – the brand signature – is still the most sought-after cut there, while other jewelers report that customers are increasingly gravitating toward weighty gypsy-set and bezel rings, as well as large-stones with higher carat and clarity, according to a piece dedicated to the subject in Vogue.
Shopping together – and for a single band
Last but not least, one welcome trend is couples shopping for their engagement rings together. According to Matthieu Brichet, Europe CEO of Graff who’s quoted in the Vogue piece, there has been a rise “in people browsing brick-and-mortar stores together.”
Another emerging trend is opting for all-in-one engagement rings; i.e., one ring for both the engagement and the wedding.
