If you plan on getting an engagement ring, the initial excitement of your prospective nuptials will be increased further as you think of the sparkly item of jewellery that you will soon be wearing. But while some brides-to-be know exactly what they want, others may be uncertain.
How the choice of the ring comes about may vary, of course. A proposal may be sudden, ring and all, or it may be that the formal popping of the question is at the end of a process during which you have discussed what sort of ring to get.
Indeed, it may be that the lady gets to choose all by herself, which makes sense in some ways. After all, she will be the one wearing it.
What Different Kinds Of Engagement Rings Could You Choose?
When it comes to choosing a ring, there are several possible style choices you can consider. These include:
- Traditional and vintage designs
- The latest fashions
- Something very bespoke and individual to you
Each of these is a perfectly reasonable option, although there will be some who are not keen on the second possibility, which may mean trying to emulate the jewellery of a celebrity, generally with a more modest version to reflect the reality of most people’s budgets.
If this is how you feel, that leaves an interesting contrast between the other two possibilities. Do you go for tradition, or something nobody else has done before?
When considering vintage styles, it is worth bearing in mind that this is not always clearly defined. This is for several reasons:
- Some things that were in fashion a long time ago are back in fashion today, or never went out of fashion, for example, certain cuts of diamond
- A ring might combine different elements of vintage style in a way that was not common in the past
- Some rings might take the style of a vintage ring, but modify it
Is ‘Bigger And Bolder’ A New Way Of Expressing Vintage Style?
The last of these has been highlighted as a contemporary trend. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the style of vintage rings is back, but in “bigger and bolder” form.
What this means is that the stones themselves are larger than those your grandmother might have worn, while the way they are set is more modern, using contemporary techniques.
This means “dainty, delicate vintage styles” have given way to “chunkier proportions and contemporary settings that feel equal parts nostalgic and fashion-forward.”
According to the article, this trend has been apparent for some time, but was accelerated by Taylor Swift’s ring after she got engaged to American football star Travis Kelce.
This may, of course, be something that inspires you if you are a ‘swiftie’, or, if you have the attitude described above of not wanting to follow fashion, it could have the opposite effect.
At the same time, it is an inescapable fact that whether you are looking at a more vintage style or something new and more personalised, there will be celebs driving either fashion. In this case, the most fashionable vintage will actually be one that marries the old and the new.
For some, the best way forward would be to do something completely different. If you want a bespoke ring that is unique and unlike anything we have in store, or that you have seen before, we can do that.
Indeed, it may be said that working with customers to provide a ring that is truly different and novel in various ways is a challenge we greatly enjoy doing, while you will be delighted with the result, too.
Can Vintage With A Bit Of Bespoke Style Work For You?
However, there is a further possibility. Rather than mixing vintage styles with new fashions, you could take a vintage style and add in some bespoke elements.
This is proving to be an increasingly popular approach, according to Gigwise, which has highlighted how many couples take this approach when seeking ‘non-traditional’ rings.
Such rings include features such as “coloured gemstones, antique textures, and creative design details,” it notes. Among the elements sought today are vintage aquamarine gems because pale blues generate a “timeless and distinctive appearance”.
The article went on to look at what different jewellery brands are doing to respond to this trend, but ultimately, what is happening is not the mass production of new, off-the-shelf styles, but more personalisation and innovation.
In effect, the question of whether to go for tradition or modern novelty is a false dichotomy, because many a ring chosen today will mix elements of both.
Ultimately, it is your engagement ring, so whether you want something that looks antique, follows the modern trend towards aquamarine or includes something totally novel, we look forward to helping to make it real.