In the early 2000s and 2010s, engagement ring design seemed to stall, dominated by bright-white round brilliants, micro pavé bands, halo settings, and princess cuts. By 2025, a new ubiquitous style emerged: the “90210 ring,” a massive oval solitaire endlessly replicated on TikTok until it became an algorithm-driven trend. The result is a bridal monoculture where everything feels somewhat interchangeable. At the opposite end are celebrity mega-rings that are huge but rarely unique. All signs suggest 2026 will be the year brides finally push back against this sameness.
Classic silhouettes still hold strong. The six-prong Tiffany & Co. setting from 1886 continues to define the classic solitaire, and the emerald-cut diamond—worn by icons from Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly to Beyoncé and Amal Clooney—remains timeless. Four-prong settings have emerged as a more modern option, offering a minimalist look with less visible metal to focus attention on the stone. But how do you break free from the traditional solitaire cycle and choose something more personal?
A new mood is taking shape. It’s warmer and more tactile, driven by a desire for rings that feel intentionally designed rather than AI-generated. “People are trying to connect with designers whose work truly resonates with them,” says New York jeweler Sarah Dyne, noting clients are drawn to labor-intensive, crafted settings over polished uniformity. Frank Everett, senior vice president of jewelry at Sotheby’s, observes the same shift: “The stones people are gravitating toward now are the ones with individuality, the antique cuts insiders have loved for years.”
If the 2000s were about pristine brilliance, the next wave will be defined by personality. Remember when Carrie Bradshaw recoiled at a pear-shaped diamond on a yellow gold band? Today, that exact softened silhouette and warm tone is not only acceptable but aspirational. The eclectic, personal aesthetic dominating fashion and interiors has now filtered into bridal jewelry. Antique textiles, artisan ceramics, Bode-style patchwork jackets, and the broader return to craftsmanship have shaped a generation that values character over flawlessness.
Antique stones and vintage cuts
The rise of antique diamonds—like Old Mines, Old Europeans, and elongated antique cushions—shows no sign of slowing. These stones offer softness, warmth, and a candlelit sparkle born from irregularity and hand-cut proportions. Their natural asymmetry and scarcity are exactly what modern clients are seeking.
Jessica McCormack has been central to this shift. Her silver-topped gold mountings and signature old-cut diamonds have reintroduced 19th-century styles to a new audience, including Zendaya and Dakota Johnson. Her work proves antique cuts can look modern rather than nostalgic, offering designers a new blueprint for contemporary heirlooms.
“I am getting a lot of requests for antique-cut stones—stones with interesting or unique cuts, tones, characteristics, and inclusions, all of which indicate the stone is natural,” says Los Angeles-based designer Maggi Simpkins, who has seen a surge in demand for Old Mines and elongated cushions. Jean Prounis, founder of Prounis, agrees: “Clients are increasingly drawn to the history, individuality, and hand-cut charm of these storied stones. And because these antique cuts only exist in natural diamonds, they feel even more rare and special.”
Everett interprets this surge as a direct rejection of social-media homogeneity and overly perfect aesthetics. Culture has caught on in real time: Taylor Swift’s antique-cushion engagement ring introduced an entire generation to Old Mine stones and accelerated the mainstream revival of these historical cuts.
Chunky gold and bThe 2010s favored delicate, skinny bands that played a supporting role. Now, a new decade is embracing weight and presence. Thick gold bands, sculpted profiles, and strong bezels are replacing fragile pavé stacks. These designs feel substantial and intentional, not mass-produced.
“Chunkier, thicker wedding bands are coming up often. Clients are gravitating toward a more substantial gold profile paired with a single center stone,” says Prounis. She sees a move toward gold-heavy rings with bezel settings, which are gaining traction over traditional prongs. Los Angeles-based designer Jenna Katz, known for her hand-fabricated 18k and 22k bands, hears similar requests. “Bridal clients want something chunky and not too delicate,” she says.
The look has an almost ’70s energy: bold, sculptural, warm-toned gold that feels intentional and slightly retro, without slipping into costume.
Sculptural Bands and Modernist Forms
The band itself is becoming a design statement. Instead of a simple shank-plus-stone formula, designers are exploring softened signets, undulating curves, melted textures, and forms that reference early modernist jewelry.
“The trend right now is softer, smoother form, rather than sharp or geometric,” says Simpkins, whose bespoke work increasingly features signet-inspired silhouettes with “melty, imperfect texture.” Dyne, whose practice is rooted in hand-engraved symbols, sees growing interest in tactile surfaces, like brushed gold, signaling a move away from high-polish finishes.
These sculptural and often sinuous shapes trace back to the modernist curves of early 20th-century jewelers like Suzanne Belperron and artists like Calder, as well as the soft sculptural metalwork of the Art Moderne era. This lineage extends to contemporary designers like Jessica McCormack, whom Everett calls “one of jewelry’s biggest success stories of all time.” Her Georgian-meets-modern silhouettes, silver-topped gold mountings, and signature wave bands are modern extensions of that 1930s style: rounded, hand-worked, tactile, and full of character.
The parallels with fashion and interiors are clear. The rise of vintage textiles, coastal-elite interiors filled with batik prints and irregular pottery, and the organic forms seen in Lisa Eisner’s work for The Row all reflect the same instinct. Sculptural metal feels like the jewelry equivalent of the perfect hand-thrown vase.
Shape Shifts: Ovals, Marquise, and Elongated Everything
Round stones remain popular, but elongated shapes will define the coming years: ovals, elongated antique cushions, marquise cuts, and east-west settings.
Ovals, boosted by TikTok and Hailey Bieber, now symbolize a “bigger is better” mood, offering maximum finger coverage. The “90210” trend on TikTok has propelled the giant oval solitaire into the spotlight, reposted so often it has become shorthand for supersized diamonds. “Ovals are back in a big way,” says Everett, noting that their proportions can make a two-carat stone look closer to three.
Elongated cushions are equally defining, helped along by Taylor Swift’s antique-cushion ring. They feel historical rather than glossy, offering a softer glamour than an oval. The elongated trend goes further. Katz notices shape requests becoming more specific, with strong demand for antique pears with soft, rounded tips.
Sara Beltran of the New York-based brand Dezso, whose pieces blend oceanic influences and artisanal techniques, never uses prong settings. Instead, she embraces long stones set horizontally, describing them as “modern and sexy.” East-west settings for marquise and emerald cuts are also resurging, offering a subtle but confident alternative to the usual vertical orientation. Everett notes the same revival. “There was a time when nobody wanted a marquise,” he says, “and now they are popular again, especially in east-west settings, the way Maggi Simpkins does them.”Perhaps inspired by influential stars like Dua Lipa, the palette is warming. While color isn’t replacing white diamonds, designers are noting greater interest in champagne diamonds, light yellows, honey tones, and smoky browns.
“People are much more open to warm diamonds now,” says Katz. “Champagnes, yellows—even brown tones. They are beautiful and move away from that overly bright, overly white look.” According to Dyne, the key is “choosing the right warmth and depth for the wearer. You can get muddy colors and beautiful colors.” She also notes that many clients actively seek stones with warmer tones, as they feel it distinguishes the look from lab-grown diamonds.
Beltran’s citrine and aquamarine pieces—though not strictly engagement rings—reflect this broader shift toward subtler, more earthy colors. The trend isn’t about rainbow hues, but tonal ones: sunlit and warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the engagement ring styles predicted to be popular in 2026 written in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What are the big engagement ring trends for 2026
A The focus is on personalization unique shapes and vintageinspired details Expect to see lots of oval and elongated cushion cuts cluster settings EastWest settings and textured metals like milgrain and hammered finishes
Q I keep hearing EastWest setting What does that mean
A Instead of the diamond being set vertically its set horizontally Imagine a classic emeraldcut diamond lying on its side Its a modern architectural look
Q What is a cluster setting
A Its a design where several smaller diamonds or gemstones are grouped tightly together to create the appearance of a larger single stone or a unique floralstarlike shape Its a great way to get maximum sparkle
Q Are solitaire rings going out of style
A Not at all The classic solitaire is timeless The trend is that its no longer the only default choice People are exploring more personalized and distinctive options alongside it
Q Is yellow gold coming back
A Yes but with a twist Warm metals like yellow and rose gold are very popular especially when mixed with textures or paired with vintagestyle details Its all about a softer more romantic feel
Style Design Questions
Q Why are oval diamonds so popular right now
A Ovals are flattering on most hands as they elongate the finger They also often appear larger than a round diamond of the same carat weight and offer brilliant sparkle making them a perfect blend of classic and trendy
Q Whats the benefit of an elongated cushion cut over a square one
A The elongated version has a more modern elegant silhouette similar to an oval or radiant cut while keeping the soft rounded corners of a classic cushion It feels both vintage and fresh
Q What does textured metal mean for a ring