Credits: Erstwhile Jewelry Instagram
If you are embracing the idea of buying an engagement ring, you might have in mind a splendid solitaire in white gold or platinum, as per tradition.
To tell the truth, the solitaire always remains at the top of the most popular engagement rings ranking, however in recent years new proposals have made their way, as long as old models reworked in a modern key are making a comeback.
THE SOLITAIRE
The solitaire is the typical ring associated to the engagement moment. It’s the romantic ring par excellence, especially if the central gem is a diamond. The diamond is the perfect stone to represent the promise of a unique and invincible love.
Matteo Giunta and Federica Pellegrini, with her super romantic ring designed by Tiffany.
Credits: www.donnemagazine.it
Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and a gorgeous solitaire featuring a pear-shaped diamond.
Credits: Margot Robbie Instagram / www.dailymail.co.uk
A very elegant and original variant of the solitaire is the EAST-WEST setting, in which the gem (which must be elongated, like an oval, marquise-cut or even pear-shaped diamond) lies in its seat in a horizontal line.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and the wonderful ring received from Michael Douglas.
Credits community.matrimonio.com
The charming ring designed by Neil Lane which Ellen De Generes has gifted to then fiancée Portia De Rossi.
Credits: Neil Lane / www.engagementringbible.com
If you are open to buying a ring with multiple stones, here below you can find some of the most fascinating models:
CONTRARIE’ (“You & Me” or “Toi et Moi”)
The band does not close and has two gems at the end points, which meet in a spiral, facing each other and, in some cases, also crossing.
In my opinion this model represents the couple more than any other ring and I believe that this is precisely its meaning: two characters that apparently oppose, but then meet, fall in love and give life to a precious, harmonious and lasting union.
I think it is a very romantic model and, although it has disappeared in the past decades, I am pleased to note that it is making a huge comeback.
This is the ring that Napoleon gave to Josephine de Beauharnais in 1796.
Credits: @Reuters / www.dailymail.co.uk
Jacqueline Kennedy and her famous ring with diamonds and emerald, designed by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Credits: www.ritani.com
The engagement ring of Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, created by British designer Stephen Webster.
Credits: Machine Gun Kelly Instagram / www.dailymail.co.uk
THREE-STONE
It is also known as “trinity” or “trilogy”.
The trilogy is made up of three gems that represent past-present-future.
The most popular model offers three diamonds having same color, cut, clarity grade and carat weight, but sometimes the central gem is bigger than the two side stones.
There are several variants: in some rings, the side diamonds are cut in a different shape than the central stone (e.g. the central stone is round shaped and side stones are heart or pear-shaped, arranged horizontally); other rings show diamonds and colored gems.
The three-stone diamond ring signed by Cartier which Nicole Kidman has received from her second husband Keith Urban.
Credits: photo.voici.fr
The three-stone ring which Priscilla Chang has received from Mark Zuckerberg consists of one central ruby and two side diamonds.
Credits: @Deano / Splash News / www.dailymail.co.uk
Henry Hager has gifted Jenna Bush with a three-stone ring matching a central diamond and two side sapphires.
Credits: www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com
The three-stone ring which Jessica Simpson has received from her husband Eric Johnson is designed by Neil Lane and is made of a central ruby and two side pear-shaped diamonds.
Credits: Rex Features / www.glamourmagazine.co.uk ; Credits: www.blogbrilliance.com
SIDESTONES
In this case, small gems (generally cut in brilliant round shape, or baguette or pear shape) are placed next to the central stone in order to add brightness and elegance. They can be mounted vertically or horizontally, they can be diamonds or colored gems. The most popular setting has prongs, but equally popular are the bar and the channel settings.
Miranda Kerr is wearing the engagement ring gifted by her second husband Evan Spiegel.
Credits: Miranda Kerr Instagram / www.graziamagazine.com
This is the ring George Clooney proposed to Amal Alamuddin with.
Credits: www.jfico.com
5 STONE RING (also called “riviera”)
I truly love this model, although seldom gifted as engagement ring.
It shows a row of gems (usually in an odd number) mounted one next to the other. The riviera with five or seven diamonds with prongs is very popular, but sometimes you can also see the channel settings.
In my opinion, the Regards Rings (about which we discussed in a previous post) are a kind of 5 stone ring.
Credits: www.recarlo.it
ETERNITY
This is timeless model, often used as a wedding ring or celebration ring for anniversaries or birth of a baby.
This model requires a row of gems to be mounted one next to the other, composing the entire circumference of the band and representing endless love. Its elegance is eternal.
Most of the eternity rings are composed of classic colorless diamonds, however in recent years, there has been a growing interest in colored gems eternity bands, giving a youthful and cheerful look to the hand. So many designers are proposing colored eternity bands (with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, peridots, aquamarines, pearls, etc.), in which the stones are identical in weight, cut and color grade.
Eternity rings composed of different colored gems are also very lovely and create a rainbow effect. You may also like eternity rings made of gems belonging to the same color and arranged from the lightest to the darkest, fading in a crescendo of shades.
Eva Riccobono and her elegant eternity ring.
Credits: www.oggi.it
During a make-up session, Marilyn was wearing the well-known eternity band gifted by Joe Di Maggio.
Credits: www.themarilynmonroecollection.com / photo by Milton Greene
The first engagement ring Prince Ranieri proposed with to Grace Kelly was an eternity band designed by Cartier and featuring diamonds and rubies, recalling Montecarlo official colors.
Credits: www.thedress.it Credits: www.corriere.it
Credits: Collection Colors of Love Fabergé
Credits: www.faberge.com
CLUSTER
This setting features a central gem surrounded by slightly smaller stones for a “flower” effect. The center stone is usually mounted in a bezel setting or prongs setting.
It’s a super feminine and classic.
This is the engagement ring of Ian Somerhalder to Nikki Reed.
Credits: www.uneekjewelry.com
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom announcing their engagement!
Credits: Katy Perry Instagram
Penelope Cruz and her sapphire ring gifted by her husband Javier Bardem.
Credits: SplashNews / sehdevjewellers.medium.com Credits: www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com
The beautiful hand of Bee Schaffer wearing the engagement ring which she was gifted by her husband Francesco Carrozzini.
Credits: Venturelli – Wire Image / www.thecut.comt
It’s almost taken for granted that an engagement ring includes a diamond or a colored gem because a gemstone usually symbolizes love. However, and fortunately, there is no written rule prohibiting the purchase of a ring without stones! When I was a little girl, the so-called gold “little bands” were very popular. They were made of gold and could be enhanced with hidden and poetic decorations and engravings. For the more pragmatic people, little gold bands are a romantic and comfortable solution!
Which model is right for you? 😉