Engagement Ring Trends of 2006

More and more women are deciding to tie the knot this year, whether it be their first or fifth time. Top jewelers forecast this year's hottest trends in engagement ring design and pinpoint five styles that many fiancées will be wearing before the big day: the classic cuts, titanium settings, the vintage pieces, the bezel and floating styles and the colored stone rage.
Classic cuts are making a huge comeback. The good thing about classically designed rings is that you can still wear them tastefully in the next three decades. They make great heirloom pieces as well. Most women are now leaning towards getting a classic-cut diamond solitaire, or if that's too much, at least a diamond accented ring. Despite the colored stone trend, diamonds still appear to be a girl's best friend-at least for the engagement anyway. Round and emerald-cut diamonds are still the top sellers, followed closely by the classic oval cut. The pavé setting, where the band is studded seamlessly with diamonds, is also an elegant way to set diamonds. This setting is also poised to be a big trend in the coming year.
Platinum is still the top choice to set precious stones, however it is no longer plain and simple. Most females now want the metal carved with designs or inlaid with other gemstones while the thick and simple platinum band is still the top choice for grooms. White and yellow gold are also quite saleable and are the preferred metals for those on a limited budget.
A new trend in metals that is poised to equal platinum is the growing use of titanium in conventional jewelry settings. Studies show that a large number of men and women have developed allergic reactions to the common precious metals, so they are starting to opt for titanium-set jewelry. Titanium is also a very good investment because it is actually a stronger metal than gold and silver and so far has also proved to be the most "bio-compatible" and hypoallergenic. It is also lighter than platinum and looks very similar to white gold. It also supports any precious stone as well as other conventional precious metals.
The third trend is bringing back the old to the new. Following the vintage rage set by fashion houses, antique engagement rings are making a striking comeback. Women are now looking for rings that have a bit of nostalgia found in the gold filigree settings and mod designs. Stones are usually cut in the Old European round style with a lot of meticulous details like tiny diamonds and beaded edges. More sophisticated and mobile women are making vintage rings their choice and the market for diamond vintage rings have expanded rapidly to meet this demand. Vintage engagement rings usually have varied cuts that are combined in one setting and this makes the rings highly appealing to the varied and fickle tastes of today's women.
The Bezel setting and the "floating style" settings are also hot now. These are techniques where the stones are skillfully placed on a simple band to make the entire ring look as delicate as possible. No worries though; these styles are sturdy enough to withstand daily use. If you are bored of the "normal" stone settings like the emerald or princess cuts, a popular new cut that uses the latest stone-cutting technique is called the Zales cut, which can show off more facets and increases the stone's brilliance.
The last big trend in engagement rings is using colored stones over diamonds. A growing number of women are leaning towards wearing colored stones to look more individualized and lively. Colored diamonds are also quite popular - the pink and yellow varieties sell very well. These stones are placed in the new tension settings or on the classic four-prong setting. They are also set in a filigree design to achieve a vintage look. Birthstones or favorite colors are usually the deciding factors for women eying a colored stone engagement ring.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Engagement Rings
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