Three rings for the elven kings under the… nope, wrong rings, and wrong count. While rings do have a prominent place in fantasy tropes, they’re also an integral part of some of the deepest, most meaningful real-life fantasies. For instance, every girl who dreams of getting married starts this fantasy with an engagement which means that she can, pretty much, visualize the perfect ring.
Now, unless she specifically told you what ring she wants, chances are that you won’t get the exact match. However, it’s also possible that you manage to top even her wildest fantasies. This way, you’ll show that you care, that you’re willing to make an effort, as well as that you are willing to pay the price of her fantasy’s fulfillment. With all of this in mind and without further ado, here are the top five engagement ring trends you need to know in 2022.
1. More stones
In the past, having a single, large stone in a ring was a standard. Truth be told, it’s what you have in mind when you think of an engagement ring, to begin with, right? Well, not necessarily. You see, getting a ring with two or more stones can be just as beautiful and it can be even more symbolic of the event in question. For instance, a ring with two stones can symbolize the bond between the two of you in an elegant, luxurious, and suggestive manner.
Now, if this seems out of the ordinary, you need to do some research. This way, you’ll learn that it was with this kind of ring that Napoleon Bonaparte engaged Josephine de Beauharnais in 1796. In other words, if it was good enough for the emperor of France, it should be good enough for you. Even recently, such were the engagement rings of Ariana Grande and Emily Ratajkowski.
2. Oval-shaped stones
The next thing you need to rethink is the shape of the stones in the ring. Now, one of the common misconceptions is that an oval-shaped stone is more expensive, yet, it’s exactly the opposite. When it comes to a similarly-sized round, an oval stone tends to be about 20% less expensive (while being of a visually similar size). As a result, you get a larger ring for the same price.
From an aesthetic standpoint, oval diamonds can make fingers look more slender. This means that, big as it is, once it’s on the finger, it will appear even larger. Coincidentally, this also makes it a more impressive prop to brag to friends about. Most importantly, oval rings are not just great with diamonds but with oval sapphires, and moissanite, as well.
3. Colorful gemstones
Now, the fashion of the region that you live in or where you plan to propose should have an impact on the engagement ring choice, as well. For instance, when making plans to engage in Arizona, you should pay attention to the local fashion, which draws heavy influence from the colorful Native-American motifs. Therefore, when going to Phoenix for an engagement ring, you can go for something more colorful, like a yellow gold, round brilliant cut diamond. On the other hand, you can also go for sapphire, ruby, or emerald.
Keep in mind that while they’re not as hard as diamonds, these engagement rings have massive advantages in terms of rarity and uniqueness. While there’s a story behind every ring, this way, you would get a ring that tells a story on its own. Better yet, the ring in question will invite comments and questions, which serves as a great introduction to your storytelling session.
4. Vintage rings
Some would say that the era of glamor and luxury is far behind us, however, this is what makes it all even more unique. Even girls born after the demise of Lady D still look at the photos of her engagement ring and want one just like it (or at least a lookalike). This sentiment was revamped with Kate Middleton getting this famous blue sapphire ring for her engagement.
Sure, you can’t spend as much money on the ring as Prince Charles (now king Charles III), Richard Burton, etc. however, you can get a ring with similar motifs. This alone would make a massive difference, especially in the modern setting. This is the so-called feeling of newstalgia, a trend of revamping some of the best ideas/styles from the past and combining them with the latest trends.
5. Lab-made diamonds
Lastly, for some, buying diamonds is an ethical thing. Namely, climate change is an important topic and diamond mining is an industry with an incredibly high carbon footprint. Also, this is one of the industries that has a dark, colonial history that tends to be hard to forget. This is why lab-made diamonds are considered to be an ethical alternative to this problem.
Now, contrary to popular belief, these are not fake diamonds, seeing as how they have the same properties and their composition is identical. Other than sheer elitism, there’s no objective reason why calling them fake would be true. They’re also indistinguishable to an untrained eye, even though they cannot be appraised and their value isn’t the same. The biggest carbon footprint difference comes from the fact that you are closer to the source, which means that their transportation doesn’t take too much time and fuel.
Wrap up
In the end, there’s no right or wrong answer, only a right or wrong answer for you. If your partner is really into symbolism, a two-stone ring is a great idea. If they want the ring to be unique above all else, you should go for a ruby or sapphire instead of a diamond. If, on the other hand, they want the most ethical solution, a lab-grown ring is more than a fine solution. Just make sure that you understand your partner’s needs and wants. If you’re still not sure what they want, it might be a better idea to wait a bit more before you engage.
