Kate & Kole
Engagement ring trends come and go but the ring (hopefully) stays with you forever. Being such a personal piece of jewellery, its not a surprise that people are starting to lean towards more unique engagement ring styles.
Kate & Kole’s Madalynne Clifton (founder and creative director) and Sara Spence (founder and managing director) say they have noticed a shift anyway from traditional engagement rings and towards something more unique.
“I think with an engagement ring being such a deeply personal and sentimental purchase, people want something that feels unique and authentic to them rather than something that they may have seen frequently in the more classic styles,” Madalynne tells marie claire Australia.
“Whilst these styles still certainly have a place, it’s been amazing to work with our customers to create pieces that they are excited about and feel like something special for them.”
Sara also believes the lean towards more unique engagement rings comes from a modern understanding of relationships and marriage.
“We work with couples who want their ring to truly reflect their unique dynamic, and represent them as a couple,” Sara explains.
“Their relationship may not feel traditional to them, whether they’ve been married before or have been together for a long time before deciding to get engaged, they want a ring that symbolises that.
“We’ve had couples design their engagement rings together and they want both pieces to talk to each other but not be the same, so this can be a really lovely design space to play in.”
Below, we share the unique engagement ring styles gaining popularity.
Unique Engagement Rings To Buy In 2024
Toi et Moi Rings
Emily Ratajkowski’s toi et moi engagement ring brought the unique style into the mainstream.
“In more recent years we have had customers let us know they have gravitated towards us because of our unique toi et moi offering, meaning you and me,” Madalynne says.
“One ring specifically is our Duet Ring which we coined to represent a harmony of two stones of the same cut but different proportions coming together.
“The conceptual meanings of these styles imbues these rings with such a romantic feeling and also allows such a wonderful opportunity for our customers to play with pairing different stone shapes to find a combination that feels like the perfect blend of them as a couple.”
Engagement bands
Some couples are choosing to forgo the traditional engagement diamond or stone for an engagement band.
Lauren Burns, who worked with Kate & Kole on her ring, opted for an engagement band because she wanted “a ring that wouldn’t protrude and catch on everything I own but was still a statement.”
This style also nicely lends itself to the current ring stacking trend.
“Lauren Burns created the most beautiful stack of three pieces, ” Sara says. “A princess cut band, a bold round gold band and a east/west set radiant band. The combination was so stunning and contemporary but didn’t feel forced, it was such a balanced design it worked wonderfully.”
Engagement bands are also nice way to include men in the engagement jewellery experience.
East-west settings
East-west engagement rings are a controversial style that are gaining popularity.
While a traditional engagement stone is set vertically on the ring band, an east-west setting has the diamond or stone positioned horizontally.
Cigar Band
The rise of chunky rings and cigar bands has trickled into the engagement ring space.
These rings often place a diamond or stone into a chunky cigar setting, as seen in this Kannava Jewels ring, which can be perfect those who lean towards something a little more unconventional.
Vintage
Vintage rings can be a romantic options for those who want something with a history.
For history lovers, it can be fun to find something from your favourite era.
They’re also a more sustainable choice for those who want a natural diamond without the guilt.
Our Favourite Unique Engagement Rings To Buy
01
Suspense Marquise Ring
from $6,500 at Sarah & Sebastian
Best for: lovers of the east-west setting
This beautiful engagement ring from Sarah & Sebastian features a sparkling marquise diamond in a unique east-west setting.
Taking its inspiration from a tension style setting with a thick tapered band, the ring creates an alluring illusion of a floating diamond.
Sizes: Price based on 0.5ct | Colours: Yellow gold | Materials: F colour and VS2 clarity diamond on a 18k gold band.
02
Kate & Kole Duet Pear Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Ring
from $7,390 at Kate & Kole
Best for: Toi Et Moi lovers
Featuring stunning two pear lab grown diamonds, this ring is the perfect meaningful ring to represent the connection of two.
Sizes: Price based on 1ct TCW | Colours: yellow gold | Materials: 18 ct gold
03
Kate & Kole Awa Bold Diamond Wedding Ring
from $3,890 at Kate & Kole
Best for: those wanting an engagement band
With its row of glittering round brilliant diamonds inspired by the winding rivers of Aotearoa, this curved wedding band is both as elegant as it is a statement.
Sizes: 0.10c diamonds | Colours: Yellow gold | Materials: Lab grown diamonds
04
Blue Nile Men’s Two-Tone Solitaire Engagement
from $ 1,530 at Blue Nile
Best for: men and cygnet ring fans
Boasting a chunky masculine gold band set with a sparkling solitaire diamond, this engagement ring is perfect for men and anyone who prefers a more masculine style.
Sizes: 4.30mm thickness | Colours: Yellow and white gold | Materials: 14k White And Yellow Gold
05
Cushla Whiting Sofia Sapphire Engagement Ring
from $7000 at Cushla Whiting
Best for: fans of alternative engagement stones
Diamonds might be the most traditional engagement ring stone but that doesn’t mean they’re to everyone’s taste.
Featuring a rectangular ice blue Sapphire flanked by two step cut trapezoid diamonds, this Cushla Whiting ring is a magical choice for fans of alternative stones.
Sizes: 1 carat sapphire | Colours: Yellow / Rose / White Gold or Platinum | Materials: Teal radiant cut unheated Montana sapphire and two trapezoid cut diamonds
06
Cushla Whiting Skyline Pear Shaped Diamond
from $9,600 at Cushla Whiting
Best for: vintage lovers
If Carrie Bradshaw could choose a ring it would be this.
This unique Cushla Whiting engagement ring is inspired by the New York City skyline of the 1920s and is a romantic nod to the architecture of the Art Deco era.
Sizes: 0.80 carat natural pear cut diamond| Colours: Gold | Materials: Gold and Natural Pear Cut Diamond
07
Aria Emerald Engagement Ring
from $7100 at Sarah & Sebastian
Best for: emerald elegance
This elegant emerald engagement ring puts a twist on the beloved Toi et Moi style with a floating centre cut emerald and a matching accent diamond on the end of a wrapped 18-karat yellow gold band.
Sizes: 1 Carat Natural Emerald | Colours: Gold | Materials: 18-karat Yellow gold and Natural Emerald
08
Heidi Engagement Ring
from $4,300 at Alana Maria
Best for: engagement bands
Ideal for those wanting something a little more low-key without sacrificing the magic, this sparkling engagement ring band doesn’t adhere to the one diamond rule.
Sizes: 5 round claw set diamond | Colours: White Gold | Materials: 18-karat white gold
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