Is this the new classic engagement ring?

Trends are straying well away from tradition when it comes to engagement rings, here jewellery designer and expert Kate Baxter shares the shapes and styles to know in 2019 and beyond
Rings by Michelle Oh, photo courtesy of The Cut London

This week socialite Cressida Bonas announced her engagement to boyfriend Harry Wentworth-Stanley, and showed off her unique (and very bling) engagement ring on Instagram.

The creation features a large centre diamond surrounded by a halo of rubies and another of smaller diamonds in an octagonal shape created by Shoreditch-based designer Bear Brooksbank.

Bonas' ring designer, Brooksbank, who is the cousin of Princess Eugenie's husband James, described it as a take on a "target ring" to The Telegraph, a style which became popular in the art deco era.

Bonas and her beau are not alone in shunning more traditional diamond cuts and, these days, more unusual throwback designs have been popping up on Instagram.

Earlier this year Instyle editor-in-chief Laura Brown shared her statement art deco engagement ring created by Australian jeweller Stefano Canturi on the 'gram (below).

So is this the new classic?

We asked Kate Baxter, jewellery designer and founder of online ring concierge The Cut London, who says she is definitely observing a move away from tradition.

"The trend for customisation and personalisation is still going strong, with bespoke engagement rings the best way to achieve this," she says. "People want exceptional design and something unique, making their ring a true one-off."

"They are more comfortable rejecting traditional styles and are choosing more unusual designs and gemstones in a bid to create something unconventional."

Having spent the last eight years trawling through designers' collections to curate an edit of the "most exceptional and inspirational rings for modern lovers", she knows a thing or two about bespoke jewels.

Here she shares the shapes, styles and colours to know in 2019.

Target style and 'modern vintage'

Hattie Rickards Anna Sapphire & Diamond Ring

"The 'target' style ring is becoming popular alongside a 'modern vintage' trend, where traditional silhouettes are given a modern update by using different types of gemstones to the traditional style," says Kate Baxter. "For example, this Hattie Rickards ring (above) has clean, closed settings to give a truly modern feel whilst being traditional in style."

"And this Flora Bhattachary ring (below) is a traditional ‘halo' style, but uses an unusual pink morganite centre stone, which is rarely used for engagement rings, and gives it a fresh, easy-to-wear feel," she adds.

Flora Bhattachary Aditi Morganite Zodiac ring £1,980

A trilogy with a millennial twist

Meanwhile, Baxter says, "Meghan Markle’s three-stone ring is very traditional and has definitely been an influence within the market, but I see millennials in particular make this style their own by adding interesting and less common stones.

"For example a lot of the clients I help want to keep to a fairly traditional silhouette, such as a trilogy ring but use unusual gemstones to keep it feeling fresh and modern, like this Rachel Boston trilogy ring with salt and pepper diamonds below."

Rachel Boston Trilogy ring with salt and pepper diamonds

Cool minimalism with a splash of colour

If you do want to stick to a solitaire design, you can jazz it up with a coloured stone, Baxter points out.

"For the fans of cool minimalism, another emerging trend is to use just one, beautiful and unusual stone for a truly modern solitaire, like this Shimell & Madden ring using a peach coloured sapphire."

Shimell & Madden ring with peach sapphire

"And this blue topaz engagement ring, by the same designer (below)."

Shimell & Madden ring with blue topaz

Out of the box

"In general, people's taste is a lot braver, bolder and less interested in convention," Baxter continues. "At the other end of the spectrum I have helped people commission totally 'out of the box' rings such as the ones below (both by Hattie Rickards)

Hattie Rickards Aquamarine ring 

And this.

Hattie Rickards Sally ring

Catch Kate Baxter giving talks and consultations at Goldsmith’s Fair in London on September 28 and October 3 goldsmithsfair.co.uk