Top 5 Engagement Ring Trends: Style Inspiration for 2019

Planning on getting engaged in 2019? If the answer is yes, finding the ideal engagement ring is likely already on your mind. One of the toughest parts of the process can be choosing the style that suits you. From celebrity and runway influences to the popularity of vintage-inspired designs, the options are vast and varied. Well, take a deep breath and relax because we’re all about making it easy for you to find the perfect engagement ring.

This year, we’re going straight to our expert source to bring you the latest in engagement ring trends. No one knows what’s hot in the engagement world better than diamond style guru and Blue Nile chief merchandising officer, Katie Zimmerman. Here are the top five trends she sees shaping up to be favorites for 2019.

“Fancy shaped diamonds have been popular for a while because you can get a larger look for the price,” Katie notes, “But the newness is how they can be mixed within a style.” For example, emerald-cut baguettes that flank a round-cut center stone in a contemporary setting.

Though our customers made “rose gold” a popular search term in 2018, yellow gold is set for a comeback in 2019. Katie especially loves the look of yellow gold with one particular cut. “It looks amazing with an emerald-cut stone,” she says, “Even with a diamond pavé band, the color of the metal peeking through is subtle yet adds a layer of uniqueness.”

We’re almost 20 years into the 21st century. Isn’t it time for a truly modern engagement ring style to make its debut? The contemporary east-west setting gives a modern feel to a solitaire classic. “Emerald and oval shapes are my favorite set this way,” Katie recommends, “But you can even make a marquise shape look quite contemporary by setting it with this orientation. Additionally, adding a fine halo can also create a much larger look for these stones—or any other stone for that matter!”

Katie’s take? “Halos will always exist in the engagement ring category, but we’re seeing halos with a lower profile that appear more hidden. These really let the center diamond shine,” she says. This trend is also giving us the blues—as in sapphires. Tucked-in pavé sapphires layered beneath a traditional diamond halo look so on-trend.

If there’s one thing we’re dedicated to at Blue Nile, it’s making it easy for our customers to design a custom engagement ring. “Couples are creating rings that are unique and indicative of the bride’s personality,” Katie notes, “This approach is a new way to express individuality without sacrificing tradition. Think alternative center stones such as morganite or pink sapphire, or engraving on the band—all add an extra layer of personalization.” She also attributes the influence of celebrities to the gemstone engagement ring trend. Even Katie has been crushing hard since Lady Gaga debuted her stunning pink gemstone engagement ring.

While Katie agrees that most of these trends aren’t drastic departures from popular rings of the last few years, they are definitive, modern updates to classic styles. But she also encourages engagement ring shoppers to embrace the new. “Don’t be afraid to try a trend,” she urges, “The best thing about a natural diamond or gemstone is that it carries value. You can reset your diamond into a new setting or change the way it looks and feels on your finger with additional bands.”

So, if you’re embracing one of these trends for your engagement ring, #bluenilesparkle and show us your 2019 style.

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With over 16 years of experience in the diamond industry, Katie Zimmerman oversees all buying aspects of engagement rings, wedding rings and fashion jewelry as Chief Merchandising Officer at Blue Nile. She also has a degree in textiles and apparel/retail merchandising from the University of Texas, Austin.