Modern Engagement Rings - A Guide for Today ’ s Bride
Introduction:
Over time some wedding traditions have been done away with, but the one that seems to keep enduring is that of the engagement ring. The hunt for the perfect engagement ring can be overwhelming because of the plethora of styles and designs. What makes a ring perfect for you depends solely on your style. If you’re someone who gravitates towards the sleek and simple modern style, you’ll be ecstatic to know that there is a massive collection of contemporary engagement ring styles. You’ll surely be able to find that one modern engagement ring designed specifically for your heart’s desire.
There has been a recent trend towards more contemporary and modern designer engagement rings to compliment the style of this time. This is not to say that modern rings are trendy and not timeless. The simple yet stunning contemporary engagement rings are a classic and will remain cherished forever.
Nowadays, experts have seen that contemporary engagement rings are not “one size fits all” in style and design. Still, like in any other era, a few characteristics and preferences are more popular than others. Modern rings also tend to take a more minimalistic approach to design.
What are Minimalist Engagement Rings?
If you prefer subtle and simple designs, a minimalist-style engagement ring would be perfect. A few characteristics of minimalist rings set them apart from others. One popular way to keep things minimal is choosing a simple solitaire with a thin band. Or you could go for a delicate design using smaller stones on a narrow band. You could even go for a unique simple pavé eternity band. Minimalist rings tend to follow the “less is more” motto, but that doesn’t mean that these rings can’t be worn by people who prefer bolder designs—a few ways to use multi-stones in minimal engagement rings without losing the elegant subtlety. Minimalist engagement rings are also great for stacking, which creates an even greater and bolder impact.
You’ll notice that modern engagement rings adopt simpler and delicate characteristics. With minimalism, there is a trend toward thinner bands; these are also called skinny engagement ring bands.
Thin Bands
The slender design of the band makes the center stone appear larger. Engagement rings with thin bands come in various settings, more popularly the solitaire, pavé, and halo settings. Having a thin band engagement ring makes the center stone the star of the show and is also great for stacking. Gemvy’s Petite Modern Surface Pavé Custom Diamond Engagement Ring is a perfect example of how a slim band can incorporate pavé settings without being overpowering. According to your preference, this elegant ring can be modified and redesigned further by Gemvy.
There are a few things you should consider when deciding the size of your band. A thin band is susceptible to bending and losing its shape. It can also wear over time, and it can also be challenging to resize such a delicate band.
The band can also be made in any metal type, from gold, silver, and even rose gold. Modern Engagement Rings tend to use white gold and platinum.
Popular Metal Type in Modern Engagement Rings
White gold and platinum feature in most modern engagement rings. This preference is not new but has gained popularity over time. The silver colour of these metal types provides the subtle elegance that contemporary engagement rings are renowned for.
Platinum
Platinum is one of the most popular metals used for engagement rings nowadays. This metal was discovered in the 16th century while panning for gold, and it was considered a nuisance back then. But this strong and rare metal became a favourite for jewellery, as it resists wear and tear, and it happens to be hypo-allergenic. Platinum is also an extremely rare element; it is said that the world’s platinum reserves are only large enough to fill an Olympic-sized pool up to your ankles. This rarity makes it one of the relatively expensive metals.
White Gold
White gold is another popular metal used in modern engagement rings. Gold is usually yellow, but an alloy like silver or nickel is added to achieve the white sheen. The ring is also coated in Rhodium to achieve the whitest possible finish. This metal came into use in the 1920s, following the popularity of platinum. The white/ silver colour is favoured as a better backdrop to diamond set rings than yellow gold. All modern engagement rings at Gemvy can be customised to your preferred metal, from white gold to platinum.
Palladium
Palladium is another white metal being used increasingly in modern engagement rings. This metal is characteristic very similar to platinum. It is an excellent choice for those who want the steely colour of platinum but not the weight. Palladium happens to be much less dense. It is also a more affordable metal compared to platinum. Palladium will show some scratches over time, and the metal may wear down. However, it won’t tarnish with exposure to air. This metal comes from the Greek word “Pallas” and means “guardian or a charm to protect”.
Popular Ring Settings in Modern Engagement Rings
Apart from the popular metal types, several settings are favorites in modern engagement rings. These settings embody the classic yet contemporary style of contemporary engagement rings. Choosing an engagement ring setting that is perfect for you can be a challenge, but this guide will help you navigate amongst the top contenders in the modern engagement ring category.
Halo Setting
This setting is a ring of small accent stones, typically pavé diamonds encircling a larger stone. This setting can make the center stone appear more prominent. One of the more popular halo settings in modern engagement rings is the cushion cut halo setting.
Cushion Cut Halo Setting this ring style is like a simple halo, has a large center stone, and is surrounded by a pillow-shaped frame of accent diamonds. This setting also provides you with much flexibility regarding the cut of the center stone and whether the band should remain simple and plain or be embellished with pavé diamonds.
This is another popular modern engagement ring setting you will encounter. A channel setting is when the diamonds or stones on the ring’s shank are set along a track between two metal walls. No prongs or beads are separating these stones. Besides being less likely to snag on clothes, a channel set ring can be more cost-effective. Gemvy’s Princess Channel Set Diamond Engagement Ring is a stunning example of a modern channel-setting engagement ring; its glamourous elegance is hard to ignore.
Tension Setting
The unique characteristic of this setting sets it apart from the more classic settings. Making it ideal for the bride that doesn’t want a traditional ring. This ring setting can also embody the minimalist aesthetic. The setting uses compression to hold the center stone in place, making it appear as if it’s floating between two pieces of metal.
Pavé Setting
The pavé setting has taken the modern engagement ring world by storm. This setting features small diamonds paving the ring’s band. This is also where this setting gets its name from. When shopping for the perfect modern engagement ring, you will come across several different types of pavé settings.
Micro Pavé
This setting feature extra small diamonds or gemstones. This can be seen in theUnique Micro Pavé Prong Set Round Cut Diamond Ring at Gemvy.
Petite Pavé
Petite Pavé is similar to the simple pavé setting, except that it uses tiny prongs to hold the diamonds. The elegant nature of this setting can be seen inUnique Petite Princess Inspired Pavé Wedding Ring at Gemvy.
French Pavé
This is a unique pavé setting, where diamonds are set into V-shaped grooves cut along the band.
Scalloped Pavé
This setting is very similar to the French Pavé; instead of V-shaped grooves, the scalloped pavé has round U-cut tracks; this is also known as the U-cut pavé setting. Gemvy has some stunning pieces that use this particular setting, one of which is theTapered U-Cut Petite Pavé Crown Diamond Engagement Ring.
Contemporary Engagement Rings have also focused their shift to more sustainable practices such as the use of lab-created diamonds and moissanite.
What are lab-created diamond and moissanite?
Lab-Created Diamonds
As the name suggests, Lab-created diamonds are made in a laboratory rather than inside the Earth’s crust. There is no actual chemical or physical difference between the two. Lab-grown diamonds avoid the environmental and human issues associated with mining. Not only this, but these diamonds cost 30-40 percent less than a natural diamond with the same cut, clarity, and color.
Moissanite
You will also see the use of moissanite, which, although it is a naturally occurring element, its rarity makes it impossible to be mined, so it is grown in a lab. The chemical properties of moissanite are different from that of a diamond. As a result, the moissanite sparkles more intensely than a diamond.
If you have decided to go for the elegant and somewhat subtle nature of modern engagement rings, you will be happy to know that many choices are available. With online stores like Gemvy, you can find the perfect modern engagement ring and have the ability to customize it to your heart's desire!
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