Top 5 Engagement Ring Trends for 2022

Engagement ring trends can seem silly when choosing a ring that is meant to last a lifetime. Preferred styles can change on a dime, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to them when deciding on the best fit for your soon-to-be-betrothed. Investing in pieces that speak to your personal taste while consulting with current trends is the best way to come up with an engagement ring that will stand the test of time. After all, your special someone is unique. Why would you choose an ordinary engagement ring to celebrate your union?

Here are some of the hottest gemstones and styles for 2022. Some of them are a continuation from 2021 while others have emerged fresh on the scene.

Trend #1: Timeless Diamond Solitaires

Diamonds are a popular choice for engagement and wedding rings for good reason. The first diamond engagement ring can be traced all the way back to Austrian Archduke Maximillian in 1477.  The archduke started a trend, as it were, that quickly caught on like wildfire. Soon, all European aristocrats and nobility were securing diamonds for their betrothed. No one really knows why the archduke decided a diamond was the only way to go to declare his undying love for Mary of Burgundy, but it was a notion that stuck through the ages.

Single diamond solitaires are an engagement ring trend that has dominated the jewelry industry for the last three years. The benefits of a single diamond solitaire include:

• They feature the perfect setting for a center stone.
• They are versatile in pairing with wedding bands.
• They can accommodate any diamond shape.
• They are easy to keep clean.
• They can appear more “sparkly” in the setting.

If you want to go with a diamond solitaire with a little flair, consider choosing a setting that features a small band of diamonds at the base of the filigree basket. This added touch differentiates your love’s diamond solitaire from every other one out there.

Trend #2: Three-Stone Engagement Rings

The more the merrier in 2022! Three-stone engagement rings are expected to be all the rage this year. We can all thank Megan Markle for this one. New brides everywhere were enticed by her three-stone setting after the newest member of British royalty sported hers publicly. Three-stone settings had gone the way of the dinosaur until Ms. Markle brought them back into the spotlight.

One of the coolest things about this trend isn’t that it matches something gracing the hand of a famous person. It’s that you can mix-and-match any shape and size stones to accompany the center diamond to create a look that is uniquely you.

Trend #3: Yellow Gold Bands

What’s old is new again, or so it would seem with yellow gold engagement ring bands. For the longest time, couples had shifted toward platinum for its durability and versatility. Now, gold is making a comeback as the precious metal of choice for pairing with diamonds and other gemstones. This engagement ring trend doesn’t have to be boring. Mixing and matching yellow gold with platinum can bring the best of both worlds to your significant other’s hand.

Trend #4: Architecturally inspired designs

Some of the custom design wedding rings we create at John Thomas Jewelers truly are a work of art. Whether our customers desire crisscrossing bands or bypass shanks, we can bring any design to life in our custom design jewelry studio. There is a lot of room for experimentation with this engagement ring trend for 2022. Mix and match gem types, include a single solitaire in the setting, or wrap the entire band in diamonds to add personality. If you can dream it, we can design it.

Trend #5: Alternative Engagement Rings

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean they have to be a part of every engagement ring. Choosing a center stone for your engagement ring that falls outside the spectrum of diamonds is not a new thing. As far back as the early 1900s, discerning couples were choosing other stones to grace their betrotheds’ hands. So, why did we ever think we needed them in the first place? We can all thank the De Beers Company’s “A Diamond is Forever” marketing campaign for pushing the notion that engagement rings must include this precious gem.

If your significant other is the kind of person who likes to go against the grain, why not choose an engagement ring to fit the personality? Emeralds, Rubies, and sapphires are among the gem choices for designing a custom engagement ring at John Thomas Jewelers. Ask our gemologists and Master Jewelers for assistance creating yours!

Designing the perfect engagement ring

It’s great to have choices when shopping for an engagement ring. Some buyers find too many options overwhelming. We can help. Stop by our hands-on showroom to explore a variety of styles and settings, and then talk with one of our gemologists or Master Jewelers to bring your vision to life.