Engagement ring trends have been static for a long time. We witnessed little to no change for centuries – quite literally.
Archduke Maximilian set up a trend of giving a diamond ring to his beloved back in 1477, and for years the engagement ring industry kept revolving around the same idea. We saw different designs, but all of them were ultimately diamond rings (usually with a big central stone and a plain metal band).
But over the last decade, a lot of things have changed in this very industry. From engagement ring designs to how people shop for engagement rings – almost everything has changed.
In this short post, we’ll be checking out the nature of these changes and predicting what they could mean for the present and future of the industry.
1. Couples are shopping together
Traditionally, grooms used to buy engagement rings for their brides. And it was the bride’s family or the bride herself who bought the engagement ring for the groom. On both ends, the engagement ring design was a surprise for the other. And so, it was quite a cheesy and tricky process.
But in the present times, things have changed a bit. Instead of surprising one another, they choose to shop together. Although it lifts off stress from both individuals and makes shopping for an engagement ring much easier, it robs the thrilling experience.
We believe this shift of choice is mainly due to the ever-so-busy schedules. People hardly get sufficient off for their wedding. They can barely accommodate this fun-filled and thrilling activity in their schedules, said from Julius Klein Diamonds, Julius Klein Group (JKG). With an extraordinary inventory of the finest quality diamonds (specializing in 2+ carats), exceptional stones, hard-to-find items and unique diamond jewelry, JKG is an all-encompassing supplier to its retail partners.
For manufacturers, this turned out to be a positive change. And that’s because it opened up room for newer designs. Since couples shop together, they often look for designs that help them twin with one another or complement each other’s rings.
2. Couples are making informed decisions
Previously, engagement ring shopping was an emotional business. Most decisions were based on:
- What does she like?
- What color has she always dreamt of?
- Does the stone mean something to them?
- Will this design do justice to her beauty?
But today, engagement ring shopping is based on the following questions:
- Is it reasonably priced?
- Is it the best design in the market?
- Is the brand charging for its reputation, or is the design worth it?
Couples browse all their options for their budget in the market, scrutinize the brand they’re buying from, and mutually make rational decisions.
3. The diamond ring is no more the only type of engagement ring
As mentioned earlier, the biggest change in the engagement industry is the exploration of other gemstones. In the last decade, there’s been a great inclination towards colored stones as compared to transparent diamonds.
Some of the most popular gemstone engagement ring options are:
- Tanzanite engagement ring
- Onyx engagement ring
- Morganite engagement ring
- Sapphire engagement ring
- Emerald engagement ring
- Alexandrite engagement ring
These rings are not only becoming popular owing to their beautiful colors. But they’re also becoming popular because of their symbolism and healing powers. Learn more about the powers of different colored gemstones here.
4. The combination of Metals is becoming popular
Tracing the history back to the origin of engagement rings, gold was the only metal band used for these rings. Eventually, designers got creative, and diamonds were embedded on bands made up of other metals as well, including:
- Platinum
- Silver
- Titanium
- White gold
- Yellow gold
Today, however, innovators have taken a step ahead, and they’ve begun merging metals to produce unique ring bands.
5. Eco-friendly options are dominating the market
Eco-friendly elements like lab diamonds are also an emerging trend in the engagement ring industry.
Mining original diamonds from the core of the earth is leading to deforestation, water pollution, groundwater contaminations, air emissions, etc. Therefore, ring manufacturers have opted for sustainable production methods. The most prominent method amongst these is the lab-created diamonds, which are not only environmentally friendly, but also much cheaper!
Final Words
We hope this post helped you familiarize yourself with the changes in the engagement industry. Whether you’re buying an engagement ring, browsing for information, or happen to be a ring manufacturer, we urge you to let these trends dictate your next moves. Go with people, go with the flow. Invest your time and energy in the right places!