The Engagement Ring Trends You Need to Know for 2020

Read this if you're planning a proposal

By Roberta Correia, Brides

It’s engagement season, and you know what that means dear brides—you’ll be seeing all of the latests engagement rings popping up on your Instagram feeds in full force. So what does the latest crop of rings have to offer? We’re diving deep into the top engagement ring trends for 2020. Whether you already have the ring of your dreams picked out (dropping hints counts), or you and your partner are just starting to talk about what that bling might look like—you’ll want to be armed with all the latest engagement ring trends before you take that critical #BridesRings selfie.


We rounded up some of our favorite jewelry designers to talk all things engagement rings, just in time for engagement season. Get ready to pin to that secret Pinterest board, we won’t tell anyone. 

Yellow Gold

"I think we're going to be seeing a strong comeback of yellow gold," jewelry designer (and ring selfie expert!) Stephanie Gottlieb told us. We're seeing a lot of glittering gold out there, and the once-bemoaned metal (we blame Carrie Bradshaw) is set to make a major return on the hands of the chicest brides-to-be.

We will see a shift towards transparency and sustainability in engagement rings as the younger Millennials and the first of the Gen Zs [are preparing] to tie the knot. 

Sustainability

"In 2020 we will see a shift towards transparency and sustainability in engagement rings as the younger Millennials and the first of the Gen Zs [are preparing] to tie the knot, Vrai founder and creative director Vanessa Stofenmacher. “Modern consumers now look to align their personal values with the brands they patron and the ability to tell an authentic story about where and how their ring is made is becoming increasingly more important.”

Emerald, black diamonds, unique-shaped diamonds and non-traditional shapes like open rings are going to be a hit next year. 

Unique, Unique, Unique

Most of the designers we polled are betting on their brides-to-be wanting something personal and breaking with tradition. “For 2020 I think clients will continue to seek out non-traditional rings that feature unusual stones,” says AZLEE founder Baylee Zwart.

We’ve seen the rise of diamond-alternative gemstones for engagement rings over the years, but the experts agree that 2020 will be all about continuing that break with tradition. “Emerald, black diamonds, unique-shaped diamonds and non-traditional shapes like open rings are going to be a hit next year,” says Bleecker and Prince creative director Leehe Segal. 

Bands that Stand Out

Even when brides want to keep the diamond shape classic, they're looking for something out of the ordinary for the setting. “We have been seeing an increase in requests for a unique band over a solitaire engagement ring,” says Katherine Kim, owner of KATKIM Fine Jewelry. “Clients seem to love the idea of going more non-traditional with a statement band that feels more special to them.” (Above: KatKim Anerise Ring)

Multiple Stones

You can thank Meghan Markle for the rise in popularity of the three-stone engagement ring, and 2020 will see brides-to-be wanting even more diamonds. "Three and five stone rings are becoming popular choices for engagement rings,” says designer Ashley Zhang. “[Our Quinn ring] covers across the finger with diamonds and looks great stacked with wedding bands"

Asscher Cut Diamonds

Maybe it’s the return of Downton Abbey, but brides are also looking for vintage inspiration when it comes to diamond cuts. "Asscher cut diamonds are rising in popularity,” Zhang told us. “The asscher cut was a staple of the Art Deco era, but it can look very modern when set on a delicate or simple band.” 

A Dramatic Stone

Other diamond cuts whose popularity is sky rocketing are the pear and marquise diamonds. “For stones we are seeing a rising interest in pear and marquise diamonds as the center stone as well as used as accents on bands,” designer Grace Lee agrees. "When it comes to finding the perfect ring for your partner, the center stone is often the first place many people start," says Toni Zehrer, SVP & Chief Merchandising Officer at Kay, Jared and Zales. "Fancy shaped center stones including Emerald, Marquise and Pear, have become increasingly popular in the past year and will continue to stay on-trend through 2020." 

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