7 Engagement Ring Trends That Will Be Big In 2023, According to Experts

Unlike popular runway styles, engagement ring trends tend to move on a slower, subtler track (there’s not a wedding ring equivalent of a new season chunky boot or micro mini skirt, after all).  But the decision for your engagement ring design is understandably much more sentimental than your new season wardrobe addition, so you’ll most likely want to mull over it for quite a while. From traditional designs like solitaire settings all the way to modern interpretations like black diamond ring rings or bezel-set bands, we asked the experts which styles are set to be big in 2023 and have a whole host of options that both die-hard minimalists and those with bolder tastes can envision slipping on their fingers.

If you happen to be in the market for an engagement ring and find yourself overwhelmed by choosing one style to wear for the rest of your life — don’t. “Often people put a lot of pressure on an engagement ring, thinking they have to love it forever, so they end up choosing something traditional,” Meadowlark co-founder Claire Hammon says. “But things change, and you can remodel your ring in the future as your style evolves.”

When looking for an engagement ring that resonates with your personal style, designer Ashley Zhang says to begin with a digital mood board of sorts, so it’s time to put your faith back in Pinterest. “Save screenshots of any and all styles of rings you like. After a few weeks, you might be surprised to find that a few of them have similar looks or elements,” she says.

Once you have a general sense of the vibe you’re going for, according to GIA (Gemological Institute of America) expert Nellie Barnett, you should focus on the centre stone, asking questions like: “Are you a dazzling diamond type of person or attracted to a pop of colour using emerald, morganite, or a different kind of gemstone?” From there, she adds, look for a gemstone with a report.

All of this to say, choosing an engagement ring that’s right for you isn’t a perfect science. It’s a mix of gut instinct and what’s available in the current market. If you’re not sure where to start, keep reading below for the seven engagement ring trends the experts expect to be big in 2023.

Non-diamond centre stones have steadily climbed in popularity over the last few years, and experts point to this trend as one that will only grow in 2023. “Coloured stones will be going strong for a long time,” Hammon predicts. Zhang notes that her team has also been receiving more requests for coloured stones than ever before. “These can either be as the centre and main stone or as accents,” she says. “Using coloured gemstones is a great way to have a unique look… These rings still feel bridal and special but also bold and different.”

While Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw had a bone to pick with her yellow gold engagement ring band, the trend has become a preferred option in recent years. “Yellow gold is our most requested metal,” Zhang says. “I think this choice in settings will stay strong. The contrast of the yellow with white diamonds really makes them pop.” If you’re going especially unique, consider mixing silver and gold metals when choosing a wedding band to compliment your stone.

Though dainty, delicate rings have been in favour for seemingly forever, the pendulum is beginning to swing in the opposite direction. “Bold pieces will grow in popularity,” Marrow Fine founder and creative director, Jillian Sassone, says. “Metal-heavy chunky settings were requested the most in 2022, and I don’t see that slowing down. If anything, our brides and grooms are doubling down on that by adding cigar bands and other statement-making wedding bands to their bridal sets.”

A “vintage-inspired” engagement ring can mean a lot of things, from types of settings (e.g. Art Deco) to cuts (Old European), but a general sense of old-meets-new is permeating current trends. “I’ve seen an increase in demand for reimagining heirloom stones into new designs that feel more aligned with the bride’s or groom’s style,” Sassone notes. Zhang has also seen an uptick in old gemstones. “Old-mine cut diamonds and antique cushions are the most desired request we get,” she says. “These stones are rare and extremely difficult to find. Mined and cut over 100 years ago, they have such a unique sparkle.”

You might think of engagement ring bands as falling into three main categories: gold, rose gold, and silver. But for 2023, that might change. Along with pops of colour and dynamic designs, other materials, such as tungsten carbide and teakwood also lend unexpected elements to otherwise-traditional settings.

For brides with pared-back style, Sassone says to watch out for step-cut diamonds — a square or rectangle stone with parallel facets on all four sides, resembling steps — as a trend in 2023. "I love a step-cut diamond for a minimalist,” she says. “The clean architectural lines are perfect for someone with style but who doesn’t want a lot of flash.”

While celebrity engagements don’t always move the needle for trends, Sassone says Sydney Sweeney’s mega-round brilliant was noteworthy. In addition to classic round shapes, both oval- and pear-shaped rings will continue to trend next year. “Hailey Bieber's oval engagement ring is still a piece that clients reference,” she says. “Pear and oval shapes elongate the finger and look spectacular on any hand.”