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2021 Engagement Ring Trends

21 January, 2021 by gaby

So you’re engaged, or thinking of getting engaged, and you can’t wait to get that engagement ring on your finger. But hang on, WHICH ring? Picking an engagement ring is a massive decision (whether you do it together or leave it up to your partner) – it’s a piece of jewellery you’ll have to wear and love for the rest of your life. The good news is that long gone are the days where pretty much everyone was after a platinum round-cut solitaire. These days, there are SO many incredible options, and you can pick whichever one suits your personal style (even if that IS a platinum round-cut solitaire!). With ethical diamond concerns, couples have opened their eyes to other gems or natural diamond substitutes, and traditional cuts have expanded to include many more of the so-called fancy shapes (for more on diamond shapes, see our guide!). And with celebrities having such a massive influence on design and fashion, there are always new styles and twists emerging alongside the classics. Here are the five 2021 engagement ring trends that are taking the world by storm, and a selection of gorgeous engagement rings from Etsy to inspire you!

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

2019 Engagement Ring Trends

11 January, 2019 by gaby

So you’re engaged, or thinking of getting engaged, and you can’t wait to get that engagement ring on your finger. But hang on, WHICH ring? Picking an engagement ring is a massive decision (whether you do it together or leave it up to your partner) – it’s a piece of jewellery you’ll have to wear and love for the rest of your life. The good news is that long gone are the days where pretty much everyone was after a platinum round-cut solitaire. These days, there are SO many incredible options, and you can pick whichever one suits your personal style (even if that IS a platinum round-cut solitaire!). With ethical diamond concerns, couples have opened their eyes to other gems or natural diamond substitutes, and traditional cuts have expanded to include many more of the so-called fancy shapes (for more on diamond shapes, see our guide!). And with celebrities having such a massive influence on design and fashion, there are always new styles and twists emerging alongside the classics. Here are the eight 2019 engagement ring trends that are taking the world by storm, and a selection of gorgeous engagement rings from Etsy to inspire you!
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

15 Meghan Markle Style Three Stone Engagement Rings

11 May, 2018 by gaby

Round Brilliant Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring by MS Jewelers

With just over a week until the Royal Wedding, speculation is running wild as to Meghan Markle’s wedding dress. But before the big debut, there’s one element of her wedding style you can steal: her three stone engagement ring. This classic, trinity engagement ring setting, with the three stones said to symbolise ‘yesterday, today, and tomorrow’, has been given a revival by Meghan and Harry’s engagement ring choice, and is now one of 2018’s hottest engagement ring trends. So of course, I just had to go and search Etsy for the prettiest three stone rings I could find, in a range of metals, diamond shapes, and price points. One thing’s for sure – all of them will leave you feeling a little more regal! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Green Gem Engagement Rings

15 July, 2017 by gaby

Josephine Art Deco Old European Cut Diamond and Emerald Engagement Ring by Victor Barbone Jewelry

I’ve got to tell you, I am LOVING this whole trend of alternative engagement rings. I mean, don’t get me wrong, diamonds are gorgeous, but then again, so are the many alternative stones that you can use. I am such a jewellery girl myself, and seeing what the options are once a bride opens up to something different has me in full-scale “ooh, I want that!” mode. Take this collection from Etsy, for example. Green stones aren’t an automatic choice for an engagement, sure. And when I think green stones, I only really think emerald (which I love). But tsavorite, sapphire, moissanite, peridot… it’s a whole ‘nother world. From platinum to rose gold to yellow, the options are kind of endless, and you’re sure to fall in love with at least one of them – I know I did! (Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.)

A SouthBound Guide to Diamond Shapes

18 January, 2017 by gaby

Image: Alexis June Weddings /Aisle Society/Susie Saltzman on SouthBound Bride

The French are said to die for love, they delight in fighting duels. But I prefer a man who lives and gives… expensive jewels. So sang Marilyn Monroe, and so I agree (plus, isn’t that a fabulous lyric?) and that’s why year after year, alongside all the pretty dresses and details, I find myself sighing at the diamond rings on our brides’ elegant hands. And while I’m a sucker for a classic round solitaire, I love the variety that modern brides have in their choices – different settings, different metals, and for many, non-traditional stones (because diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but I also love hanging with morganite, sapphire, etc.) Another area of choice if you’re on the engagement ring hunt right now is shape (sometimes called cut, but not the cut referred to in the Big 4: Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat, which is rather the reflective quality of a diamond). There are actually a huge range of diamond shapes or cuts that you can choose. And, while the ones best suited for sparkle are the old classics (round, cushion), the fancy cuts, as they’re called, can make up for it in uniqueness (after all, how many of your friends are rocking a trillion?) We’ve rounded up some of the more popular shapes in this comprehensive guide to diamond shapes, along with lots of pretty, pretty rings from Etsy to show them off at a range of price points.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Inspiration Board: Classic Monochrome

11 July, 2016 by gaby

Happy Monday lovelies! When I think of a classic wedding palette, beyond white on white or soft blush, the one that immediately comes to mind for me is monochrome. Crisp and sophisticated, traditional but somehow also entirely modern, you can’t go wrong with this timeless combo that’s the essence of ‘black tie’. Just take a look at today’s inspiration board – it’s pure, timeless glamour, like a Sinatra number or a diamond ring. What more could a classic bride want?

Colours: Black, white & soft gold

Top row (l-r): Bouquet (KT Merry Photography/Urban Poppy) | Tablescape (Watson-Studios/Jennifer Laraia Designs) | Calligraphy menu (Daphne And Michelle/DM Events/Paperfinger)
Row 2: Champagne (Gabe Aceves Photography/Engaging Affairs) | Cake (Marsais/Buttercup Bakery) | Dog attendant (Mi Belle Photography/Bash Please) | Engagement ring (Sundari Gems)
Row 3: Classic car (Jose Villa Photography/Albemarle Limousine) | Bride (KT Merry Photography/Oscar De La Renta/Peter Langner) | Bridesmaids in black (Adrienne Gunde/The Overwhelmed Bride)

We’re crazy in love with the engagement ring featured in this board – isn’t it just so PRETTY? It’s from Sundari Gems on Etsy.

Long black bridesmaid dresses are the perfect complement to this wedding style (and your girls will love you for dressing them in something they can wear again!). Here are some of our current faves:

**This post contains affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission if a sale is made.

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20 Something Blue Engagement Rings

20 May, 2016 by gaby

2016 has most definitely been the year that gemstone engagement rings have come into their own. And as much as I do love a diamond, I’m also loving seeing this trend evolve, because why shouldn’t there be as much choice in rings as there is taste in jewellery? A couple of months ago, I rounded up some gorgeous morganite sparklers, and it was such a popular post that I thought I would give a little love to the blue stones of the gem world: the sapphires, the aquamarines, the blue topazes, the blue diamonds, and of course, tanzanite. It’s amazing how many beautiful options there are with these gems, and best of all, they’re at a huge variety of price points to suit any budget. So if blue is your colour and you want lots of bling for your buck, consider this statement alternative. After all, if a sapphire was good enough for Princess Kate…
This is not a sponsored post but includes some affiliate links.

15 Romantic Morganite Engagement Rings

18 January, 2016 by gaby

Pink Morganite Engagement Ring by Carat Ring

I can’t think of a better way to end off a crazy Monday than with some jewellery, can you? One of the trends I mentioned last week was alternative engagement rings, which we’re seeing more and more couples choosing for reasons of budget, taste or because of the ethical issues around diamond mining. Etsy is a great place to source artisan jewellery, and while there are many stones to choose from, the ones that really catch my eye are morganite. This rose gold stone is trending big time, and I must admit to being more than a little jealous of anyone who gets to sport its peachy loveliness on their ring finger! There’s one question I do hear from brides from time to time though: ‘Is a morganite ring tacky?’ The short (and the long answer) is no. As with diamonds, you’ll get what you pay for with a morganite engagement ring, so while they tend to be more affordable, you still want to make sure you pay for a good cut. And yes, beryl stones (morganite being one of them) can get cloudy more easily than a diamond, but they clean up super easily with a little TLC so you can easily keep them at their sparkling best. Also yes, there is a morganite engagement ring trend going on right now, but does that mean they won’t stand the test of time? In my opinion no. Their soft colour co-ordinates beautifully with any number of outfits – in fact, I think morganite is just getting started. Bottom line, if you love it, and it suits your personal style, you can’t go wrong. So let’s round up a few of our favourite morganite rings from Etsy, shall we?

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

A SouthBound Guide to Engagement Ring-speak

3 May, 2013 by gaby

Straight off, I should tell you – jewellery is kind of one of my obsessions. As in, I feel naked without any, and there’s probably no gift you can give me – from a pretty costume piece that will fall apart after I’ve worn it for six months to something in a little blue box – that I’ll appreciate more. But one of the things I love most is how some pieces become iconic to their wearers. Take my mom. She decided against having an engagement ring, and instead got a statement gold wedding band – a chunky piece of 1970s gold that is so completely ‘her’ that I can’t imagine her without it. And that’s what your engagement/wedding ring should be – after all, it’s the one piece you are going to wear every day for the rest of your life. Which is probably why so many brides nowadays help to pick out their rings or have them custom made. But once you start looking, you’ll realise there’s a whole world of diamond engagement ring terminology that you and your fiance need to be aware of. Well, worry not, because SBB is here to help you, along with our friends at Chris Winspear Design Jewellers (based in Gauteng, but able to service clients throughout South Africa). A very welcome addition to our sponsorship team, Chris Winspear Design Jewellers has everything you need for your big day, from engagement and wedding bands (including a range of breathtaking coloured stones) to gifts for the wedding party such as cufflinks and charms. Today we’re showcasing just some of their lovely stock to illustrate our guide.