Engagement Ring Style

Your handy guide to engagement ring styles

At Hoskings we know that brides-to-be are as unique as many of the precious gemstones we adore. So, it’s only fitting that there should be just as many different engagement ring styles to suit all tastes and budgets. Because of that, we pride ourselves on providing a wonderful range of engagement rings so that every bride-to-be can find the ring of their dreams.

We also know that having such a wide variety of engagement ring styles can sometimes make searching for the right one a little overwhelming. And that’s why we’re here to make your choice much easier. We’ll tell you all about our most popular engagement ring styles, so that you can narrow down your search to find your very own perfect engagement ring. Let the fun begin!

Our top 6 droolworthy engagement ring styles

You’ll probably already have heard of a solitaire, right? It’s certainly been one of the most popular engagement rings for literally hundreds of years. But believe it or not, the beautiful solitaire is not for everyone. That’s why jewellers have crafted many other engagement ring styles to suit every lucky hand. We’ll explore each of the most popular styles and various engagement ring settings here.

 A stunning solitaire

The solitaire engagement ring gets its name from the single, or solitary stone which takes front and centre in these stunning engagement rings. A brilliant cut stone is generally held proudly aloft by four or six claws. We’ll explain what claws are and how these settings work in more depth later on.

A solitaire engagement ring is designed to really highlight the beauty of a diamond. Although a round diamond is traditionally the most popular shaped stone for solitaire engagement rings, any shape gemstone works for this classic engagement ring style. Click here to admire the full range of our stunning solitaire engagement rings.

A classic cluster engagement ring

Want maximum sparkle and impact? Then a cluster engagement ring style might be for you!

A cluster ring is created by grouping together many smaller stones to create a similar effect to a larger diamond. They’re a wonderfully versatile option as you can choose from various shapes such as a classic round cluster like this beautiful ring, a stunning pear shaped diamond cluster or perhaps fall in love with a square shaped cluster engagement ring.

You can even create an illusion of a magnificent traditional three-stone engagement ring using cluster diamonds like this beautiful gold multi-stone engagement ring. Check out our full range here, you’re bound to find a cluster engagement ring style that you love.

Outstanding oval engagement rings

Can we get a standing ovation for our oval engagement rings please? Yes we can! The beautiful oval rings are officially the most popular engagement ring setting for 2020 and the demand for these stunning rings shows no sign of diminishing. If fashion-forward celebrities like Hailey Bieber, fashion blogger Louise Roe and Blake Lively say oval is where it’s at, then who are we to argue?

We reckon the fact the oval has a naturally elongated shape, making it appear larger on the finger is one reason for its popularity. But all it takes is a glance at the dazzling delight of this oval shaped diamond halo ring to realise why so many fall in love with this shape ring.

Princess cut perfection

Although the name ‘princess’ refers more to the cut of the stone than the style of ring, it’s a strong contender for the most popularly requested engagement ring style here at Hoskings. Princess cut diamonds are square in shape and are known for making the absolute most of the diamond from its natural, or ‘rough’ state.

A princess cut engagement ring uses a combination of cuts to create a depth and brilliance that you’ll find impossible to take your eyes off! Don’t blame us if you get nothing else done while you’re admiring one of these stunning beauties! To find your very own princess cut engagement ring, take a look at our wonderful selection here.

Three-stone ‘trilogy’ engagement rings

Trilogy engagement rings have graced the hands of many women over the past hundreds of years and their timeless elegance have never lost their appeal. They are still one of the most popular engagement ring styles for brides-to-be today. Traditionally, the trilogy was said to represent the past, present, and future of your relationship. Although modern interpretations suggest it might also stand for friendship, love, and fidelity.

Many women choose the trilogy as it allows so much flexibility with the stones. You can choose a classic three diamond set or feature one diamond in the centre with other significant stones, such as your birthday stones to flank it on either side. Meghan Markle chose a classic trilogy style engagement ring to incorporate a diamond from her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, in her stunning ring. You can find your perfect trilogy engagement ring right here.

A precious pear style engagement ring

The pear-shaped engagement ring style has seen a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years with celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Ariana Grande and Katherine Heigl all choosing to wear a pear-shaped engagement ring.

The beautiful tear-drop shape often appears larger than a similarly sized round stone because of its elongated shape. And that elongation extends to your hands too as fans of pear-shaped rings report that the ring makes their finger look longer and slimmer. I mean, just take a look at this stunning pear diamond ring with a diamond set halo and diamond set shoulders. Let’s face it, this is gonna look amazing on anyone’s finger!

Top 8 most popular engagement ring settings

Now that we’ve discussed the most popular engagement ring styles, we’d like to explain what we mean by a ring ‘setting’. The ‘setting’ of the ring means the way that the gemstones are ‘set’, or mounted, into, or onto, the band of the ring. The setting needs to be durable enough to hold the gemstone in place securely while also showcasing the gemstone to highlight its beauty. After all, the largest expense in any engagement ring is the diamond or gemstone, so it needs to be displayed properly.

Claw (or ‘Prong’) set diamond ring

Claw set engagement rings have been the most popular engagement ring style setting for many years. It’s simplicity truly allows the gemstone to shine brilliantly. The claw setting uses slim metal ‘arms’ to hold the stone in place high above the band. This allows the light to penetrate the diamond and maximises the brilliance and sparkle. It’s the most commonly used setting for a solitaire engagement ring.

You’ll typically find engagement rings with 4 or 6 prongs, with 6 obviously being the most secure. Most will agree that the simple elegance of a claw set diamond solitaire engagement ring is really hard to surpass.

Bezel set rings

The bezel setting is popular for its modern, clean lines and because it’s also one of the most secure ring settings. The precious gemstone is held in place with a metal border to ensure there’s less risk of the stone getting damaged or lost.

But there’s no compromise on beauty, just check out this divine solitaire wide band ring with a bezel setting.

The heavenly halo engagement ring

Even before Beyonce sang about the halo, these stunning engagement rings were becoming more and more popular. And for good reason. What better way to highlight a diamond than surrounding it with more dazzling diamonds? 

In a halo engagement ring you’ll find a row of smaller diamonds creating a delicate border around a larger central stone. The halo stones are said to reflect light into the centre stone to highlight its brilliance. This gorgeous setting is a great way to add more bling to a smaller stone or emphasise the shape of the central stone. If you really want to up the ante, you can even choose a double halo like this jaw-dropping white gold double halo diamond ring. And the halo is also a delicious way to provide a unique contrast to a coloured central stone as seen in this beautiful rose gold coloured diamond ring.

Cathedral setting in all its glory

The cathedral setting has been a long-time favourite engagement ring setting for brides seeking elegance with a touch of drama. So called because of the upward curving of the band that lifts the gemstone high up to resemble the graceful arches of a cathedral.

These spectacular rings are often found adorned with delicate filigree or decorative accent stones along the sides to make them true works of art. Just check out this stunning brilliant cut cathedral-set diamond with diamond edges and even more diamonds set in the side profile. Gobsmackingly beautiful!

As well as these traditional ring settings, we also have spectacular ways of adding bling to the engagement ring band to really up the sparkle ante! We’ll discuss the 3 most common of these here, starting with the channel setting.

Channel setting

Channel setting is a little like the pavé setting in that it also involves decorating the band of an engagement ring with smaller gemstones or diamonds. In a channel setting, the gemstones are placed along a row within a channel. This makes for a very secure setting and works to draw the eye inwards to the main feature stone.

Hosking’s stunning princess diamond engagement ring with princess & baguette diamonds channel set in the shoulders is the perfect example of this timeless, elegant setting.

Pavé setting

It’s no coincidence that in the pavé setting, the surface of the band appears to be paved with diamonds set closely together within the band. In fact, the term pavé originated from the French word for “pavement”.

If you’re looking for an engagement ring style with maximum sparkle, then you’re going to love the pavé set engagement rings like this stunning example in this white gold diamond cluster ring.

Grain setting

Grain setting may not sound quite as fancy as the pavé setting, but don’t let its name put you off. This divine setting is created using an intricate technique where the diamonds or gemstones are placed in the band with discreet prongs, or ‘beads’. These barely-there beads hold the stones close to each another with very little space between, so it looks like a river of sparkly goodness.

Just check out this truly spectacular white gold claw set diamond ring with grain set shoulders. Drool.

Have you thought about adding a touch of colour to your engagement ring style?

It simply would not be fair to discuss engagement rings styles without first acknowledging the increasing popularity of coloured stones. And because we know what women want, at Hoskings we now stock the stunning Kimberley Blush Pink Diamond range. As if diamonds weren’t magical enough! 

These magnificent engagement rings feature natural Australian Argyle fancy light pink diamonds alongside fine white diamonds, all set in 18ct white gold with rose gold accents. Lush!  There are some beautiful modern styles and varied shapes that will please any blushing bride. You can check out the full range here.

To find the engagement ring style that suits you the best, pop into Hoskings to meet with one of our friendly customer service team who will relish the opportunity to help you find your forever ring. Or you can browse our full range of engagement ring styles right here.

In VIC/ NSW/ QLD & TAS call 1800 819 796. Or call (08) 8981 8895 if you’re in NT/WA or SA

Written by Niamh Hislop

Cover image: Jose Martinez – Unsplash