Are Diamond Engagement Rings Still the Favorite Option When Proposing?

                                                                  Non-traditional brides and grooms are breaking with many customs, including ring style.



For many decades, little girls grew up dreaming about their wedding day – the dress, ceremony, reception, bridal party, first dance, and of course, their ring! And for decades, the diamond engagement ring has been the standard – whether set in gold or platinum metal, and round, pear, oval, princess, or emerald cut – the diamond has been considered THE standard during the perfect proposal.  

Diamonds are one of the strongest substances on the planet – after all, the tagline IS “A diamond is forever” - but the industry is noticing strong trends toward couples making their rings more personal, to closely align with their personal style and taste.  

As recently as a decade ago, 5% of engagement rings contained colored gemstones, but that has now grown to approximately 20% of those rings. This trend is attributed to a number of factors, including: 

                    *Waiting longer to get married than their parents did and wanting a different type of wedding altogether 
                    *Pairs wishing to have a more personal and meaningful option for their ring(s) 
                    *The often-greater affordability and distinctive look of colored gemstones compared to diamonds 
                    *Increased popularity for lab-grown diamonds that offer a lower price point for a significantly larger stone
 

                                                                   




So, what are these “20%” couples trending toward?  
 
Mateusz Wielomek, Studio D Store Manager, said “We are seeing alternative stone choices, most popularly being sapphire as they come in pretty much any color of the rainbow. They're also a 9 on the Mohs scale so they can take the beating of everyday wear pretty well. Surprisingly, cost isn't one of the more important factors as sapphires can get pricey; they'll be more expensive than the lab diamonds in a lot of cases.” 
 
Sapphires are a gorgeous option – just ask Princess Kate! In addition to sapphires, you can find colored stones such as green emeralds, red rubies, light blue aquamarines, purple amethysts, and more. Each gem has different characteristics and different hardness ratings (important, depending on the lifestyle of the wearer and whether or not you want to wear your ring every day!), which should be taken into consideration when deciding on a stone.  
 
Then there are the lab-grown diamonds, which are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, for a fraction of the cost. They’re also considered by many people to be a more ethical and sustainable option.  
 
“We are still selling more lab-grown diamonds than natural for engagement rings, as the costs are so much less,” Mateusz tells us. “Often, if a couple wants a larger ‘wow’ type of stone, a lab grown diamond will fit that need. For instance, a three-carat natural diamond can be over $40,000, while a similar sized lab-grown will be under $10,000. So people are really taking advantage of the savings there.”

Mateusz continues, “I do think we may head back toward a trend to naturals as people continue seeing this price drop for labs. There's a level of appreciation and romanticism around what a natural diamond is and there can be beauty in the imperfection. Labs being made in a factory and being near perfect every time can take away some of those feelings of appreciation and romanticism for some. But having so many options is always great!” 
 
No matter what your dream ring might be, the team at Studio D can help bring that to life. Whether you are looking for an engagement ring or wedding bands, we offer vendor lines who have been vetted as top of the line.

And don’t forget, we also have in-house jewelers! Our team can help you create your dream ring, from start to finish, and often at a lower price point than you would ever have believed possible.  

Be sure to take advantage of our Buy & Borrow program while you're here too! When you buy your engagement ring or wedding bands from Studio D, you can borrow any necklace or earrings in the store to wear on your wedding day. Really. Come in and ask us for details!  
 
Regardless of trends, ultimately, the choice of the ring comes down to each couple, and what they see as the fit for their life together. At Studio D, we are here for everyone, for everything from everyday gifts, all the way to the big day. And it is always our pleasure to see you.