The way people buy engagement rings is changing. Couples are looking for rings that feel special but still fit what matters to them. For 2025, choices in design, materials, and settings point to a mix of classic and new ideas shaped by real shopping habits, celebrity influence, and a more involved selection process.
Beyond Solitaire: Maximalist Multi-Stone Rings
Single-stone rings are classic, but more couples want multi-stone rings in modern settings. These rings use several stones set together in fresh ways. Some combine stones of similar size, while others pair a large center stone with smaller side stones. Multi-stone designs give more room for color and shape combinations, allowing rings to stand out without too much detail.
The Rise of Half Bezels
Full bezels have always been about security, but half bezels are stepping up. These settings use metal on only part of the stone, showing off its edges and giving the ring a clean look. The design offers a mix of protection and an open appearance. Jewelers report more demand for these settings from buyers who want something simple but modern.
Marquise Cuts: Stretching the Classic Shape
Marquise-cut diamonds are attracting more attention. The elongated shape makes the stone look larger than the same carat weight in other cuts. This cut also brings back a bit of old-school style while staying practical for budget-minded couples. In 2024, round stones still led, but marquise cuts are gaining traction among shoppers who want something different.
East Meets West: Flipping the Stone
East-west settings place the diamond sideways across the band instead of up and down. This design can make the stone look even bigger and change how the light hits the diamond. Several celebrities have picked this style, driving interest among buyers searching for subtle novelty. Jewelers and accessory designers are putting more of these sideways-set rings in their collections for 2025.
Rewind: Bringing Back Vintage Cuts
Old Mine and Old European diamond cuts are back in stores. These cuts have chunkier facets than modern stones, giving a softer glow. Vintage-inspired designs aren’t about exact recreations but about small details—like milgrain or hand-cut gems—that add history to the piece. The push toward styles with past influence lines up with buyers being more involved and personal about their choices.
Rings That Break the Mold: Unexpected Pairings
A growing number of people are skipping standard pairings and choosing non-matching sets for engagement and wedding rings. These pairs often include sculpted bands, colored stones, or intricate finishes instead of matching metals and patterns. What you see now are engagement rings stacked with diamond-set eternity bands, hammered textures, or curved nests.
Looking for options outside the usual? Stacked sets often feature custom or artisan pieces, which fit right in with bolder shapes and unique wedding bands. Some couples choose mixed metals for a relaxed look, while others opt for curved or chevron bands to go alongside east-west or toi-et-moi engagement rings.
Two Stones, One Story: Toi-et-Moi Rings
Toi-et-moi means “you and me,” and rings with two stones are being picked for their symbolism. Both stones can be the same or different—think diamond and sapphire, or two diamonds in different shapes. Celebrities have received custom toi-et-moi engagement rings lately, prompting more shoppers to consider this trend. The two-stone style speaks to couples who value personalization.
Blackened Gold: A Shift in Finish
For those not interested in standard yellow or white gold, blackened gold is new on the scene. This finish gives engagement rings a darker, more modern look, adding contrast when paired with diamonds or colored gems. Designers say blackened gold is being requested as a way to add a visual edge without moving to alternative metals.
Bands with Structure: Architectural and Geometric Moves
Jewelry brands are bringing out bands described as architectural or “controlled chaos.” These bands use patterns, extra prongs, or woven details that stand out from plain or traditional settings. While classic solitaires are still bought the most, the share of rings with more structure has gone up. Buyers want rings with small twists but not too much bulk.
Add Some Color: Bold Gemstone Accents
Colored stones in engagement rings aren’t new, but in 2025, designers are using color in fresh ways. Couples are choosing colored diamonds or gemstones as side accents or sometimes for the center stone. Adding color helps make a ring feel more personal or tie in a favorite shade. Retailers report increased requests for green tourmaline, sapphires, and even black diamonds.
Keep It Simple: Minimalist Rings with Thoughtful Touches
Minimalist engagement rings are still popular, but they’re not as plain as before. Now, buyers want slim bands with a unique touch, like a hidden halo or faint color on the setting. Clean lines, smaller diamonds on the shank, or a simple twist are ways these rings avoid being basic. Couples say they want a ring that will last in style but look different from what was trendy before.
Shopping and Buying: Budgets and Choices
Data shows engagement ring budgets for 2025 average about $8,580. This is a drop from 2022 but above pre-pandemic levels. Most buyers earn between $35,000 and $125,000 per year, but over 70 percent already have debt when they buy. This leads to practical choices and smart spending.
More Input, More Customization
More than three-quarters of proposees have some say in the ring they get. Custom design and details that fit someone’s style are more important now. Buyers care about ethical sourcing and durability. There’s a stronger focus on rings that are well made and not wasteful but still feel special to the couple.
Solitaires and Shape Debates
Round solitaires made up 28 percent of engagement ring sales in 2024. Even with new shapes and settings getting more attention, simple solitaires are not out. That said, marquise, oval, and non-round stones now take a bigger share than before. Couples are splitting between staying with tradition or trying shapes that look larger and cost less per carat.
Wedding Bands: Subtle and Shaped
Wedding ring trends for 2025 are sticking with classic diamonds but with a slimmer shape. The average width of women’s wedding rings is about 2.2mm. More buyers want bands that curve or nest with their engagement ring instead of the usual “wed fit” shape. This demand for shaped and artisan wedding rings is up from 7 percent in 2023 to nearly 20 percent in 2024.
Final Word
Engagement ring choices for 2025 are about balance. People want designs that are personal and stand out. While some buyers go bolder with multi-stone rings or blackened gold, others pick minimal settings with small, unique details. With most couples working together to pick something that fits their story (and their budget), stores are offering more ways to get custom, thoughtful rings. Design, material, and shape trends show that while the basics remain, the details keep moving forward each year.
