Exploring the latest and the timeless in wedding ring designs BY ARUSHI SAKHUJA A look at the past, present and future trends of wedding rings An engagement ring is more than just a piece of jewellery: It signifies a commitment to your relationship.As the world of weddings continues to evolve, wedding and engagement rings play a crucial role in symbolizing eternal love and commitment. Proposals are getting grander and rings are getting bigger when it comes to the 3C’s – cut, colour and clarity. Wedding rings have always been a symbol of love, but over time, the styles and trends associated with them have evolved. Today’s modern bride and groom are looking for unique and contemporary rings that reflect their style and personality. From yellow diamonds to baguette cuts, cushion cuts and even a diamond band, the sparkle of a diamond truly never stops shining. LuxeBook delves into the captivating realm of wedding rings, highlighting the different kinds of diamond cuts, setting techniques, current trends for men and women, and popular ring designs, and offering a glimpse into the future of this timeless tradition. The evolution of diamond ring cuts During the older days of our grandparents and parents, proposals were not such a dramatic affair. Once the bride and groom agreed to marry, the ceremonies were carried out in a traditional Indian way, rings designs were simplistic and sometimes even lacked a diamond. They range from gold rings to solitaire diamond rings. But in the 21st century, things have taken a stark turn. The designs are getting more detail and flamboyant with a variety of diamond cuts and styles available in the market. Engagement rings arrived in America in the 1840s but were still relatively uncommon. In the 1900s rings were marked by their dainty and elaborate details. Most rings centred around a large diamond and the goal of the jeweller was to get as many diamonds on the piece as possible.They would do so by encrusting small diamonds into settings made of filigree and ornate detailing. The hand-cut round stone remained popular from the turn of the century until the 1930s. When art deco emerged in the 1920s, we saw a combination of diamonds and coloured gemstones and around one large stone. It was also around this time that the Asscher cut diamonds gained popularity. The patented cut is like an emerald cut but is wider set. Soon diamonds were replaced by an engagement ring’s centre stone to be fitted with a sapphire, emerald, or ruby. But in the 1930s due to the great depression rings became simpler in design, stones became smaller, and platinum was widely the metal of choice. In 1940 yellow gold emerged on the forefront for ring settings and bands, and for those who could afford it, cushion cut, and solitaire centre stones were the rage by the mid1940s. After De Beer’s launched its iconic campaign “A Diamond is Forever” in 1948 the success maybe diamond ring sales skyrocket and the custom of proposing with a diamond ring became the norm. Finally, in 1968 Elizabeth Taylor’s ring, which is known as the Krupp diamond, sparked a trend of grandiose, over-the-top engagement rings with a 39.19-carat Asscher cut diamond. Soon enough people began taking a more personalized approach to their rings, it became common for the bride and groom to design matching wedding sets. By 1990, the minimalist trend was back. Settings made in yellow and 24-carat gold were out and cooler metals, like platinum and white gold, were in. It only became common to match your engagement ring and wedding band in 32|LUXEBOOK|JULY 2023 JEWELLERY FOREVER JULY 2023 |LUXEBOOK|33
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