Looking for engagement ring inspiration? We worked with the team at UK’s leading wedding planning destination, Hitched, to reveal the most popular engagement rings and share our predictions for 2024 to help you find the perfect ring for your big moment!
The most popular engagement ring styles
There are a number of beautiful designs to choose, from but the bestselling style of engagement rings in the UK is the classic solitaire setting.
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Solitaire
If you’re asked to imagine an engagement ring, you’re likely to think of the single sparkling diamond on a band. This is known as a solitaire and has long been our best-selling design, with our Sabrina and Wren rings a very popular choice.
Its popularity is owing to its stunning simplicity; it allows the diamond to take centre stage. They are also an appealing option as their clean and versatile look complements a range of diamond shapes.
In a recent poll of both ours and Hitched’s Instagram followers*, we found that 72% of respondents said that their dream engagement ring was a simple, classic and timeless piece, which is why we are pretty confident that this popular engagement ring style is here to stay.
.png "Pear Solitaire")
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Side stones & halos
Just over 1-in-10 respondents in our Instagram poll said their dream engagement ring was ‘big, bold, and blingy’.
A trend that we see carrying on into 2024 is ring designs featuring side stones or halos. These two styles are also some of our bestselling designs this year, and they’re ideal for someone seeking additional sparkle beyond the solitaire design.
Halo designs have been popular for a while. However, as with any trend, we usually see those looking for a unique take on the style. In this case, it’s hidden halo designs.
Buyers of hidden halo designs are often looking for a distinctive and less common choice of engagement ring, because of how the diamonds are placed. The smaller diamonds are placed beneath the centre stone, providing a touch of elegance with a subtle sparkle.
.png "Hidden Halo")
Shop now >
Three stone settings
Around 10% of those we surveyed said that their dream engagement ring is something a little bit quirky, with a vintage or retro feel – and a three stone setting (or a trilogy ring) could be the perfect choice.
We predict that three stone engagement rings will remain a favourite thanks to their sentimental meaning. These styles of engagement rings are said to symbolise the past, present, and future of a relationship. To us, this proves that romance is still very much a deciding factor!
Bridal sets
Interestingly, our fifth most popular style in 2023 was actually bridal sets. These sets comprise an engagement ring with a specially designed wedding band.
This shows that couples are not only ensuring the perfect fit with their rings but also planning ahead with their purchases – potentially as a money-saving move as we found the average spend was £1,800 for bridal sets. As we move into 2024 and costs rise in every aspect of life, this may see this category gain even more popularity.
.png "Bridal set")
Shop now >
Natural vs lab grown diamonds
As the old saying goes, ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’. Our research backs this up! In fact, the majority of those surveyed said their dream engagement ring was set with diamonds, and we think the best diamond rings will never go out of style.
We predict diamonds will continue to be the go-to for most engagement rings. This is backed up by the fact that 81% of those who took our poll stated a diamond would feature in their perfect ring.
We saw strong sales for both diamond types, but lab diamonds remain popular. Lab created diamonds, as the name suggests, are developed in a laboratory under the same conditions as natural diamonds. This means they are chemically and optically identical.
As the time and cost of producing lab diamonds are less, the price reflects this. This means that customers can access a larger or higher-quality diamond within their budget. Customers may also be seeking lab created diamonds to reduce the environmental and ethical impact of their jewellery choices.
As more customers learn about the benefits of lab-created diamonds and more myths are busted industry-wide about their properties, we’re sure their rise in popularity will continue to grow. However, as with almost every element of jewellery buying, individual preference is key. That’s why we’d recommend booking an in-store appointment at Austen & Blake to discuss your needs.
Centre stone shape trends
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to how the centre stone in your dream engagement ring should be set.
Round cut
The classic round cut diamond has long been a favourite shape for engagement rings. With the tradition surrounding this look, we think it’s a shape that’ll forever be in style – through 2024 and beyond. They have a symmetrical shape with a brilliant cut that shows the stone’s sparkle, making them ideal for an elegant solitaire design.
Shop now >
Oval cut
We’re not surprised to see the oval shape appearing second on our bestsellers list. While the shape is a stunning alternative to the much-loved round, we predict this trend here to stay with its beautiful and timeless look. Plus, with Molly-Mae Hague’s engagement in July 2023, we expect fans to have their eye on this shape for their own ring design.
Pear, princess & emerald cut
We were pleased to see some distinctive shapes also making the bestsellers list, with pear, princess and emerald proving popular with our customers this year.
These three shapes show that while traditional styles remain popular, there are still plenty of brides seeking an alternative look to set them apart. Pear (or teardrop) shapes are distinctive and eye-catching with rounded edges and a single point. With this in mind, we may see a rise in interest in the marquise diamond shape as it combines the elegance of an oval with an elongated shape.
As our customers seek square princess and rectangular emerald engagement ring shapes, this could hint at vintage-style rings rising in popularity. Our range combines intricate details with geometrical shapes reminiscent of times gone by, including features such as halo settings, filigree detailing and coloured gemstones.
Whether it's the glamour of the Art Deco era of our Ritz ring or the whimsical Victorian era, this style can evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone time. Plus, they’re ideal for brides seeking an alternative style that never goes out of fashion!
.png "Vintage")
Shop now >
How much should an engagement ring cost?
If you’re wondering how much should you spend on an engagement ring, your budget is individual to you. In the past, people have been guided by spending around 3 months' salary, but you don’t have to.
According to our Instagram polls, 60% of engagement rings in the UK cost between £1,000 and £3,000, and almost a fifth of people said their ring cost less than £1,000. Looking at the average cost of engagement ring sales we found in 2023 the average cost for an engagement ring was approximately £2,200. Although individual prices vary from style to style, jeweller to jeweller.
Research costs when looking at designs you like. This will help indicate what styles are available in line with what you feel comfortable spending.
There are some savvy swaps you can make as well, such as lab grown diamonds or gemstones. For example, the average cost for a ring with lab created diamonds was £1,650, while one incorporating natural diamonds was approximately £2,700.
.png "Halo")
Shop now >
Precious metal preferences
Metal colour is another important factor to consider when researching engagement rings, as this is such a personal preference for each person. We’ve found that silver tones are the most popular choice for engagement rings, with 60% choosing white gold or platinum over the more traditional yellow or rose golds.
Both our sales data and poll results show that silver-toned rings are still the most popular choice, with almost half of respondents (46%) saying they prefer platinum or white gold (14%) engagement rings. We see this carrying forward into 2024 as it's a versatile tone that works well with diamonds and gemstones alike.
While we also saw strong sales of yellow gold and rose gold rings, just over a third of our poll respondents (39%) said their dream engagement ring would be yellow gold, showing that personal preference will always be a determining factor. Your jewellery should always be an expression of your personality and style!
Who buys the engagement ring?
While traditionally male partners may have picked the engagement ring for their betrothed, results from our social media poll show that this may be changing! The majority of 52% in our poll said their partner picked their engagement ring, however, 24% answered that they’d either chosen their engagement rings or would want to.
Twenty-one per cent also said they’d like their engagement rings to be bespoke and made for them. As every ring we make is custom-made to celebrate individuality, we’re happy to see more couples choosing what’s right for them!
Feeling inspired? Shop our collection of engagement rings!
*Poll of 1,373 Instagram users across both the Hitched and Austen & Blake profiles accurate as of 05/11/2023
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Looking for engagement ring inspiration? We worked with the team at UK’s leading wedding planning destination, Hitched, to reveal the most popular engagement rings and share our predictions for 2024 to help you find the perfect ring for your big moment!
The most popular engagement ring styles
There are a number of beautiful designs to choose, from but the bestselling style of engagement rings in the UK is the classic solitaire setting.
Solitaire
If you’re asked to imagine an engagement ring, you’re likely to think of the single sparkling diamond on a band. This is known as a solitaire and has long been our best-selling design, with our Sabrina and Wren rings a very popular choice.
Its popularity is owing to its stunning simplicity; it allows the diamond to take centre stage. They are also an appealing option as their clean and versatile look complements a range of diamond shapes.
In a recent poll of both ours and Hitched’s Instagram followers*, we found that 72% of respondents said that their dream engagement ring was a simple, classic and timeless piece, which is why we are pretty confident that this popular engagement ring style is here to stay.
Side stones & halos
Just over 1-in-10 respondents in our Instagram poll said their dream engagement ring was ‘big, bold, and blingy’.
A trend that we see carrying on into 2024 is ring designs featuring side stones or halos. These two styles are also some of our bestselling designs this year, and they’re ideal for someone seeking additional sparkle beyond the solitaire design.
Halo designs have been popular for a while. However, as with any trend, we usually see those looking for a unique take on the style. In this case, it’s hidden halo designs.
Buyers of hidden halo designs are often looking for a distinctive and less common choice of engagement ring, because of how the diamonds are placed. The smaller diamonds are placed beneath the centre stone, providing a touch of elegance with a subtle sparkle.
Three stone settings
Around 10% of those we surveyed said that their dream engagement ring is something a little bit quirky, with a vintage or retro feel – and a three stone setting (or a trilogy ring) could be the perfect choice.
We predict that three stone engagement rings will remain a favourite thanks to their sentimental meaning. These styles of engagement rings are said to symbolise the past, present, and future of a relationship. To us, this proves that romance is still very much a deciding factor!
Bridal sets
Interestingly, our fifth most popular style in 2023 was actually bridal sets. These sets comprise an engagement ring with a specially designed wedding band.
This shows that couples are not only ensuring the perfect fit with their rings but also planning ahead with their purchases – potentially as a money-saving move as we found the average spend was £1,800 for bridal sets. As we move into 2024 and costs rise in every aspect of life, this may see this category gain even more popularity.
Natural vs lab grown diamonds
As the old saying goes, ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’. Our research backs this up! In fact, the majority of those surveyed said their dream engagement ring was set with diamonds, and we think the best diamond rings will never go out of style.
We predict diamonds will continue to be the go-to for most engagement rings. This is backed up by the fact that 81% of those who took our poll stated a diamond would feature in their perfect ring.
We saw strong sales for both diamond types, but lab diamonds remain popular. Lab created diamonds, as the name suggests, are developed in a laboratory under the same conditions as natural diamonds. This means they are chemically and optically identical.
As the time and cost of producing lab diamonds are less, the price reflects this. This means that customers can access a larger or higher-quality diamond within their budget. Customers may also be seeking lab created diamonds to reduce the environmental and ethical impact of their jewellery choices.
As more customers learn about the benefits of lab-created diamonds and more myths are busted industry-wide about their properties, we’re sure their rise in popularity will continue to grow. However, as with almost every element of jewellery buying, individual preference is key. That’s why we’d recommend booking an in-store appointment at Austen & Blake to discuss your needs.
Centre stone shape trends
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to how the centre stone in your dream engagement ring should be set.
Round cut
The classic round cut diamond has long been a favourite shape for engagement rings. With the tradition surrounding this look, we think it’s a shape that’ll forever be in style – through 2024 and beyond. They have a symmetrical shape with a brilliant cut that shows the stone’s sparkle, making them ideal for an elegant solitaire design.
Oval cut
We’re not surprised to see the oval shape appearing second on our bestsellers list. While the shape is a stunning alternative to the much-loved round, we predict this trend here to stay with its beautiful and timeless look. Plus, with Molly-Mae Hague’s engagement in July 2023, we expect fans to have their eye on this shape for their own ring design.
Pear, princess & emerald cut
We were pleased to see some distinctive shapes also making the bestsellers list, with pear, princess and emerald proving popular with our customers this year.
These three shapes show that while traditional styles remain popular, there are still plenty of brides seeking an alternative look to set them apart. Pear (or teardrop) shapes are distinctive and eye-catching with rounded edges and a single point. With this in mind, we may see a rise in interest in the marquise diamond shape as it combines the elegance of an oval with an elongated shape.
As our customers seek square princess and rectangular emerald engagement ring shapes, this could hint at vintage-style rings rising in popularity. Our range combines intricate details with geometrical shapes reminiscent of times gone by, including features such as halo settings, filigree detailing and coloured gemstones.
Whether it's the glamour of the Art Deco era of our Ritz ring or the whimsical Victorian era, this style can evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone time. Plus, they’re ideal for brides seeking an alternative style that never goes out of fashion!
How much should an engagement ring cost?
If you’re wondering how much should you spend on an engagement ring, your budget is individual to you. In the past, people have been guided by spending around 3 months' salary, but you don’t have to.
According to our Instagram polls, 60% of engagement rings in the UK cost between £1,000 and £3,000, and almost a fifth of people said their ring cost less than £1,000. Looking at the average cost of engagement ring sales we found in 2023 the average cost for an engagement ring was approximately £2,200. Although individual prices vary from style to style, jeweller to jeweller.
Research costs when looking at designs you like. This will help indicate what styles are available in line with what you feel comfortable spending.
There are some savvy swaps you can make as well, such as lab grown diamonds or gemstones. For example, the average cost for a ring with lab created diamonds was £1,650, while one incorporating natural diamonds was approximately £2,700.
Precious metal preferences
Metal colour is another important factor to consider when researching engagement rings, as this is such a personal preference for each person. We’ve found that silver tones are the most popular choice for engagement rings, with 60% choosing white gold or platinum over the more traditional yellow or rose golds.
Both our sales data and poll results show that silver-toned rings are still the most popular choice, with almost half of respondents (46%) saying they prefer platinum or white gold (14%) engagement rings. We see this carrying forward into 2024 as it's a versatile tone that works well with diamonds and gemstones alike.
While we also saw strong sales of yellow gold and rose gold rings, just over a third of our poll respondents (39%) said their dream engagement ring would be yellow gold, showing that personal preference will always be a determining factor. Your jewellery should always be an expression of your personality and style!
Who buys the engagement ring?
While traditionally male partners may have picked the engagement ring for their betrothed, results from our social media poll show that this may be changing! The majority of 52% in our poll said their partner picked their engagement ring, however, 24% answered that they’d either chosen their engagement rings or would want to.
Twenty-one per cent also said they’d like their engagement rings to be bespoke and made for them. As every ring we make is custom-made to celebrate individuality, we’re happy to see more couples choosing what’s right for them!
Feeling inspired? Shop our collection of engagement rings!
*Poll of 1,373 Instagram users across both the Hitched and Austen & Blake profiles accurate as of 05/11/2023