Vintage, unique, modern: what makes an engagement ring’s style?

Are you ramping up to pop the big question but feeling uncertain about the engagement ring reveal? Maybe your sweetheart has shown you examples from a magazine, but you fear you won’t know how to describe the style when you get to the jewellery store. Good news: with a little knowledge of a few engagement ring styles and their key features, you’ll have the vocabulary to feel more confident when starting the conversation with your jeweller. Here’s a quick and easy guide.

Know your settings

When it comes to distinguishing various engagement ring styles from one another, it primarily comes down to the setting, essentially the gem and its surrounding decorative elements. Engagement rings often have a diamond gemstone, but not always. The decorative elements may be simple or highly ornate. This is where style comes into play.

Know your styles

Use these three styles as your springboard for discussing engagement ring options with your jeweller:

1. Vintage

Vintage-style engagement rings evoke the romance of earlier times, hinting at a family legacy to be valued for generations to come. Vintage-style bridal sets and engagement rings have intricate detailing reminiscent of old-world charm. Look for ornate details like filigree — fine metal threads formed into coils — or a textured edging called milgrain. In antique rings, the diamonds tend slightly towards yellow rather than perfectly colourless.

2. Modern

Contemporary styling tends to be sleeker, so look for rings with clean lines and minimal ornamentation. The diamond itself is often the centrepiece in modern engagement rings. On the grading chart of diamond colours, modern diamonds are closer to “colourless,” with a grade of D, E or F. The choice of metal tends towards white gold rather than yellow gold.

If your sweetheart’s modern sense of style includes contemporary ethics, consider options like Canadian-mined diamonds or environmentally friendly lab-grown diamonds.

3. Unique

If your one true love is also your one-of-a-kind true love, the sky’s the limit for your engagement ring. Opt for a unique cut like a pear-shaped diamond set in rose gold, or play with different gemstones like morganite, aquamarine or tanzanite. For the ultimate in bespoke flair, consider giving your sweetheart a custom-designed engagement ring. 

Find the engagement ring of her dreams in Oshawa and Mississauga

At Charm Diamond Centres, we’ll take the guesswork out of finding the right engagement ring for your better half. Our attentive staff will talk you through your partner’s preferences and help you find — or design — the ring that says it all. We have locations in Oshawa, Mississauga and throughout Canada, so you’re sure to find a store near you. Contact us today to start your search.