Believe it or not, 2013 is nearing its close and 2014 trend reports are already on the horizon. But with engagement season upon us (according to a survey conducted by prominent online wedding site The Knot in 2011, 32% of engagements take place in November and December), let’s review a few of the hottest 2013 engagement ring trends of 2013 for those who are considering popping the question this holiday season.

Kelly Clarkson’s got engaged earlier this year with a stunning fancy color yellow diamond center stone.

Color Explosion
One trend seen from home décor to fashion to jewelry is the explosion of color. While it used to be that nearly every engagement ring featured a solitaire diamond, that trend has shifted with a number of brides choosing colored gems. Fancy yellow, pink, cognac and champagne diamonds, and also gemstones like sapphire—due in part to royal trendsetter Kate Middleton—are continuing to rise in popularity.

Desiree Hartsock’s engagement ring is a diamond, platinum and 18K rose gold “Romantic Entwined Ring” set with a central cushion-cut diamond.

Mixed Metals
The color trend isn’t limited to the center stone. Designers are incorporating mixed metals into engagement rings for a unique and colorful look. While platinum is still a top choice, the mixing of different colors of gold—white, yellow, and rose—creates a look that appeals to many brides looking for something distinct and versatile.

Scarlett Johansson shows off her Art Deco-inspired engagement ring.

Vintage and Art Deco
There’s something about vintage design that captures the romance for many brides-to-be. Vintage rings have increased in popularity over the last decade, and 2013 saw a particular interest in the Art Deco period. Many appreciate the intricate detailing, and the popularity of period shows like Downton Abbey and The Great Gatsby film have continued to fuel interest in designs iconic to the era. While many men propose with current interpretations of vintage or Art Deco designs, some, like Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, choose true vintage pieces, as when he proposed to Behati Prinsloo earlier this year with a 1930s ring.

Olivia Wilde’s engagement ring features a stunning halo design of emeralds surrounding the center diamond

Halo
While the double halo has been regaining popularity the past few years, 2013 took it up a notch.. Two tiered halo settings create the impression of an even larger center stone. The halo (or double halo) setting is often paired with a square or cushion-cut diamond, in place of the traditional round brilliant.

If you were engaged in 2013, tell us about your ring design. Does it follow one of these trends? Or do you wish one of these trends was around when you got engaged?

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The stores have their decorations up, which means that the 2013 holiday shopping season has officially begun. To assist with a fine jewelry purchase you may be considering, GIA has put together a Holiday Buying Guide, a 7-part series dedicated to making you a more informed jewelry shopper, as well as a more relaxed one.The first installment in our series covers diamond jewelry trends – what we’re seeing on runways, red carpets, in stores, and fashion magazines. So if you’re looking for gift ideas to help you shop for diamond jewelry this holiday season, here are a few trends and themes you’re likely to see:

Go Bold
The runways this fall featured statement jewelry with big cuffs, big earrings, and big necklaces. But satisfying the “big” trend for the diamond lover in your life could be out of reach, since larger diamonds are rare and, as a result, expensive. You can still deliver “big” – and not break the bank – by going for jewerly designs that incorporate numerous very small diamonds, called melee, in a pavè setting to create a dazzling effect. When shopping this holiday season, don’t forget that GIA can provide a grading report and laser inscription  for diamonds as small as .15 carats. While it may seem obvious to get a grading report for a large statement diamond, it’s important to know what you’re buying at any size.

Square radiant cut bezel set diamond flanked by melee diamonds. Image courtesy of DeBeers Diamond Promotion Service

Don’t Forget the Wrist
Almost all designers showed something on the wrist during the fall runway shows, and often, more than one type of bracelet or cuff worn together. For the woman who seems to have everything, you might want to consider adding a diamond bracelet or cuff to her jewelry collection.

Platinum bracelet with a leaf and paisley-shaped loop design. Studded with prong set diamonds. Image courtesy of Platinum Guide International.

Period Pieces Remain Hot
We’ve featured popular design eras on the blog before, including Edwardian Era Jewelry, fueled by interest in popular entertainment like Downton Abby, and Art Deco, a style beloved by Hollywood and soaring in popularity, thanks in large part to this year’s The Great Gatsby film. These trends continue to be hot, and 19th and early 20th century fancy-cut diamonds are more sought-after than ever, including “old mine cut” diamonds (which are sometimes called antique cushion cut diamonds). These vintage cuts are rare, but if you can’t find true vintage there are many contemporary “vintage-inspired” designs that are sure to please.

Inspired by vintage design, this diamond ring in platinum features milgrained edges that frame delicate engraving set with petite round diamonds. Image courtesy of Platinum Guide International.

Bridal Engagement Ring Trends
The holiday season is the most popular time to propose, so no holiday diamond buying guide would be complete without mentioning diamond engagement ring trends. The halo style continues to be very popular. And while not a top trend yet, colored diamonds, or gemstones surrounded by diamonds, are continuing to rise in popularity. For more detail on current engagement ring trends, be sure to visit our previous blog post, 2013 Engagement Ring Trends.

Platinum ring with diamonds in both the halo and shank. Image courtesy of Platinum Guide International.

Now that you’re up to speed on diamond jewelry trends, stay tuned for the next installment in our 2013 Holiday Buying Guide series, where we talk about the importance of understanding the 4Cs when shopping for a diamond. Which of these trends are you hoping will make its way to your doorstep?

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When it comes to diamonds, most consumers tend to use the words “cut” and “shape” interchangeably.  But for diamond professionals, there is a big difference.  Diamond Shape refers to the outline of the stone (pear, oval, round, etc.).  Diamond cut refers to a stone’s facet arrangement.  So a shape can be faceted in a variety of ways, or cutting styles. The most common facet arrangement, known as the brilliant cut, is applied to many shapes. It consists of 58 facets (if a culet facet is included) or 57 facets (if the culet is pointed). There will be one octagonal table, or top flat surface of the diamond and 16 kite-shaped facets and 40 triangular shaped facets and an optional small octagonal facet at the culet.

Round Shape

The round shape is the most popular, often used as a solitaire in engagement rings, earrings, or pendants. It’s estimated that 75% of all diamonds sold are round-shaped and according to research by The Knot, 53% of engagement ring center stones are round. The cutting style known as the round brilliant has been around since the 1700’s, but has been modified over the years.  The angles we see in today’s modern round brilliant – angles that help to enhance the diamond’s fire and brilliance – were first suggested by Henry Morse of Boston in the 1860’s and later slightly enhanced by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. In 2005,  a scientific way to assess — and help cutters plan and predict — the cut quality of round brilliant cut diamonds was introduced by GIA.

Oval Shape

The oval shape has probably the longest known history, with the first mention of an oval shaped diamond occurring in 1304:  the famous Koh-I-Noor, which now resides in the Tower of London. One of the most notable oval brilliant cut diamonds is the 184 carat Victoria, which was cut in 1887. The oval brilliant was popularized and modernized in the 1960′s. Containing fire and brilliance, the oval is suggestive of the round shape but is more unique. This shape also creates an illusion that the finger is longer and slimmer. The oval can be narrow or wide, depending on personal preference.

Marquise Shape

The marquise shape was named in 1745 for the Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV of France.  The long and narrow shape, said to resemble the shape of the Marquise’s mouth,  creates an illusion that the diamond is of greater size. Symmetry is quite important with this shape, as even the slightest difference can create and uneven, imbalanced look.

Pear Shape

The pear shapes trace their history to the 1400’s, with the brilliant style being added in the 1700’s.  Pears have gently rounded shoulders and wings (the sides near the point) for an appealing outline. The point should always be directed out toward the fingers of the wearer, and the shape has a slimming effect on the hand. This shape is similar to the marquise shape, in that symmetry is extremely important.

Emerald Cut

An octagonal shaped diamond, the emerald cut was designed to highlight the qualities of emeralds. This cut is highly coveted due to its square or rectangle table-top cut and step-cut facets. The emerald cut’s smoothly beveled corners add visual appeal and provide a secure setting area for the prongs. This cut results in a more mirror-like look and requires a stone of very high quality.

Square shaped diamonds include the princess cut and quadrillion cut.  These cutting styles were created in the 1980′s and are also very popular cuts for engagement rings. The square shape creates the illusion of a larger diamond.  A princess or quadrillion cut diamond should always be set with prongs that protect the four corners–the areas most prone to chipping.

Among other square or rectangular shaped diamonds, some of the most notable cutting styles include:

The cushion cut. The brilliant style has been around since the mid-1700’s, it was the most common cut until the early 20^th century. Originally designed to retain as much weight from the original crystal as possible, this brilliant cut combines a square cut with rounded corners (much like a cushion). Antique dealers are often on the lookout for the older version of these diamonds, as their light patterns tend to be chunkier and more distinctive than modern-cut diamonds.

The radiant and barion cuts. Perfected around in the 1970’s, these create vibrant and fiery diamonds, ideal as a center-stone surrounded by smaller diamonds.

The baguette cut. Named for the French word baguette, which means “long rod,” this cut became popular during the 1920′s, an era when the Art Deco movement encouraged geometric shape and symmetrical flow. This cut is generally used for smaller side stones. They are often measured by dimensional size, rather than carat weight.

The Asscher cut.  Developed in 1902 and named after its creator, Joseph Asscher. It was also a popular cut for Art Deco jewelry. It is similar to the emerald cut, though it differs in that its facets are larger and it tends to be square rather than rectangular. Around 2002, this cut became popular again as modifications were made to the cut.

Heart Shape

The heart shape diamond can be a beautiful symbol of love and romance. A skilled cutter creates the heart shape, always keeping an eye on the heart’s balance and symmetry. This shape is ideal as a pendant and is very popular around Valentine’s Day.

Last, and by no means least, triangular shaped diamonds first made their appearance in the 1500’s. Brilliant cut versions of this shape gained popularity in the 1960’s with the appearance of a variation called Trillion. In 1978 an additional variation called the Trilliant came on the market. It was developed as a triangular version of the square-shaped radiant diamond and is sometimes considered an adventurous and provocative diamond choice.

The post How Diamonds Shape Up appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

A diamond solitaire refers to any piece of jewelry with a single diamond. Diamond solitaires can be a ring, necklace, earring or even men’s jewelry. They have come to mark some of the most significant occasions in one’s life, like sweet-sixteen, anniversaries, and the most notable, an engagement proposal.

A diamond engagement ring is a known symbol of lasting love and fidelity. When a man kneels and places the diamond ring onto his fiancée’s finger, it is a moment to be remembered forever. A woman may look at her engagement ring thousands of times over the course of her lifetime; for this reason, the ring ought to be expertly matched to the bride.

Many engagement ring buyers choose a solitaire setting for its classic elegance and its ability to showcase the beauty of the stone. In fact, in a recent survey of over 7,000 engaged women, TheKnot, found that 25% had received solitaires. Within the solitaire category, there are many settings to consider when purchasing that perfect engagement ring.

Since the diamond will be the centerpiece of the ring, most people begin the selection process with the shape of the diamond. The most popular stone shape for a solitaire ring is the round brilliant (53% of all engagement rings, according to TheKnot); this creative, multifaceted style is cut to sparkle and show off the depth of the stone. This cut is arguably the most brilliant of all solitaire choices because it provides the maximum amount of light return through the top of the diamond. Other popular styles for solitaire diamond rings are cushion, princess, radiant, and pear.

Once the shape of the diamond is selected, buyers consider the best setting style for the stone. Although the first demand is practical–that it will be secure enough to hold the stone safely in place–there are many aesthetic concerns as well. For solitaire rings, popular setting styles include prong, cathedral, bezel and tension. A prong setting is minimalist in nature, holding the stone like a claw from beneath. The prongs are small wires that bind the stone, welded to the band to ensure its safety. Yet they suspend the stone high enough off of the band to show its size and detail, offering maximum sparkle. The Tiffany 6-prong setting, introduced over 125 years ago, serves as the iconic image of an engagement ring. This look served to popularize the giving of diamond solitaire rings for engagements, and it remains a popular, and often imitated, style.

Cathedral setting*

A cathedral setting allows the diamond to be visible, with slopes on either side to protect the stone. The cathedral setting gets its name from its aesthetic similarities to an old cathedral—its sweeping nature is reminiscent of the vaulted ceilings and pleasing arches of these places of prayer.

Bezel Setting"

A bezel setting is sleek and modern—the metal of the band is used to completely surround the diamond, following exactly the stone’s shape. This is an ideal choice for an active lifestyle.

Tension setting*

A tension setting allows the ring to act as a spring, holding the diamond in place. This setting type is known for its unique appearance, allowing the diamond to appear to be floating. Further, there is no metal underneath the diamond, which means the stone can be cleaned easily. Diamonds are natural grease magnets, so when dirty, they appear duller in appearance.

No matter what stone shape and setting type are selected, a diamond solitaire ring is sure to please any bride-to-be, eliciting a smile from her lips each one of the million-plus times she glances at her ring in years to come.

*Photos courtesy of Platinum Guild International

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Solitaire Setting is a popular diamond engagement ring setting. The head secures the diamond. The prongs allow the diamond to catch the most light. A four-prong setting shows more of the diamond, but a six-prong setting is often more secure.

Settings with Sidestones

Settings with Sidestones, such as diamonds or gemstones, add additional sparkle or color. Popular sidestone settings are channel, which protects stones by keeping them flush, and bar-channel, which allows more light to enter the sidestones.

Three-Stone Settings

Three-Stone Settings have one diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. Typically the center diamond is larger than the two side stones.

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