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?

The post 2013 Engagement Ring Trends: Beyond the Diamond Solitaire appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

With the return of The Great Gatsby, which is in theatres now, we’re reminded of the Roaring Twenties, a time of prosperity in the United States. Skyscrapers sprung up in major cities, jazz rang out from speakeasies and Charles Lindbergh made the first non-stop transatlantic flight. It was a decade known for automobiles, radios, telephones, skyscrapers, and flappers.

The role of women was also changing. Entering the workforce en masse during World War I, women gained their right to vote in 1920. During this time, women wanted a new style, something that complemented their modern mentality and new freedom. Enter Art Deco, a style that celebrated the machine age and symbolized the opulence and advancements synonymous with the decade.

Patsy Ruth Miller, and American film actress.

Art Deco jewelry evoked elegance and sophistication. Departing from the soft curves of the earlier Art Nouveau movement, Art Deco featured linear lines and geometric patterns such as arcs, circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles. These stylistic choices reflected the futuristic feel of this progressive society as seen in these platinum, emerald, sapphire, and diamond chandelier earrings.

Art Deco chandelier earrings made with platinum, emeralds sapphires and diamonds. Measures approximately 3 1/2″ long.

Jewelry featured platinum and white gold as well as bold color contrasts, a stark contrast from the pastels of Art Nouveau jewelry and colorless stones of Edwardian jewelry. Some popular Art Deco colored gems included emeralds, sapphires, onyx, coral, jade, and rock crystal quartz as well as diamonds and rubies, which can be seen in this jewelry set by Mauboussin, circa 1930.

Art Deco carved ruby and diamond necklace and earrings by Mauboussin circa 1930. Image courtesy of a private collector.

Design elements from ancient cultures also played a large role in Art Deco design. Robert Ackerman, instructor of Jewelry Manufacturing Arts at GIA Carlsbad says that: “Art Deco artists were simultaneously taking from the past and looking to the future. This was a unique combination, and created a distinctive style that gripped the imagination of the public.” Inspiration was taken from artists like Michelangelo and Rembrandt but also from Egyptian art and architecture, as seen in this belt buckle, circa 1920.

1920 Piel Freres belt buckle. Image courtesy of Ginger Moro.

Because of technological advancements, the 1920s became a time for sophisticated jewelry design. New steel tools cut gemstones more accurately, electric engines mechanized polishing wheels used for faceting, and abrasives allowed for finer trimming.  These innovations made it possible for jewelers to create pieces with complex designs such as the one seen in this platinum, sapphire and diamond pendant.

Art Deco platinum, sapphire and diamond pendant/brooch, circa 1925. Courtesy of Frank Goodman & Son, Los Angeles, CA.

Though nearly a century has passed since its birth, Art Deco is still very much alive and well. The influence of Art Deco can be seen in the recent Tiffany & Co. catalog and high-end jewelry stores. In fact, Rolls-Royce recently released a statement saying, “In homage to this golden age we have created three Rolls-Royce Art Deco cars…these highly bespoke motor cars are inspired by the timeless designs, colours and motifs of the movement.”

Art Deco jewelry promises a bright future and for that we will be forever enamored. F. Scott Fitzgerald hit the nail on the head when he penned: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter— tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

If you are interested in seeing the contrast between Art Deco and Art Nouveau jewelry design, check out “Art Nouveau Jewelry”.

Header image courtesy of Frank Goodman & Son, Los Angeles, CA.

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