Trend Report: Alternative Engagement Rings

Trend Report: Alternative Engagement Rings

Euan James Euan James
5 minute read

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With a world of options available in the alternative engagement ring market, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help you find something that you love, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites from the Shiels collection.

When you think of engagement rings, we typically imagine large, expensive diamonds. While the diamond engagement ring has long been the obvious choice, choosing other gemstone types is becoming increasingly popular among modern brides-to-be.

An engagement ring is a longstanding tradition that symbolises a couple’s decision to get married, but this doesn’t mean you can’t use the opportunity to express your individuality. We’ve seen ceremonies move out of chapels, receptions move into farm barns and motorbikes in the place of wedding cars. Couples are becoming more and more experimental with their big day and this can be the same with your engagement ring.

If you think outside the solitaire diamond box, the options for alternative engagement rings are endless. There are citrine, emerald, sapphire, amethyst and ruby engagement rings – just to name a few! Rather than picking something that will look just like every other bride’s engagement ring, why not be a little different and express your individuality in the process?

Along with endless styling options, gemstone engagement rings don’t come with an extravagant price tag. This makes alternative engagement rings great for budget reasons and means you can put more towards your honeymoon instead! 

Overview:

alternative engagement rings trend report

The Best Alternative Engagement Rings

Without further ado, let’s get into the best alternative engagement rings.

Rose Gold Engagement Rings

9ct Rose Gold Rhodolite Garnet Ring 10x8mm Oval with 0.34ct Diamonds

9ct Rose Gold Rhodolite Garnet Ring 10x8mm Oval with 0.34ct Diamonds

$1,034.00

Please contact us regarding special order enquiries for this ring. All ring sizes can be specially ordered, with delivery approximately 6-8 weeks.… read more

Sold out

A rose gold engagement ring is a modern option even when you opt for a traditional diamond as the centre stone. However, the beautiful warm tones of rose gold look even more stunning when paired with bold red tones like garnet or ruby. These red gemstones bring out the warmth of rose gold, creating a stunning ruby engagement ring or garnet engagement ring that is hard to look past. 

Love pink? The union of morganite and rose gold is also a beautiful option. Both the metal and the stone share a similar blush gold shade that makes for a subtle engagement ring option. We especially love the oval cut morganite engagement ring, which still holds the shape and feel of a traditional engagement ring, only with more experimental colours and stone choice.

White Gold Engagement Rings

9ct White Gold Pear Cut Aquamarine + Diamond Ring

9ct White Gold Pear Cut Aquamarine + Diamond Ring

$769.00 $1,469.00

This stunning aquamarine ring is unique and sure to please. In a halo setting with 1/5 Carat of stunning diamonds, the 9ct white gold ring will be the envy of all of your friends. Please contact us regarding special order… read more

A white gold ring is not an uncommon choice for an engagement, however, you can make it more alternative by experimenting with bold gemstones. The blue and green shades found in sapphire, aquamarine, and emerald engagement rings particularly look stunning against a white gold band. 

With a halo of small diamonds and a radiant sapphire in the middle, the sapphire engagement ring shown above is a great option for anyone who is a fan of Kate Middleton’s engagement ring. We also love the overall contemporary feel of aquamarine engagement rings. They give a slightly softer colour and modern boho feel that is simply stunning.

Yellow Gold Engagement Rings

9ct Yellow Gold Oval Enhanced Mystic Topaz and Diamond Trilogy Ring

9ct Yellow Gold Oval Enhanced Mystic Topaz and Diamond Trilogy Ring

$384.00 $1,034.00

*No Ultrasonic Cleaning to be used for this product. Please contact us regarding special order enquiries for this ring. All ring sizes can be specially ordered, with delivery approximately 10-12 weeks.… read more

Perhaps the most alternative options out of our selection, these gold engagement rings are miles away from the traditional choice, but nonetheless beautiful stand out pieces. It won’t be hard to express your individual style with these unique modern designs. We love the bold colour choice of the topaz engagement ring and amethyst engagement ring, both sharing an abstract boho look. The natural sapphire ring is more detailed and intricate, exuding a vintage vibe, but is still an alternative engagement ring that we adore.

And there you have it, all the best alternative engagement rings! While diamonds are definitely a girl’s best friend, gemstones are the perfect way to celebrate your better half’s individuality and uniqueness. Ready to find the perfect ring? Browse Shiels’ extensive collection of engagement rings today.

Alternative engagement ring FAQs

What is an alternative to a diamond ring?

There are so many alternative engagement ring options! We’ve listed some of the most popular gemstone engagement rings below:

  • Emerald
  • Sapphire
  • Amethyst 
  • Ruby
  • Peridot
  • Citrine
  • Topaz
  • Cubic zirconia
  • Aquamarine
  • Opal
  • Pearl

Can any ring be used as an engagement ring?

Yes, that’s the fun part about engagement rings! The decision is completely up to you. The best kind of engagement ring is one that perfectly matches your future fiance’s personality and fits within your budget. For some, this could be a classic yellow gold diamond engagement ring, while for others it could be a peridot engagement ring!

Is an engagement ring really necessary?

This is totally up to you. An engagement ring is meant to be a symbol of love and show your commitment to one another before you walk down the aisle. But some brides and grooms-to-be prefer to opt for alternatives – such as getting matching tattoos, buying a house, putting more money towards the honeymoon or gifting another type of jewellery. 

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