Engagement Ring Trends for Late 2026 & 2027: What Will Still Look Good in 10 Years?

Oval Diamonds Aren't Going Anywhere

Oval diamonds have been extremely popular for several years, and I don't see them suddenly disappearing.

But I don't believe you should choose an oval simply because it's popular.

Two oval diamonds with the same carat weight, color and clarity can look completely different. One may be longer and narrower, another fuller and wider. You also have to pay attention to the bow-tie, brilliance and how the diamond actually looks on the hand.

That's why I prefer showing diamonds side by side rather than choosing one based only on a certificate.

Will an oval still look good in 10 years?

I believe so. The shape itself is elegant. What matters is choosing good proportions and putting it into a setting that complements the diamond instead of overpowering it.

Marquise Is Back but It Never Really Left

Marquise diamonds are getting considerably more attention again.

I've been in this business long enough to remember when marquise diamonds were extremely popular. Then they weren't. Now the younger generation is discovering them again.

That's a perfect example of why I'm careful with the word trend.

A marquise isn't a new diamond shape. It's an established shape having another moment.

A beautiful marquise with the right proportions can be elegant, distinctive and flattering on the finger.

Will it still look good in 10 years?

Yes if you genuinely love the shape. Don't buy a marquise just because social media tells you marquise is back.

The Taylor Swift Effect: Vintage Is New Again

One of the most talked-about engagement rings recently has been Taylor Swift's.

Her ring brought enormous attention to antique-inspired diamonds and designs particularly elongated cushion shapes, old mine-style cuts, yellow gold, engraving and rings with a more individual, vintage feeling.

But what interests me isn't the celebrity name or how much someone thinks the ring is worth.

It's what the ring represents.

Many of the elements people suddenly see as fashionable aren't new at all.

Old mine diamonds have been around for generations. Yellow gold isn't new. Hand engraving isn't new. Vintage-inspired settings certainly aren't new.

What makes a ring like this feel current is the way those traditional elements are brought together.

And that's why I think this particular direction has a better chance of aging well than something created purely for the moment.

Will this look still be good in 10 years?

I think the idea will.

Vintage-inspired doesn't mean you need to copy Taylor Swift's ring.

If someone comes into my showroom and says, “I love Taylor Swift's ring,” I would first want to understand what they love about it.

Is it the elongated shape? The antique character of the diamond? The yellow gold? The engraving? The setting? Or simply the overall feeling of the ring?

Once we understand that, we can use it as inspiration to create something personal rather than simply making a copy of somebody else's ring.

That's really what custom design should be about.

Bigger Diamonds Are Changing Ring Design

This is one of the biggest changes I've seen in recent years.

Lab-grown diamonds have made larger center stones accessible to many more couples. A size that once would have required a very large budget is now within reach for far more people.

That change affects more than the diamond.

It affects the entire ring.

When the center diamond gets larger, the setting, band width, height and overall proportions become even more important. The ring needs to look balanced on the hand.

I like large diamonds. I sell plenty of them. But bigger isn't automatically better.

A five-carat diamond doesn't automatically make a more beautiful engagement ring than a two-carat diamond.

The right question is:

Does the entire ring look right together?

That's what will determine whether a large-diamond ring ages well.

The Solitaire Is Still Hard to Beat

Trends change. A beautiful solitaire keeps coming back.

You can change the diamond shape, metal, prongs, band width and height and create completely different versions of the same basic idea.

That's part of the reason I think solitaires age so well:

The diamond remains the star.

A round, oval, pear, radiant, marquise or elongated cushion can all work beautifully in a solitaire.

And if your taste changes years from now, a solitaire also gives you flexibility. The diamond can be moved into a new setting without changing the stone you originally chose.

Will it still look good in 10 years?

Absolutely.

A well-proportioned solitaire is one of the safest choices if timelessness matters to you.

Bezel Settings: Trending, But Not New

We're seeing much more interest in bezel settings.

But bezel settings aren't new.

That's another important distinction:

Something can be trending without being a trend.

A bezel surrounds the diamond with metal instead of relying on traditional exposed prongs. It creates a clean, distinctive appearance and can also be a practical choice for someone who prefers a smoother profile.

I've recently seen more customers attracted to that clean look.

And like many of the styles becoming popular again, the bezel has been around far too long to call it a temporary fashion.

Will it still look good in 10 years?

I think so. A simple, well-designed bezel can look modern today without necessarily looking dated tomorrow.

Yellow Gold and Yellow Gold With a White Head

Yellow gold has made a very strong return, and I don't consider that temporary.

Gold colors move in cycles. I've watched yellow gold dominate, white metals take over, and yellow gold come back again.

One combination I particularly like is a yellow gold band with a white gold or platinum head around the center diamond.

You get the warmth of yellow gold on the hand while keeping a white metal immediately around the diamond.

It's a combination we've made many times.

Will it still look good in 10 years?

Yes.

Mixing metals this way isn't just about following a trend. Done correctly, it creates a very balanced ring and lets the center diamond remain the focus.

Three-Stone Rings Are Becoming More Interesting

Three-stone engagement rings are another good example of an established design that can feel completely current depending on the diamonds you choose.

Instead of simply using three similar stones, there are many ways to make the design more interesting: an oval center with half-moons, a center diamond with pears, tapered shapes or other combinations that frame the center.

The basic three-stone concept has been around far too long for me to call it a trend.

What changes are the proportions and shapes.

Will it still look good in 10 years?

A balanced three-stone ring can look good for decades.

The key is making sure the side stones support the center diamond rather than fighting for attention.

Hidden Details: Personal Without Taking Over the Ring

Hidden halos, small diamonds underneath the center stone, meaningful engravings and other subtle details continue to be popular.

I like personalization when it has meaning.

A hidden detail can make the ring feel unique without changing the entire appearance of the ring from the top.

That's important because the most personal part of your engagement ring doesn't necessarily need to be the loudest part.

Will it still look good in 10 years?

Usually, yes especially when the detail is subtle and doesn't dictate the entire design.

Where I Would Be More Careful

Not every trend is something I would recommend automatically.

Extremely Thin Bands

I understand why people like them.

A very thin band can make the center diamond appear larger, and they can look beautiful in photographs.

But an engagement ring isn't only something you're going to photograph. You're hopefully going to wear it for decades.

There needs to be enough structure for the ring to do its job.

I would rather make a band slightly more substantial and properly proportioned than sacrifice long-term durability simply to make the center diamond appear larger.

Extremely Tall Settings

Some people love a high-set diamond because it makes the center stone very prominent.

But height affects comfort, balance and how easily a ring can catch on clothing or other objects.

There are situations where a higher setting makes sense, but I wouldn't choose height simply because it creates a dramatic photograph.

The setting needs to work with the diamond and with the person who's going to wear it.

Following Every Trend at Once

This may be the biggest one.

You might love an elongated diamond, an east-west setting, a bezel, yellow gold, a hidden halo and an unusual gallery.

That doesn't necessarily mean they all belong in the same ring.

A good custom design isn't about putting every idea you like into one piece.

Sometimes the most important part of designing a beautiful ring is knowing what to leave out.

Don't Design Your Engagement Ring for Instagram

Social media has completely changed how people shop for engagement rings.

Customers regularly arrive at my showroom with screenshots, saved posts and videos.

I actually like that.

It gives me a starting point and helps me understand what catches their eye.

But a photograph doesn't tell you everything.

It doesn't tell you how high the ring sits.

It doesn't show you how it feels between your fingers.

It doesn't tell you whether the diamond's proportions look right on your hand.

And it certainly doesn't tell you whether you'll still love the design years from now.

Use Instagram, Pinterest, celebrity rings and everything else you see for inspiration.

Just don't let an algorithm choose your engagement ring.

So, What Makes an Engagement Ring Timeless?

I don't believe there's one answer.

A round solitaire isn't automatically timeless simply because it's traditional, and a modern bezel isn't automatically going to look dated because it's popular right now.

To me, the rings that age best usually have a few things in common:

Good proportions. Good construction. A beautiful diamond. And a design that reflects the person wearing it.

Trends can help you discover something you hadn't considered before. That's useful.

Taylor Swift's ring might introduce you to an antique-style diamond you had never seen before. Instagram might show you that you love a bezel. A friend's ring might make you realize you prefer yellow gold.

That's inspiration.

But ultimately, your engagement ring should look like your ring—not 2026's ring, not 2027's ring, and not somebody else's ring.

At Redmond Diamond Center in Carlsbad, I like to start by showing you different diamonds and designs side by side. Natural or lab-grown, classic or modern, simple or completely custom, the goal isn't to tell you what you should like.

It's to help you understand your options well enough to recognize the one you do.