Rebecca Klodinsky, co-founder of the Prestwick Place, an Australian jeweller specialising in lab-grown diamonds, has seen huge demand for oval shapes. She believes this was propelled by model Hailey Bieber, who was given an oval diamond rumoured to be worth $US1.5 million by her now husband, Justin Bieber, last year.
β[Ring trends] have a lot to do with social media and pop culture, as well as the stone itself, because an oval is very slimming to the hands, so itβs flattering on everyone,β she says.
Wendy El-Khoury, founder of industry group Wedded Wonderland, agrees that oval cuts remain the most popular cut, influenced by celebrities like Blake Lively and Emily Ratajkowski.
Celebrity rings to inspire, not imitate
Cushla Whiting, co-founder of the eponymous Melbourne-based jewellery brand, believes Gomez and Zendaya will continue to influence diamond trends that were already in train.
Over the past year, Whiting says, the company has had higher demand for emerald cuts, marquise cuts and elongated cushion cuts set horizontally. βAnd also an increase in the demand for genuine antique diamond cuts such as Old Mine cuts [in a cushion shape] and Old European cuts due to their one-of-a-kind nature.β
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However, not every bride who wants what Zendaya has can necessarily get it. βNice elongated cushions are really hard to find on the diamond market, so we actually had to create our own signature elongated cushion cut to fill this need,β Whiting says.
Jewellery designer Lucy Folk adds that for her clients, celebrity rings are a source of inspiration, but she discourages copycat designs. βA high-profile ring might ignite curiosity about a particular cut or style, but thereβs an ever-growing desire to move beyond imitation,β she says. βOur clients come to us not for replicas, but for something that feels uniquely theirs.β
And while, traditionally, choosing a ring was the sole task of the groom, Klodinsky says itβs become a more collaborative process. βThe girl will do the choosing, and then the guy will bring it together. So it eliminates room for error.β
Because of this, Khoury says, more effort is being put into the proposal.
βWe get contacted by grooms saying, βOK, she knows the ring is coming, but I still want the proposal to be special … let me surprise her.ββ
The lab debate
Over the past decade, lab-grown diamonds β stones which have the same chemical and physical properties as mined diamonds β have grown in popularity among budget and environmentally conscious consumers.
The Duchess of Sussex, Bindi Irwin and Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown are among the celebrities who have opted for synthetic engagement rings.
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Michael Hillβs Jo Feeney says lab-grown ring sales are up 50 per cent on last year as a proportion of total engagement orders.
Whiting says many couples wanting something individual but who are not keen on lab diamonds are opting for sapphires βas they are all one of a kind, and this has become increasingly importantβ.
Feeney agrees, saying coloured stones account for about 5 per cent of engagement purchases.
So if youβre thinking of proposing next Christmas, just donβt leave it to the last minute β experts recommend having everything finalised by August.
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