Predicting engagement ring trends of 2026

For years, the default approach for engagement rings has been “the bigger the better”. The size and carat of the diamond naturally took centre stage while the rest of the design played a quieter supporting role. In 2025 and coming into 2026, this mindset feels almost nostalgic of a different time, one before couples began exploring beauty through craftsmanship and responsibility. 

Today, the conversation has pivoted. Clients are seeking pieces that feel more intentional, where the craftsmanship of the band matters just as much as the sparkle, where the gold’s origin becomes part of the story and where elegance comes from nuance rather than scale. As lab grown diamonds have become more refined, colour, cut and ethical sourcing are also coming to the forefront, reshaping the idea of luxury around sustainability and personal expression. As a result, 2026 is shaping up to be a year defined by creativity and colour, with designers across the luxury sector leaning into expressive silhouettes and intricate detailing. 

Coloured diamonds and gemstones

One of the most noticeable shifts this year is the move away from traditional clear diamonds toward coloured gemstones and diamonds, with Queensmith reporting a doubling in demand year on year of fancy colour diamonds. Palettes are warming with growing interest in champagne diamonds, light yellows, honey tones, smoky browns and delicate pastel hues. The bold, saturated colours of past eras are being replaced by subtle, luminous shades that feel almost weightless. A major driver behind this trend is the growing sophistication of lab grown diamonds, offering designers greater creative freedom in colour, size and shape. Larger diamonds in soft, gentle tones are becoming more accessible, allowing clients to choose pieces that express individuality without compromising on brilliance or sustainability. 

Jewellery influencer Kira Kirby’s engagement ring is a striking example of how a yellow diamond ring can radiate warmth and creativity without ever feeling predictable. That same spirit of distinctive but personal luxury is at the heart of what we’re creating at Incador. Currently, we are crafting a three carat trilliant cut champagne diamond necklace and a blue diamond bangle, both created using Swiss grown lab diamonds produced with solar power in the Alps. 

Designer cuts take centre stage 

Alongside colour, designer cuts are also having their moment. Couples are seeking stones with distinctive character with shapes that create movement, depth and a sense of atmosphere. Cuts such as John Dyer’s Starbrite™ are gaining particular momentum. Known for their internal starburst pattern, these stones catch the light in a way that feels almost ethereal. At Incador, we’re currently crafting an engagement ring featuring a pink sapphire cut in the Starbrite style.  This direction opens up a new creative landscape of rings that feel sculptural and quietly otherworldly. 

Substantial settings 

Moving away from delicate, whisper thin settings that defined previous engagement ring trends, we’re seeing a renewed appreciation for more substantial design. There’s a growing focus on the metalwork itself: thicker prongs and broader bands that play with proportion to create a ring that embraces weight and presence. This shift toward bolder silhouettes is often paired with bezel settings, where the metal fully encircles the stone. The result is a sleek, contemporary look that manages to feel both modern and enduring. Beyond aesthetics, the design offers excellent durability and protection, a beautiful balance of form and function. 

Dua Lipa’s engagement ring is an example of the shift toward substantial settings dominating contemporary engagement rings. Her ring pairs a round diamond with a rubover bezel on a chunky yellow gold band, creating a bold but minimalist silhouette that is both timeless and striking. 

Sculptural settings 

 

Another key direction for 2026, and one that continues this renewed focus on metalwork, is the rise of sculptural settings. These designs embrace dimension and form, allowing the metal to curve, twist and flow around gemstones in unexpected ways, transforming a ring from traditional jewellery to wearable art. As Vogue highlights, designers are exploring undulating curves, melted textures and silhouettes that echo early modernist jewellery, where form and movement shaped aesthetics. Sculptural design is integral to Incador’s approach, from our debut collection inspired by the subtle curves of coral and the powerful tides of the sea, to the flower inspired basket settings found in our bespoke engagement signs. 

Antique cuts and vintage style

The resurgence of antique cut gemstones and vintage inspired design is actively unfolding across the cultural landscape, most visibly on celebrity hands like Taylor Swift’s and Zendaya’s. Taylor Swift’s ring has sparked a renaissance for antique cut stones. Her ring centres on an elongated cushion shaped old mine cut diamond set in a Georgian setting with bezel set accent diamond on a yellow gold band.

Zendaya’s cushion cut diamond is set in an East to West orientation in a rubover bezel, mixed metal, antique style cut down setting. Together, these rings highlight an increasing attraction toward clean lines, geometric precision, intricate metalwork, and the architectural silhouettes often associated with vintage and Art Deco jewellery.  

Looking ahead, it’s clear that 2026 is being shaped by imagination and intention. Couples are moving beyond traditional rules around engagement rings and choosing pieces that reflect their values as much as their style. With lab grown diamonds offering access to larger carat weights while reducing environmental and ethical impact and price, the creative landscape for engagement rings continues to grow. Designer cuts, substantial silhouettes and sculptural metalwork are transforming rings into small works of art. At Incador, these shifting trends align deeply with our ethos: a commitment to sustainability, innovation and meticulous craftsmanship. The future of fine jewellery is thoughtful, expressive and beautifully responsible, and Incador is proud to be a part of it.