Gen Z continues to reign the engagement and wedding planning landscape, reshaping norms around engagement rings and wedding bands with their unique tastes and values. Couples tend to favor affordability, individuality, and sustainability above all, resulting in the rise of diverse and unconventional styles that reflect their personalities.
Popular Engagement Rings
Engagement Ring Settings
Three Stone Ring Setting
A three stone ring setting features a prominent center stone flanked by two side stones. Some believe the trio symbolizes friendship, love, and fidelity, while others interpret the stones as representing a couple’s past, present, and future. Ultimately, the meaning is up to the couple. Here are some of our favorite combinations: an emerald diamond paired with tapered baguettes, a round center stone surrounded by two smaller rounds, and an oval cut accompanied by two pear-shaped side stones.
Platinum Ring Metal
Platinum boasts many desirable qualities for an everyday-wear engagement ring. This precious metal is renowned for its exceptional strength and naturally white sheen which, as an added bonus, maintain themselves with minimal upkeep. It’s also a practical hypoallergenic option for those with metal sensitivities. Not only is platinum one of the purest metals, but it can also be recycled, aligning with the values of many younger couples who prioritize environmental responsibility in their purchasing decisions. With rising gold prices, platinum’s allure to young buyers only grows. For all these reasons and more, platinum cinches its status as the preferred choice for engagement rings in today’s market.
Solitaire Ring Setting
The solitaire setting has become Gen Z’s go-to, thanks to its elegant simplicity. This classic design centers around a single gemstone, allowing its brilliance to revel in the limelight. The ease of maintenance only adds to this setting’s appeal, as it generally requires less cleaning than more intricate styles. Refined yet impactful, solitaire settings reflect a generation’s appreciation for quiet luxury.
Engagement Ring Center Stones
Lab-Grown Diamond
Amid the current emphasis on affordability, lab-grown diamonds provide couples with a compelling option that doesn’t compromise on quality. These diamonds are chemically identical to their natural counterparts, but they typically come at a lower price point, making them an attractive choice for budget-conscious buyers.
The company ALTR initiates its growth process with a Type IIA diamond seed—the highest certification awarded to diamonds—to produce lab-grown diamonds that surpass the standard. ALTR’s preset diamond engagement rings are available online at Borsheims.com or in-store.
Clarity Diamond™ is at the cutting edge of artfully crafted, American-grown, responsibly sourced diamonds. Their patented growth process ensures quality diamonds with a difference you can see. Find Clarity’s preset engagement rings online or in-store today.
Colored Stone
Nowadays, couples are opting for non-diamond engagement rings more and more. We attribute this shift to the yearn for distinctive styles at a more accessible price point. Additionally, many are embracing color more than ever before. Among the most popular center stones are blue and pink sapphires, amethyst, and aquamarine.
Round Cut Diamond
The round cut design has stood the test of time for over a century, never skipping a beat through changing trends. Its brilliant facets are specifically engineered to reflect light efficiently, resulting in unparalleled sparkle and radiance, which is irresistibly romantic. Round cut diamonds are a top contender in our hearts—what about yours?
Cushion Cut Diamond
The cushion cut combines a square or rectangular shape with gently rounded corners and larger facets, resulting in a soft silhouette. This cut is praised for its ability to reflect light in a way that enhances the stone’s inner fire and sparkle. Design your own custom cushion cut engagement ring online today using our ring builder.
Popular Wedding Bands
Wide Wedding Band
While wide wedding bands have the marks to be a statement piece, many Gen Z couples are picking simple metal bands to accompany their engagement rings. This choice not only proves to be more affordable but also allows for a smooth extension of the engagement ring’s design. We recommend selecting the same metal for cohesiveness, unless you are aiming for a style that benefits from mixing different metals.
Eternity Wedding Band
An eternity band is a profound expression of devotion. Its exterior is adorned with a continuous row of gemstones that encircle the entire band, signifying an unending bond. It can be worn alongside your engagement ring or as a standalone piece, making it suitable for any occasion.
Two-Tone Wedding Band
Two-tone wedding bands are carving a significant niche in the jewelry market for both men and women. This style combines two different metals, resulting in a striking contrast. Men are increasingly drawn to two-tone wedding bands as they provide an opportunity to embrace sophistication while retaining a rugged charm. Design your own two-tone wedding band in-store today with guidance from one of our jewelry experts.
Open and Curved Wedding Bands
The innovative design of curved and open wedding bands ensures a perfect match between the engagement ring and the wedding band, all while preserving their individual integrity. Open bands include a gap where the engagement ring can slide in seamlessly, while curved bands are crafted to contour comfortably around the engagement ring. Although the band can be worn alone, its full effect is realized when paired with the engagement ring.
Visit Borsheims for your most generous selection of quality engagement rings and wedding bands, where we’ll help you find the ring of your dreams.
