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Updated Oct 14, 2024The Results Are In: These Are The Most Popular Engagement Ring Styles Right Now
How does yours stack up?
Photo: Kir2Ben
Engagement ring styles are like wedding styles: everyone has a favorite, and what you love might look vastly different from what your bestie prefers. But while wedding trends tend to evolve every year, it takes longer for notable changes to hit the engagement ring industry. That's why we regularly canvass the nation for our annual Jewelry and Engagement Study. Not only do the findings reveal as much about aesthetics as they do the state of the economy, the data helps us identify the most popular engagement ring styles. And this year, we discovered that a few seismic shifts are threatening to uproot the status quo.
From shapes to settings and everything in between, the results from The Knot 2024 Jewelry and Engagement Study reveal the most common engagement ring designs in the US. And, believe it or not, a few are on track to unseat some of the most classic styles couples have loved for decades. So, how does your sparkler stack up against the data? We unveil the most popular engagement rings right now, breaking down the top shapes, stones, settings and metals.
In this article:
- The Most Popular Engagement Ring Shape: Round
- The Most Popular Engagement Ring Metal: White Gold
- The Most Popular Engagement Ring Center Stone: Diamond
- The Most Popular Engagement Ring Setting: Prong
The Most Popular Engagement Ring Shape: Round
Despite the newest engagement ring trends, the classics are classic for a reason. The Knot 2024 Jewelry and Engagement Study revealed that, once again, round center stone engagement rings are the crowd favorite. According to our data, 28% of respondents have a round gem, solidifying its spot as the most popular engagement ring shape.
The result doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, considering this has been the most common shape for years. That said, we may be on the path to seeing a new style take over this spot in the near future, which would offer one of the biggest engagement ring trend shakeups in decades. The popularity of the round diamond has fallen 21% since 2015, with one particular shape en route to take its place.
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Rising Star: Oval
Hot on the heels of the most common engagement ring shape is the oval, which makes up 25% of all engagement rings. (Read: That's up 23% from 2015, when it was featured in just 2% of engagement ring designs!) So, to what do we owe this rise in status? Unsurprisingly, celebrity wearers have had an impact. While Blake Lively was one of the first A-listers to sport an oval engagement ring in 2012, other stars like Hailey Bieber, Ariana Grande and Kourtney Kardashian have accelerated the trend.
Additionally, buzzy engagement ring designs such as the toi-and-moi and modern east-west settings (which involves turning a stone 90 degrees) require more than a round stone for maximum impact. Speaking of impact, oval-shaped stones are known for their ability to create the illusion of longer fingers. They also tend to appear larger than their carat size thanks to their curves, making them an appealing option.
The Most Popular Engagement Ring Metal: White Gold
Thanks to its durability and relative affordability when compared to platinum, white gold remains the most popular engagement ring metal. This frosty setting makes up 36% of all engagement rings in the US, but it might not hold this title for much longer. White gold settings are following a similar trajectory to round-shaped center stones, falling 25% since 2017.
Rising Star: Yellow Gold
For the first time in years, yellow gold engagement rings are just as popular as white gold designs. In 2024, our data states that this warm hue can be seen in 36% of all engagement rings. That's up a whopping 27%, from when it made up just 9% of engagement rings in 2017. At 13%, platinum is the third most popular engagement ring metal, followed by sterling silver at 10%. Rounding out the top five is rose gold at 6%, which continues to decrease year-over-year.
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The Most Popular Engagement Ring Center Stone: Diamond
Diamonds are still *almost* everyone's best friend. By far, clear diamonds are the most popular center stones, as they account for 83% of all engagement rings. Of that number, 51% of all styles feature a diamond accented by side stones or other details, while 32% include just a diamond solitaire. These stats also account for both mined and lab-grown diamonds, the latter of which now make up over half (52%) of all center stones. This signifies one of the biggest shifts in engagement ring trends, as it's up from 46% last year. Engagement rings with mined diamond center stones continue to fall in popularity, decreasing by 3% since 2023.
Rising Star: Moissanite
Photo: DiamondGalaxy / Shutterstock
Despite the diamond dominance, 10% of all engagement rings feature a different precious gemstone. Moissanite is the most popular option, accounting for 24% of this subset. Although it might appear similar to a diamond at first glance, moissanites are significantly sparklier—and they have a much lower price tag. Sapphires are slowly growing in popularity, accounting for 21% of all non-diamond center stones. (That's up 6% since 2022.) Emeralds (7%), opals (3%) and morganites (3%) make up the top five most popular gem center stones.
The Most Popular Engagement Ring Setting: Prong
Photo: DiamondGalaxy / Shutterstock
In regard to additional setting details, simple designs are the most common. We found that 35% of engagement rings feature a prong setting, showing zero fluctuation over the previous year. Four prongs are the standard minimum number, but your jeweler may recommend adding more depending on the size of the center stone. (More prongs equals more support.)
Rising Star: Hidden Halo
We conclude our report on the most common engagement ring styles with an exciting development. In 2024, a brand new setting broke into the top two most popular styles: the hidden halo. Not to be confused with the classic halo, which features a circle of diamonds around the outline of the center stone, a hidden halo is a cluster of diamonds surrounding the base of the cathedral. Only visible from the sides or bottom of the ring, it gives a subtle pop of sparkle without being overly flashy. (Kourtney Kardashian's is a beautiful example.) Hidden halos can be seen on 18% of engagement rings, which is a massive shift from last year. This style dethrones the classic halo, which represents 13% of designs. Rounding out the category of most popular engagement ring settings are pavé bands (13%), comfort fit (9%), cathedral (9%) and baguette side stones (6%).
If there's one common story our data illustrates, it's that there's no shortage of design inspiration. While this study highlights the most popular engagement rings right now, it also indicates that more couples are experimenting with styles that are as unique as they are. Our takeaway? Don't be afraid to break the mold and find a unique piece that speaks to you and your love story.
