Engagement Rings: The Latest Trends

Getting ready to "pop the question?" Chances are about nine in 10 that if she says "yes," you'll be giving her a diamond engagement ring. Buying that ring is one of the most important, emotional, and tradition-laden purchases you'll ever make. But traditional doesn't have to mean boring. There are lots of cutting-edge styles to choose from in the bridal jewelry sector these days. To help guide you along, here are some of the hot engagement ring trends that have emerged so far this year:

· Something old. Family heirlooms handed down from mothers/grandmothers, rings from estates and auctions, and pieces from vintage jewelers have been doing particularly well. In general, antique styles and cuts -- especially when set in platinum -- have been strong sellers with today's brides. Some say this is a direct result of the tragic events of Sept. 11, which caused many to want to reconnect with their past -- a time seen as more simple and secure. An antique engagement ring also gives the wearer a chance to express her own style by wearing something that can't be found in just any jewelry store.

· Something new. Sleek, modern, often geometric designs have done well with brides looking to stand out from the crowd. Cutting-edge fashions include settings such as tension (the stone is only held on its edges, suspended, and appears to float) and bezel (the stone is flush with the ring's surface); newer cuts like the Zales Diamond and the Tiffany Lucida, which display more facets than traditional cuts to increase the stone's fire; and alternative shapes like the princess-cut (modified square), which offer the bride-to-be more individuality than the more traditional round, marquise, emerald, pear, or oval shapes.

· Something classic. Regardless of the latest trends, timeless, classic-looking rings will never go out of style. But sometimes, a new style becomes so pervasive, that it becomes a modern classic. The strong renaissance of the three-stone diamond ring (which has roots going back to the Victorian Age) -- and its steady transition from an anniversary ring to an engagement ring show that this style, with its powerful "past, present and future" message, is here to stay.

· Something blue (or another hue). Adding a splash of color to their engagement ring is another way that some of today's brides are expressing themselves. Some are selecting colored diamonds in yellow, pink, blue, green and other shades. Others are turning to alternative gems as the center stone or as an accent to the center diamond. Some of the more popular colored stone choices for engagement rings, according to the American Gem Trade Association, are sapphire, ruby, emerald, tanzanite, and garnet.