2016 NEW ENGAGEMENT RING TREND 

Rounds and princess cut diamonds are still very popular options for your center diamond. Though every year, a fancy diamond cut is getting its moment as we discover new engagement ring collections. Last year, I saw a lot of oval diamonds. This year, it is the year of the pear. I have always loved pear-shaped engagement rings. It’s a unique shape that stands out. You can wear it two ways, with the pointy end towards you or the other way around. It balances a common ring finger issue, wide knuckles. Here are my top picks this season.

Let’s start with a classic halo shape. It’s a timeless design that you can dress up or down with stackable bands.  Coast Diamond is my go to collection for beautiful halos. This new pear halo setting is so pretty and feminine. Coast offers a lot of wedding band options with diamonds and gemstones to update the look of your engagement ring. You can start building your collection of bands with your wedding band and pick new ones for anniversaries, push present, holidays…

What I love about the Sylvie Collection is that it allows every girl to get her dream engagement ring. What do I mean by that? Well sometimes girl meets an engagement ring that takes her breath away, yet there is this thing called money that gets in the way of her dreams.  Sylvie is very aware of this fact and likes to work around it. She tweaks some of her most popular settings to make them more affordable and uses design tricks to make a smaller diamond center pop like 1 million dollars… or almost. Pear diamonds can be expensive. This double halo setting is a great solution to give the optical illusion of a big diamond.

For more of a splurge option, I would consider this ring setting by Mark Broumand. It’s a split shank in rose gold. Mark can customize each of his rings or even design with you an original piece. For example, you could change this setting to  yellow gold or platinum, or mix two metals and add pink diamonds or other gemstones. As long as it is technically doable and that it fits within your budget, the options are limitless.

I tried on two HUGE pear-shaped engagement rings designed by Jack Kelége during jewelry week. You can see pictures and video of them on the @engagement101 Instagram. When you get to wear a diamond  in the 10 carat range, you already feel like you have been transported to a fairy tale  universe. When it’s a Jack Kelége piece, you can’t stop staring. Jack and his staff frequently work for months on a single design or piece of jewelry to ensure that it’s perfect. You can feel it when you wear the piece. You can witness it while looking at all the intricate details. Pictured above is a beautiful platinum setting with hints of yellow gold and a mesmerizing fancy yellow center surrounded by white diamonds.

I’m a big fan of the Kirk Kara Angelique Collection with its exquisite scrolls and milgrain. It’s beautiful in platinum and utterly romantic in rose gold. The engagement rings are dazzling. I love this season’s update with a pear-shaped center. But do not miss the matching wedding bands! They come in different width and versions. The wider bands are great options for a non-traditional engagement ring. Check them out now, you’ll thank me later. LOL

Why have one pear when you can have three? I fell in love with this new Harry Kotlar ring. I am just crazy about the way the cluster is designed and positioned. It’s a bit floral but also almost a trillion shape. It’s just lovely. As one would expect from this company, the diamonds are flawless.

Sev