As a custom engagement ring specialist, each year brings exciting new projects to bring to life in the Harlequin Jewellers workshop. The clients that walk through our doors bring sensational new ideas, and unique styles to keep my creative soul buzzing, and this year has been no exception. So, as we wrap up the final days of a memorable year, I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the year that was, and the engagement ring trends I’ve seen through my Canberra jewellery workshop.
1. Platinum engagement rings
One of the unexpected changes the last couple of years has brought about, is fluctuations in the price of precious metals, including gold and platinum. In my entire career as a jeweller (and for that matter, most of the last century or so) platinum has been far more expensive than gold. White gold has dominated as the metal of choice for white toned jewellery, as a more affordable yet durable alternative to platinum.
This year, however, took a turn. With soaring gold prices, and plummeting platinum prices, platinum jewellery has instead matched the price of white gold jewellery here at Harlequin Jewellers. As a result? It was ‘the’ year for a platinum engagement ring. Couples wanting a white engagement ring largely chose platinum over white gold. Handmaking jewellers across the board, myself included, very much enjoyed a year of fabricating rings in luscious platinum.
Platinum diamond engagement rings were highly sought after in 2021.
2. Bespoke coloured gemstones
The last year has brought a ‘pause’ moment for many, and abundant idle time to consider what they really want in life. It seems that engagement rings have been part of his deep contemplation. Many couples have given much thought in 2021 to finding ways of bucking traditions and making their engagement ring uniquely and meaningfully their own.
By far, my favourite result of this deep thought on their engagement ring design has been increasing desire for coloured gemstones. Many clients have come to me with hyper specific ideas on what they’d like in their engagement ring, be it a gem variety they had their eye on, a specific shade of a colour, or a truly personal meaning they hope to capture for their fiancé. And I can tell you? It makes this gem loving jeweller incredibly happy to find them the perfect gemstone.
Couples selected highly personal gemstones for their engagement rings in 2021, like this Aquamarine (first ring) and Australian Parti Sapphire (second ring).
3. Simple diamond rings
In somewhat of a contrast to the second trend, the final trend I’ve seen in engagement rings has been a shift to simple, classic designs in diamond engagement rings.
In the past few years, clients seeking a diamond engagement ring have largely chosen designs with smaller diamond accents, such as sparkly diamond halos and diamond set bands. Throughout 2021, I’ve seen diamond engagement rings trending more toward traditional classic designs like trilogy rings and solitaire styles. These styles are true classics for good reason, and make for versatile, timeless, heirloom engagement rings.
Diamond engagement rings trended toward classic designs like trilogy rings (first ring) and solitaire rings (second ring).
All in all? The year 2021 brought many beautiful engagement ring designs through the Harlequin Jewellers workshop that were a privilege to create. Keep your eye out in January for my thoughts on what trends 2022 may bring.