Celebrities are almost always the subject of great attention, especially when people want to know the latest trends. Stars are also known to flaunt some very show-stopping pieces of jewelry, particularly at premiers and awards. More subtle pieces of jewelry chosen by the stars are also the subject of a great deal of attention and can sent trends that last for years.
Where engagement rings are concerned, the stars are definitely the trend setters. In the 1990’s, Ben Affleck made a promise to marry Jennifer Lopez with a pink diamond ring. The promise may not have lasted, but the sale of pink diamonds continues to be up, after having experienced a rise soon after her engagement ring was featured in print and on television.
Sometimes, being on the cutting edge means acknowledging the fashions of the past. Singer Madonna has always had a reputation for being able to push boundaries while referencing nostalgic images and personas at the same time. When her Edwardian-styled diamond engagement ring began to appear in the prints of paparazzi, interest in antique styles increased manifold. That trend was observed among other celebrities, and in the general public, as well.
Michael Douglas chose to give his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, an antique diamond engagement ring, which seems appropriate for a woman whose beauty is as timeless as hers.
The trend toward antique styles and cuts is a welcome occurrence for people who aren’t under the glare of Hollywood lights and, more importantly, aren’t the recipients of Hollywood paychecks. Many of the antique styles rely more on the stylish cut of the stone than the size of the stone. Such rings are often simple, elegant and more within the price range of regular people who may not have been able to realistically afford a ring that trended toward the celebrity styles of the late 1990’s, which emphasized “bling”.
Some of the more pricey celebrity diamond engagement rings of recent history include Paris Hilton’s 24 carat ring. Despite the rather impressive ring, the engagement was short-lived. Celebrity Reese Witherspoon opted for a more classic style, with a 4.5 carat diamond and an art deco setting that would have been right at home in the roaring 20’s.
Not all celebrities have become famous for being in films or television shows. Some famous figures are, indeed, historically significant and important and their choices can oftentimes have a huge influence on trends among regular people.
When Lady Diana married Prince Charles in the early 1980’s, the wedding itself had a huge influence on the styles chosen by brides for the next 10 years. Her engagement ring had an equally significant influence. Princess Diana’s ring was very large, comprising an 18 carat sapphire set in the center of 14 diamonds. Such ring designs were very popular throughout the 1980’s.
Where celebrities are concerned, size seems to be the consistent trend in the diamond. The rings are almost always very large and the diamonds very expensive. This display of wealth is something which most people simply cannot afford, which makes the current trend toward cut over size a very welcome one.
The versatility of diamonds is that the material looks equally impressive in small quantities as it does in larger quantities. A small diamond is by no means a declaration of lacking finances just as a large diamond is by no means a statement that implies better taste.
This trend towards elegance has put rings that would be appropriate on the finger of any celebrity bride well within the range of most customers. An elegant diamond cut need not be a huge diamond and a beautiful band need not be encrusted with other stones all the way around. The simpler, timeless styles that currently find themselves in fashion, in fact, often benefit from a bit of restraint which makes them, in many regards, very classy affairs.
There is certainly no shortage of history to mine when looking for trends in diamonds. It’s a popular misconception that the practice of giving a diamond ring to seal an engagement wasn’t really adopted until the 1950’s. The truth is, the tradition dates back to the late 1400’s and Maximillian I of Austria. Of course, where royalty is concerned, the choice of stone is almost always one of great size and value. For people who aren’t among the royal classes, however, it’s still possible to get a very meaningful, and valuable, ring without going overboard on carats, setting or price. In fact, some diamond rings are treasured for their simplicity, particularly those heirloom items that attest to a family’s beginnings when someone likely dedicated at least a few months’ wages toward buying something beautiful for someone they loved dearly and with whom they wanted to spend the rest of their life.