Collection: Our Top Ten Engagement Rings

Here is the breakdown of the top shapes for 2026:

1. The Overall Winner: The Oval Cut

The Oval remains the most requested shape in 2026, nearly closing the gap with the traditional Round Brilliant.

• Why it’s #1: It offers the "Triple Threat" it flatters the finger by lengthening it, it has a similar sparkle to a round diamond, and it appears 10–15% larger than a round stone of the same carat weight.
• 2026 Twist: Look for "Slim Ovals" (higher length-to-width ratios) set in East-West (horizontal) orientations.

2. The Celebrity Favourite: The "Old Mine" Cushion

Thanks to the "Taylor Swift effect," the Old Mine cut is the breakout star of 2026.

• The Vibe: Unlike modern cushions that look like "crushed ice," Old Mine cuts have larger facets and a soft, romantic glow.
• The Trend: It’s almost always paired with a chunky gold band or a bezel setting to lean into that "Modern Heirloom" aesthetic.

3. The Growth Leader: The Marquise

Marquise diamonds have seen a massive surge in popularity (up nearly 100% in search volume this year).

• The Appeal: It is the ultimate "size hacker." Because of its long, pointed shape, a 1.5ct Marquise can look as large as a 2.5ct Round.
• 2026 Twist: It is being reimagined in Toi et Moi (two-stone) rings, often paired with a Pear or Emerald cut.

4. The "Quiet Luxury" Choice: The Emerald Cut

For those moving away from high flash sparkle, the Emerald cut is the go to for 2026.

• The Vibe: Its "step-cuts" create a hall-of-mirrors effect that feels architectural and sophisticated.
• The Trend: Emerald cuts are the #1 choice for Bezel settings and three-stone (Trilogy) designs this year.

The 3 Main Differences

1. Origin & Time

• Natural: Formed over billions of years deep in the Earth’s mantle and brought to the surface via mining.
• Lab Grown: Created in a matter of weeks using advanced technology (CVD or HPHT) that replicates the Earth’s heat and pressure.

2. Price & Value (The 2026 Reality)

• Lab-Grown: You can save roughly 70–90% compared to a natural diamond. In 2026, a 2 carat lab diamond often costs less than a 0.5-carat natural diamond.
• Natural: These carry a "rarity premium." Because the supply (not the quantity) is finite, whereas lab diamonds are priced more like high end technology.

3. Purity & Inclusions

• Natural: Often contain tiny traces of nitrogen (which can cause a slight yellow tint) and unique mineral "birthmarks" from the Earth.
• Lab-Grown: Most are Type IIa, the purest form of diamond. Only 2% of natural diamonds reach this level of purity. They are effectively "flawless" in their chemical structure.

You can't beat a classic! The round brilliant cut solitaire engagement ring has maintained its status as the most popular style of engagement ring for decades.

The round cut centre stone has consistently been a favourite engagement ring style, perhaps because of its timeless, versatile, and brilliantly sparkly appearance which comes from the way the diamond has been cut to maximise the light refracted and reflected from the stone. A round brilliant diamond also looks stunning in any setting!

So, it is no wonder this style is continuously chosen over any other. However, in recent years, despite remaining the most popular style, the round brilliant solitaire engagement ring's lead over other stone shapes has begun to decline.

Who knows, maybe there will be a new contender for most popular engagement ring style before long!

It is important to consider what materials such as metal and stone type you want to have in a ring for your engagement.

The most popular choice of materials for an engagement ring in the last year have included white gold and diamond for a classic and sophisticated look. However, there are a variety of other materials that are also popular to meet your every desire when it comes to an engagement ring.

A well as white gold, an engagement ring can be made using yellow gold, and rose gold, both of which are available at Ethica. The popularity of this metal comes from its durability and resistance to tarnishing which means whatever colour you choose, you are guaranteed to have an engagement ring with long lasting shine.

Platinum is another popular choice when it comes to what metal you may want to use in your engagement ring. Not only is platinum strong and long lasting, it really brings out the shine of whatever you choose as the stone or stones for your engagement ring since it has a slightly more grey finish than white gold or silver, for example.

Rising in popularity, the lab grown diamond is a very desirable alternative to mined diamond that accounts for about 70% of diamond sales these days. Lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds in their brilliance, fire, and sparkle since their chemical makeup is identical. You can't beat the classic look, so lab grown diamond is a fabulous stone to use in your engagement ring.

One other material that is massively popular in the world of engagement rings, is coloured gemstones. They can come in the form of precious and semi precious stones which can often be lab grown and in virtually any colour! It isn't hard to understand why coloured stones would be a favourite for your ring - who wouldn't want a colourful gem to reflect their personality and style?

So, there you have it. The most popular materials for an engagement ring.

Here are the top five most popular stone shapes which you can choose for your engagement ring:

Round Brilliant

The classic round brilliant cut is the most popular style of stone cut, designed to reflect and refract the most amount of light for the highest amount of sparkle. This style will suit everyone!

Princess

This shape has just as much sparkle as a round brilliant except it has a more contemporary look with its square shape when seen form above. Very popular in Art Deco inspired engagement rings.

Emerald

The emerald cut is a rectangular shape which holds flashes of lights rather than a consistent sparkle like the round brilliant or princess cut. This type of ring suits long fingers with its linear, straight facets.

Cushion

The cushion cut has a more vintage feel to it since it is based on a more old-fashioned cut which has rounded corners - like a cushion! similar to the princess cut but with much softer edges.

Asscher

Asscher cuts are reminiscent of the emerald shape, except that they have more facets and therefore a much greater sparkle. Art Deco style and timeless this is a popular choice for an engagement ring.