A set of four Patek Philippe “Star Caliber 2000” pocket watches is part of Sotheby’s upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi.
5 Engagement Ring Trends for 2018
Rose gold with pavé, three-stone rings that mimic Meghan Markle’s, the halo is sticking around, and more.

New York--Rose gold with pavé, three-stone rings that mimic Meghan Markle’s, and more halos are three of the engagement ring trends WP Diamonds is forecasting for 2018.
WP diamonds, the division of White Pine Trading LLC that buys and sells from the public, based its predictions on what consumers were purchasing toward the end of 2017, as well as its own forecasting expertise.
Included among the predictions are insights gleaned from National Jeweler’s 50 Jewelers/50 States series, which ran last year.
How do these five trends compare with what you are selling, or expect to sell, in your store? Tell us in the comments below.
5. A Classic Setting. Though it’s not advisable from a legal standpoint, this setting is widely referred to in the industry as the “Tiffany setting.” It refers to a simple band with a round stone held in place by six prongs and is, according to WP Diamonds, “always on the list.”
A number of retailers interviewed for 50 Jewelers/50 States last year said while halos are still popular, they are seeing an increasing number of customer choosing a simple solitaire.
Christine Osborne, general manager of Christopher’s Fine Jewelry in Des Moines, Iowa, told National Jeweler: “We’ve seen kind of a transition a little bit away from halos toward more simple, clean lines, more solitaire-based (styles), which is kind of interesting. We still have halos, but we’re starting to see less fussy styles grow in popularity.”
4. Yellow Radiant-Cut Diamond with Triangle Side Stones. WP Diamonds said colored diamonds are “gaining some serious momentum” and predicted that a radiant cut with colorless side stone accents will be popular in the year to come.
It’s also possible that colored gemstones could enjoy another bump in popularity in bridal this year. It’s only January and already two fairly high-profile engagements have featured colored stones--Gwyneth Paltrow said yes to a
3. Rose Gold Rings with Micro-Pavé. Micro-pavé has long been a favorite addition to engagement rings, but setting it in rose gold will be a way to make a ring stand out in 2018, WP Diamonds said.
In addition, mixing metals, particularly through a stack of rings that includes the engagement ring and wedding band, is a new trend that WP Diamonds believes is going to be around for a while.
2. Cushion-Cut Diamonds Set in a Halo. WP Diamonds said halos, particularly those framing cushion-cut stones, will continue to be popular in 2018, to the chagrin of some retailers.

Many jewelers interviewed for 50 Jewelers/50 States remarked on the continuing popularity of the style, including Paul Muffuletto of Jackson Jewelers in Flowood, Mississippi, who told National Jeweler, “We still do a lot with halos. We have a wide variety of different ways a customer can do a ring with the halo.”
Dawn Hendricks, owner of Peridot Fine Jewelry in Larchmont, N.Y., said: “Everyone still loves a halo, and I still do.”
Yet, there seems to be a creeping sense of halo exhaustion among others.
When asked about her top-selling engagement ring styles, Rejena Carreras of Carreras Jewelers in Richmond, Virginia said: “The halo continues. Kill me, kill me now. It’s always the halo.”
WP Diamonds President Andrew Brown said while they do see a shift toward a more classic look for engagement rings (see No. 5), many customers still love the halo.
“We expect it to remain popular throughout 2018 and given its ability to make the center stone appear larger, it will rise above the classic solitaire on the list,” he said.
1. Meghan Markle’s Three-Stone Ring. You knew this had to be on the list somewhere.
The news of American actress Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry was big, both in the jewelry world--where her three-stone ring set in yellow gold was the topic of much conversation--and to the general public, which has a fascination with all things royal despite the fact that the monarchy has no real power anymore.

While WP Diamonds predicts the ring of the future princess will ignite interest for three-stone styles, Brown said they don’t see it doing the same for yellow gold, at least not this year.
“Yellow gold makes up a fraction of the custom rings that we have been making,” he said. “Though it is gaining in popularity in certain regional areas, we do not predict a substantial rise in demand across the board.”
The Latest

The Submariner Ref. 1680 with a Tiffany & Co. dial came from the original owner, who won it as a prize on the game show in the 1970s.

The new integration allows users to manage shipments directly from the Shopify dashboard.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

At Converge 2025, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff attended sessions on DEI, tariffs, security, and more. Here are her top takeaways.


Six people were shot last week at an Oakland cash-for-gold shop as employees exchanged gunfire with individuals trying to rob the store.

The jeweler has expanded its high jewelry offering, which launched last year, with new pieces featuring its cube motif that debuted in 1999.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

Ben Bridge Jeweler and Lux Bond & Green were a part of the pilot program.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.

It’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.

It included the sale of the 11,685-carat “Imboo” emerald that was recently discovered at Kagem.

The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.

Gilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.

A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.

Located in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.

The new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.

As the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.

Jacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.

Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.

The Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.

Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.

The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.

The industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.

The nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.

The Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.