Coloured Engagement Rings Are Having A Moment

3 weeks ago

Wedding jewellery just got more vibrant – and these coloured engagement rings prove it

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend – but these days, it’s colourful gemstones that take the top slot. And with the focus shifting away from traditional cuts and styles, coloured engagement rings are sitting pretty in the spotlight. Here’s everything you need to know about this colourful wedding trend (plus our edit of the most beautiful engagement rings to shop now).

The Biggest Engagement Ring Trends For 2025

Coloured Engagement Rings: Why Are More Brides Choosing Them?

Whether it’s Dakota Johnson’s bright green emerald, Gabbriette’s gothic black stone or even Kate Middleton’s heirloom sapphire, it’s difficult to deny that coloured engagement rings continue to have a hold on us – more now than ever.

In an era when self-expression is a top priority for soon-to-be brides, engagement rings are getting brighter and bolder. ‘In creating deeply personal designs, clients are increasingly seeking new ways of incorporating details specific to their story,’ notes Sam Stirrat, Founder and Creative Director of boutique London jeweller Blackacre. ‘The addition of coloured stones adds heightened personality and or meaning to any design – from birthstones and special colours to stones with symbolic origins.’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabbriette (@gabbriette)

‘Over the past few years we’ve seen a shift in what people are looking for in an engagement ring,’ adds Rachel Boston, founder of jewellery label Rachel Boston. ‘It’s less about replicating tradition, and more about reflecting the individual. Coloured stones give people space to tell their own story. They can offer our couples a personal and expressive alternative to traditional diamonds.’

And speaking of diamonds, a number of jewellers pin the growing success of coloured stones on the diamond’s dwindling monopoly on the market. ‘With the diamond market in flux due to lab-grown alternatives, we’re seeing increased interest in rare, hard-to-source gemstones that offer a sense of individuality and lasting value,’ says Eliza Walter, founder of LYLIE Jewellery.

‘I think the surge in interest is partly down to the availability of lab-grown diamonds in the market and the fact that so many rings can end up looking quite similar,’ adds Lucy Crowther, founder of Minka Jewels. ‘People are craving something more unique and more personal.’

Which Stones Are Most Popular?

While diamonds will always be a classic favourite for engagement rings, our experts have noticed one gemstone in particular enjoying unprecedented popularity: sapphires.

‘Sapphires have become our stone of choice, not just for their beauty, but for their range of colour,’ notes Rachel. ‘Beyond the iconic royal blue, they occur in almost every conceivable colour – from light peach tones to vivid greens.’

Lucy adds that, ‘yellow and blue sapphires are especially popular, but we’re also seeing more people falling in love with green and teal sapphires which are a great choice if you want something a little more unusual.’

Kate Middleton wearing blue dress and engagement ring

Kate Middleton’s engagement ring has been passed down through the royal family for almost 200 years, and was even worn by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. The ring features a 12-carat oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 round cut diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold (Ian Jones, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The stone is also a royal favourite. The Princess of Wales famously wears a sapphire engagement ring – a piece of jewellery that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana – which she often stacks together with a selection of other rings.

And, being the second hardest gemstone after diamonds, it makes sense why the gemstone is particularly popular for coloured engagement rings. ‘I often recommend sapphires not just for their beauty, but for their strength and versatility,’ says Rachel. ‘Scoring a nine on the Moh’s Hardness Scale, sapphires are one of the most durable gemstones available which allows for intricate, creative settings for everyday wear.’