The Couture Show in Las Vegas is a hotbed for independent jewelry designers, showing the breadth of the market with one-of-a-kind pieces, everyday staples and, of course, new ideas for engagement rings and bridal jewelry. A walk through the 2025 show floor showed innovative ideas for soon-to-be brides, along with subtle tweaks to current and classic styles.

“The designers of Couture are really the crest of the new wave of what happens in engagement rings, because this is a group of independent, iconoclastic jewelry designers and rule-breaking thinkers,” said author, jewelry expert and historian Marion Fasel. “Because they are small operations, they can move on a dime, and they do. I think, at Couture they’re the change makers. They’re the ones that do take the risks.”

Fasel said this year’s show surely give new ideas on trends, a term she isn’t afraid of. “I think that people think of the term as being disposable, but I just think trend is something that’s new,” she said, adding that she found interesting and unusual diamond shapes and designs, with two of her favorites created by Vanessa Fernández and Zahn-Z.

“They’re the definition of a classic with a twist,” she said of the designs, pieces that “are daring and different.”

The historian says the thread that links the history of diamond engagement rings is really the center stone, the solitaire idea.  And, as seen at the trade show, the solitaire and white diamonds are still going strong but, she mused, “It’s really what they’re doing around that solitaire, which is making their design stand out to me as something different.”

Here, WWD spoke to designers of several brands from this year’s show — Jade Trau, Anita Ko and Walters Faith’s Mollie Good — along with CEO of Kwiat and Fred Leighton, Greg Kwiat, and sixth-generation jeweler, vintage and antique curator and colored gemstone expert Lauren Levy of Lauren DeYoung jewelry. Each took stock on stone cuts and setting trends, the uncertain rising price of gold and the fresh perspective of new brides.

Latest Engagement Ring Trends

Lauren Levy: I’m seeing customers lean into personal style and what speaks to them instead of the more traditional approach of what someone might think an engagement ring should look like. More than ever, my engagement ring clients are gravitating toward vintage rings and stones. These one-of-a-kind pieces offer unmatched character, lasting value, and the lowest carbon footprint possible. Each has stood the test of time with enduring quality and craftsmanship.

Anita Ko: My newly engaged clients have definitely been more experimental and I love designing my clients’ dream rings. For example, I have been getting requests for east-west settings, which is an untraditional design. Some clients have been creating rings with me that have two large stones with two different shapes, usually side by side or in a split setting, versus a one-diamond setting.

Mollie Good: The classics — like a simple solitaire or an emerald cut — aren’t going anywhere. But more clients are coming in wanting something a little unexpected. Whether it’s an east-west setting, our Thoby illusion ring, or mixed metal details (which have always been part of our collection), people are looking for pieces that feel personal to them.

Jade Trau: I think the trend is about personal style more than following a particular trend and I am thrilled about it. People are realizing that you can find a way to reflect your personality in a ring without going so “outside the box” that you have buyer’s remorse a few years down the road. Honestly, I think the word “classic” has a definitionally bigger meaning now. It’s about time!

Modern Stones and Settings

L.L.: We are seeing more couples who want to incorporate colored gemstones, particularly sapphires and rubies. These stones are great options for consumers who don’t want a traditional diamond because they are still hard enough to withstand everyday wear and tear, and can hold their value over time, if they are of the right quality. I’m loving all the vintage-inspired settings we’re seeing right now. Chunky bands, flush-set solitaires, and bezel designs are making a strong return, alongside east-west settings and antique-style clusters.

A.K.: Diamonds are and always will be the most dominant stone choice for engagement rings. The Toi et Moi setting is definitely trending right now. You can have so much fun when creating a unique design for this setting. It’s a great option for my clients who cannot decide on one particular shape so they mix two different shaped stones. It’s also perfect for those clients who want to combine an inherited or vintage stone with a new one — something old and something new, with you forever, not just on your wedding day.

Greg Kwiat: Solitaires are very hot — many clients are loving the classic simplicity of a simple platinum band to celebrate their diamond. Bezels are another popular design, often done in yellow gold. We get almost no requests for halos these days.

M.G.: While we don’t work with moissanite or colored stones in our collections, some clients do ask. I don’t think these alternatives are replacing diamonds, but they’re having a moment, especially for brides who want a second ring or who are resetting a family stone, often I’ll suggest we replace the diamond from the original mounting with a semi-precious colored stone so they can still wear the family ring and get a “new” engagement ring with the family diamond in a new setting. Solitaires with subtle, thoughtful details are leading — think thin bands that let the center stone stand out, or clean bezel settings.

J.T.: We are definitely making a lot more classic engagement rings like our Jane or Jenny solitaire but also seeing a lot of requests for interesting three-stone ring combinations and our take on a halo. The Toi et Moi trend hasn’t gained momentum like I personally thought it might, but I love the occasions we get to make a great stone pairing or use an inherited diamond and combo it with a new one.

Standout Shapes

L.L.: Cushion cuts have been our most requested shape of the year. My clients are increasingly drawn to both elongated and square shapes with a particular interest in antique and older iterations like the Old Mine cut. Elongated shapes are still going strong, including movals, marquees, and ovals. Old European cuts are also a fan-favorite with their classic shape and refined and romantic sparkle.

A.K.: Marquise-shape diamonds are becoming a more frequent request, which I generally have not seen very much of in the past.

Greg Kwiat: Round diamonds still lead the pack for the classic customer. Oval and cushion diamonds remain extremely popular with clients looking for fancy shapes. 

J.T.: Pear shapes and marquise still seem to be on fire from last year and I for one am thrilled about it, since they are my favorite shapes!  And a round is a round is a round…always classic…always worth it.  

Gold Is Supreme

L.L.: In today’s contemporary market, a lot of what you’re paying for is labor cost. One advantage of buying vintage is that you can really invest in high quality materials and pieces that illustrate techniques that would be too expensive to produce today or are lost arts such as hand engraving, perfectly matched older stones or milgrain details. It’s worth noting that some of today’s more popular styles, including thicker bands and chunkier metalwork, can carry a higher price tag due to the amount of metal required.

A.K.: Gold prices have affected all aspects of our business. It’s very frustrating for both designers and clients alike, as we all feel the stress of higher prices. Some clients are choosing to hold off a few months, in the hopes that the price of gold will eventually fall.

M.G.: We’re more mindful than ever about gold weight and trying to find ways to maintain the integrity and feel of a piece without unnecessary excess. It hasn’t changed our core approach — our motto is “Bold & Fine” but it has made us more strategic in balancing design, material and price.

J.T.: I think engagement rings are the one place that these astronomically high gold prices are not having that much of an effect since the lion’s share of the dollars one spends on a ring is on the diamond…or at least that’s how it usually is.

New Brides Redefining the Category

L.L.: At this year’s show, nearly every conversation I’ve had about bridal has pointed to the same shift: people are craving unique, deeply personal pieces. The era of everyone wanting the same traditional ring is over — today’s clients are looking for styles that feel like a true reflection of their individuality. In my experience, younger buyers tend to make mindful, intentional jewelry purchases. Jewelry isn’t just about status to them; it’s about connection, self-expression, or marking a significant moment in one’s life. This reflects a broader shift towards more thoughtful consumption overall. Many of my younger clients are excited by the opportunity to take a diamond that has been in their family and holds a special sentimental connection and make it their own. By designing a bespoke engagement ring together, we can intertwine their past, personal style, and vision for the future.

A.K.: Younger buyers are being creative and experimental with their designs, but I often have clients who are getting married for the second time. They truly know the design and styles that work best for them and their lifestyle. They will spend a lot of time with me working on the details and ensuring that their engagement ring suits them and works with the rest of the their jewelry collection.

G.K.: Like every generation before them, today’s younger clients are looking for fresh ideas different from what has come before. For engagement ring buyers, this has meant moving away from halos and other ornate designs and toward more sleek and modern expressions. With this shift, we’re seeing a lot of buyers leaning toward classic styles, like platinum solitaires with no embellishments or rings with small side stones. Many clients are looking for something different and tend to be open to more experimental designs. Yellow gold rings and bezel settings are quite popular right now.

M.G.: There’s way less pressure to follow a traditional format. Whether that’s a nontraditional center stone, or even an eternity band in place of a classic engagement ring, clients are prioritizing unique styles, budget and wearability.

J.T.: I feel like young buyers are either staying classic with the idea of adding really fun wedding bands or experimenting with interesting silhouettes for their ring. Comfort seems to be really important to younger buyers too.