Many aspects of wedding culture have made a shift as time goes by and traditions change. One surprising area affecting jewellery is how engagement rings are designed.

This year, many soon-to-be brides opted for unorthodox rings bought by proposing grooms with a taste for custom and unique pieces. It set some of the most popular ring trends that will go on to inspire collections in future.

Here are nine engagement rings sold in 2022 that defined the status quo:

1. Sapphire spray ring

Illusory and whimsical engagement ring designs might become the new normal for the year and beyond.

Spray rings, in particular, are arranged with an uneven number of gemstones to decorate around the centre stone. This creates an eye-catching effect that plays on the sparkle, shape, and size of the ring.

The sapphire spray ring swaps out the conventional diamond for one-of-a-kind stones with colours only nature can craft.

If this ring design catches your fancy, you may want to check out engagement rings from Diamondport, featuring Australian sapphires in jewel tones ranging from teal to pink and royal blue.

2. Lacey oval ring

Oval-shaped engagement rings became a popular trend for unique rings in 2022, and the lacey oval ring stands out among the rest.

It features four small, white and round diamonds positioned around the corners of the dazzling 0.70-carat white oval diamond in the centre.

The best thing about this vintage-inspired ring is choosing the type of metal for the band. These include 14K rose gold or yellow gold, 18K white gold, and the most durable metal, platinum, for its timeless quality.

3. East-west blue amethyst ring

The unconventional east-west ring is a fresh and modern approach to engagement rings that took off this year.

In this unique ring, the centred jewel is positioned horizontally on the band instead of the usual vertical placement.

This change in perspective gives the east-west ring a more streamlined appearance as it aligns with the band’s curved shape.

As for the blue amethyst gemstone, it shimmers from every angle and gives this ring a beautiful bold pop of colour. The surrounding white diamonds enhance its natural look.

4. Kissing Leaves ‘toi et moi’ ring

Some couples opted for wrap and coil rings as an eccentric alternative to the usual slip-on engagement ring. This includes the Kissing Leaves ring in ‘toi et moi’ form, which means ‘you and me’ in French.

The ring consists of two emeralds that curl around the finger to meet in the middle. They symbolise two joining as one in a romantic partnership and a couple’s lifelong commitment to each other.

5. Diamond and sapphire halo in platinum ring

Precious gemstones threaten to unseat the everlasting diamonds as the most popular choice for the centre jewel in engagement rings this year.

At the heart of this trend is the 18-embedded blue sapphire halo that borders a gasp-worthy 1.50-carat Ashoka cut diamond patented by American William Goldberg and set onto a platinum band.

The more opulent variant of this ring features another halo layer made up of 36 round-cut diamonds.

All these features together make for an updated and special take on the traditional cushion-cut diamond rings.

6. Diamond contour ring band

Oddly shaped bands make quite the engagement ring statement, and the diamond contour ring band is no exception. They display beautiful curves in a rounded baguette form and dips down or juts up to create a V or U-shaped ring.

This allows the centrepiece stone to look like a tiara or necklace on the wearer’s finger, expanding the experimental nature of jewellery design.

7. White kite diamond ring

As previously stated, ring shapes are all the rage in defying convention this year. The white kite diamond ring is one of the most interesting and otherworldly choices.

This diamond in the shape of a kite with two pointed ends and is surrounded by smaller halo diamonds makes it a standout.

When pronged alone in the centre of a rose gold band, the geometric diamond is no less striking.

8. Paradise oval argyle pink diamond ring

This engagement ring is the epitome of exclusive jewellery for two reasons. The argyle pink diamond is now among the most expensive and rarest gems in the world, and its angular snake wrap-shaped band also features a white diamond with a minute gap between its pink counterpart.

It has thus set the bar high for individuality and creativity in crafting extraordinary engagement rings.

9. Diamond open petal veto ring

Another ‘toi et moi’ ring defining the status quo is the open-petal veto diamond ring that comes in a very recognisable shape.

It consists of a band that branches out and connects by multiple small diamonds on one side and a single large pear-shaped diamond on the other.

The blue sapphire sits on 18K white gold, while the white diamonds are encrusted in 18K yellow gold. This enhances their colour and flowery figure.

Eclectic shapes and designs lead trends

The nine engagement rings sold in 2022 that defined the status quo featured rings in eclectic shapes as well as rare gems such as sapphires and pink diamonds.

Modern brides have shown a preference for custom designs that enhance the colour and size of the centre stone to make it stand out among the gold and platinum bands.

This year was remarkable in setting engagement ring trends that will influence wedding culture for a long time.