Ideally, you will wear your engagement ring for the rest of your life. For this reason, you will want something timeless. Timeless does not necessarily mean classic, as timeless is more tied to the wearer rather than the trend cycles.

If you want your engagement ring to be timeless, understanding your own style and your own aesthetic is the first line of action in your journey. At VRAI, all timeless engagement ring styles are set with a VRAI created diamond. VRAI created diamonds are grown in our certified zero-emission foundry using 100% renewable energy.

What Makes an Engagement Ring Timeless?

Your engagement ring will be timeless regardless of its actual setting, diamond shape, and degree of ornamentation if it matches with your own sense of style and fashion. Timelessness is often associated with a more minimalistic and streamlined style. Selecting a setting that emphasizes the diamond over the metalwork is one way to ensure that your ring will withstand the endless cycle of fashion trends. Even the more elaborate Edwardian and Art Deco inspired rings are still timeless in their design.

Diamond shapes are not immune to trends either, but most cuts are classic expressions of the centuries-old tradition and legacy of diamond cutting. The Emerald Diamond, for example, originated 500 years ago Ultimately, it all comes down to the personal preference of the wearer.

Are Solitaires a Timeless Style?

While not all timeless engagement rings have a sleek setting, the Solitaire is one of the designs that embodies the definition of timeless. A plain or pavé-decorated band puts the spotlight on the center diamond, and the prongs actually further accentuate the shape of the stone. Four-prong settings are non-intrusive, but six-prong settings uniquely highlight the curves of Round and Oval diamonds.

Compass-set prongs, which are oriented like the four cardinal points, are ideal if you want your square diamond in a kite setting (rotated 45 degrees, with the four corners arranged in the North, South, East, and West position). In case you’re afraid your solitaire is too common, rest assured that solitaires can combine timelessness and uniqueness. In the case of VRAI created diamonds, our Cut for You™ process allows you to choose from 31 different diamond shapes, from storied to in-house exclusive cuts.

Are Vintage-Inspired Styles Timeless?

Vintage-inspired settings and styles can absolutely be timeless. Art Deco, for example, which references “les arts decoratifs” and defined the style and shapes of the 1920s, has an emphasis on geometry and intricate, yet clean lines. Step-cut diamonds like Emerald, Asscher, and Baguettes were signature shapes from that era, and they immediately infuse any setting with elegance and sophistication.

The Three-stone settings exploded in popularity in the Victorian era and had a revival between the 1930s and 50s. Now a three-stone setting, especially if it features tapered side stones, is one of the most timeless choices you could make if you want both brilliance and extensive finger coverage.

Are Bolder Styles Timeless?

Bolder styles are timeless especially when the setting, metalwork, center, and side stones match with your style and the rest of your jewelry. Styles like Toi et Moi, for example, use asymmetry to create a uniquely elegant look, while the four baguettes that serve as stones to the Five Stone Heirloom ring can seamlessly pull off any diamond, both brilliant-cut and step cut.

Popular Timeless Diamond Shapes

Round diamonds are perhaps the most popular diamond shape currently available. Over 50% of the engagement rings featuring round diamonds as their center stone. Still, each diamond shape has its own characteristics that make it timeless. Emerald and Asscher diamonds play with geometry and clean lines, and their step-cut facets produce a coveted “hall of mirrors” effect. The Marquise and the Pear combine curves and pointy edges, while the Oval has a brilliance and faceting similar to a Round (with an elongated shape that flatters most hands and finger shapes). Princess diamonds combine modernity and sophistication, while Radiant has the sophisticated silhouette of the Emerald shape (with a brilliant-cut faceting pattern).

What Is the Best Metal for a Timeless Style?

Each metal can create a timeless ring if it works both with the color of the diamond and with your personal preferences and skin tone. Yellow gold will create a classic look, and it highlights the unique coloring of faintly colored diamonds, whose cream cast is both romantic and sophisticated. Rose gold is vintage-inspired and romantic, and complements diamonds of all colors. White gold highlights the white cast of colorless diamonds. Platinum has a similar effect, which is why the material was highly coveted at the height of Art Deco jewelry.