What We’re Seeing: Top 5 Engagement Ring Trends Emerging for 2026

At Vangeli, we’re in a unique position. Every day, we sit across from Canberra couples at one of the most meaningful moments of their lives. We listen to their stories, sketch their ideas, and translate emotion into something tangible. We spend a lot of time listening to our clients. Not just to what our clients ask for, but to understand why they’re asking for it. Over the past year, we’ve noticed a clear shift in how couples are approaching engagement rings. Less about tradition for tradition’s sake, and more about pieces that feel intentional, wearable, and deeply personal.

As 2026 approaches, engagement rings are becoming quieter in some ways and bolder in others. The emphasis isn’t on excess but on form, meaning, and materials that stand the test of time.

Straight from the bench and across the counter, we’ve rounded up our top five engagement ring picks and the engagement ring trends set to define 2026.

The Big Five Engagement Ring Trends for 2026

East–West Settings with Architectural Ease

The biggest silhouette shift of the year is undeniably architectural. The clearest shifts we’ve seen are the move towards east–west settings. Ovals and emerald cuts are now being set horizontally, framed in sleek bezel settings. These rings feel modern and grounded without being overly decorative.

This style gained mainstream recognition after Zendaya’s east–west cushion cut engagement ring appeared in early 2025, but its staying power lies in how wearable it is. Clients are choosing these settings for their clean lines, secure construction, and contemporary balance.

The Rise of the Cigar Band Solitaire

Delicate bands are giving way to something more grounded. Wider, cigar-style bands in 18 ct yellow gold are becoming a popular choice, especially when paired with a simple solitaire. These rings have presence, but they’re also timeless; they are designed to be worn daily without feeling too fragile or precious. These rings feel powerful without being loud, as they have a more wearable sculpture.

Inspired by the recent red-carpet moments, most notably by Dua Lipa’s sculptural yellow-gold styles, we’re seeing a return to substantial bands. The modern cigar-band solitaire pairs a refined diamond with a wider 18 ct yellow gold band, creating a ring that feels deliberate, confident, and designed to last decades. These pieces are often described less as “dainty” and more as objects of design.

Australian Sapphires Take Centre Stage

There’s been a clear rise in interest for Australian sapphires, particularly those with teal or blue-green tones. Unheated sapphires from Queensland and New South Wales are emerging as one of the defining stones of 2026. These stones feel organic and individual, with no two looking quite the same. Each stone is unique, and that individuality is exactly the point. For many couples, the appeal lies in their natural variation and local provenance that carries a sense of place without feeling literal.

A Contemporary Take on Toi et Moi

The classic two-stone ring, i.e. Toi et Moi rings have evolved beyond symmetry. Instead of symmetry, couples are choosing contrast from a lab-grown diamond paired with a coloured sapphire or a meaningful birthstone. These designs tell a story about two distinct individuals coming together, without relying on traditional symbolism.

In 2026, we’re designing more contrast-driven pairings. This style has gained renewed interest as celebrity engagement rings have normalised unconventional combinations, making it easier for couples to embrace symbolism without tradition-bound rules. These types of rings are symbolic, contemporary, and entirely bespoke.

Antique-Inspired Diamond Cuts

Perfect brilliance is no longer the universal benchmark. Antique-style Old Mine cuts, with their soft facets and candle-lit glow, are fast becoming a favourite and a highly requested piece.

These stones feel expressive and imperfect in the best way and are valued for character rather than precision. These setting stones prioritise character over symmetry, and they resonate deeply with couples drawn to story, history, and emotional warmth.

Taylor Swift’s August 2025 engagement, featuring an Old Mine-cut diamond on a yellow gold band with vintage detailing, reintroduced this style to a wider audience. What followed was a noticeable shift in how clients spoke about diamonds, not in terms of flawlessness, but of feeling.

How Celebrity Influence Is Translating to Real-Life Choices

What people see matters. Over the last year, high-profile engagements have helped redefine what feels desirable. By the time a client walks through our doors, pop culture has already done some of the visual groundwork. While celebrity engagements don’t dictate decisions; they do influence what feels culturally “allowed”.  

Selena Gomez’s marquise-cut engagement ring helped reposition elongated shapes as elegant rather than unconventional, leading to a sharp rise, a nearly 95% rise, in interest from clients wanting to lengthen the look of their fingers.

Taylor Swift’s August 2025 engagement ignited widespread interest in vintage-romantic styles. Her Old Mine cut diamond on a yellow gold filigree band has made “heritage with heart” the most requested aesthetic we hear about for 2026.

Also, Zendaya’s east–west setting helped push horizontal stones firmly into the mainstream.

What matters most is that these moments encourage individuality. They open the door for couples to explore shapes, settings and stones that better reflect their own story. These moments don’t dictate choices, but they give people permission to move away from rigid “rules” and choose something that feels more like them.

Metal & Stone Preferences: An Australian Perspective

Yellow Gold Leads

In Australia, yellow gold has decisively overtaken platinum and white gold. It’s seen as warmer, more flattering in natural light, and better suited to our climate and skin tones, especially when paired with coloured stones.

The Lab-Grown Revolution

By 2026, the debate is effectively over. Canberra couples are pragmatic and well-informed. Lab-grown diamonds are allowing clients to choose 2.5 ct and above stones without compromising on cut or quality.

Ethical Transparency Matters

Sustainability here is detailed, not generic. Clients aren’t just asking if a stone is conflict-free; they want to know its origin, its journey, and its footprint. Whether it’s the exact source of an Australian sapphire or the renewable energy behind a lab-grown diamond, transparency has become essential.

What Makes Canberra Different

Canberra’s lifestyle subtly shapes its jewellery.

Bezel settings continue to grow in popularity thanks to their durability and snag-free design that is ideal for weekend hikes at Mount Ainslie or cycling around Lake Burley Griffin.

And while November remains popular, we see a unique spike in September and October, timed with Floriade and spring proposals throughout the Parliamentary Triangle.

Canberra Proposal Hotspots for 2026 (just in case)

From our couples’ stories, these remain firm favourites:

• The Dairy Watch — for uninterrupted sunsets

• The National Arboretum — beneath the Himalayan Cedars

• The NGA Sculpture Garden — for art-led romance

Designed for Real Life

Engagement rings are no longer reserved for special occasions. They’re designed to be worn every day, through busy workweeks and active weekends. Bezel settings and lower-set stones are increasingly popular because they are secure, comfortable, and easy to live with.

We’re also seeing couples prioritise bespoke design over off-the-shelf pieces, investing in craftsmanship that reflects how they actually live.

Final review

If there’s one defining theme for 2026, it’s intention. Canberra couples are choosing rings that reflect who they are. The engagement rings aren’t about making a statement to the world. They’re about making sense to the person wearing them. They reflect a shift towards meaning, material integrity, and design that evolves with the wearer, something that is designed to be worn daily rather than admired occasionally.

At Vangeli, our role isn’t to tell clients what they should choose but to help them refine what already feels right. Because our experience tells us that when a ring aligns with how someone lives, it becomes something far more lasting. And if the past year is any indication, 2026 will be defined by rings that feel personal, intentional, and quietly enduring.

If you’re beginning to think about an engagement ring in the year ahead, our team is here to guide you thoughtfully, transparently, and entirely at your pace.

We are here when you’re ready to begin yours.