6 Engagement Ring Trends Real Couples Are Embracing Right Now
The latest diamond industry data from the Natural Diamond Council’s Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report, analyzing more than four million jewelry transactions, offers a revealing look at how real couples are shopping for engagement rings. From supersized center stones to elongated diamond shapes, these trends are shaping proposals today.
Even in a year shaped by economic caution, engagement rings remain one purchase couples are unwilling to compromise on—and the latest data reveals how they’re actually shopping.
According to the Natural Diamond Council’s Natural Diamond Council’s Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report diamond engagement rings accounted for 38% of total natural diamond jewelry sales in 2025. Published in partnership with Tenoris, the report analyzes more than four million jewelry transactions across 2,500 specialty jewelers in the United States, offering one of the most comprehensive snapshots of contemporary consumer behavior.
The biggest takeaway: Instead of scaling back, many couples are trading up—spending more on rings and choosing larger, higher-quality stones that reflect both personal taste and lasting value.
While the report tracks natural diamond jewelry trends more broadly, it also offers a revealing look at how couples are choosing engagement rings today. The numbers point to clear shifts, from the rise of elongated diamond shapes to a growing appreciation for warm-toned stones.
Meet the Author
- Anouare Abdou is a seasoned writer, editor, and content strategist with over a decade of experience in digital media. From covering Montreal’s vibrant food and fashion scene to leading editorial at a top men’s lifestyle brand, her work is driven by a commitment to authenticity and a mission to create content that elevates people’s lives.
Ahead, discover the engagement ring trends shaping real proposals right now—straight from the Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report.
1. How Much Are Couples Spending on Engagement Rings?
The juiciest takeaway from the Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report? The average price of an engagement ring increased by nearly 10% between 2024 and 2025, with couples spending $7,364 on average. That jump is notable in a year marked by broader economic pressures, suggesting couples are not scaling back on engagement rings. If anything, many are becoming more intentional about where their money goes.
The real shift lies in quality. While SI clarity accounted for over half of US consumer demand in 2025, there was a measurable move toward higher clarities, continuing the momentum first seen in 2024. Jewelry using VS1 natural diamonds grew by 4% in 2025, building on a remarkable 15% increase the year prior. VS2 diamonds also saw continued growth, rising 2% in 2025 after an 8% increase in 2024.
Taken together, the numbers suggest couples are becoming more selective, prioritizing clarity and overall quality in ways that reflect a long-term mindset. The engagement ring remains a deeply symbolic purchase, and consumers are responding by investing in stones that meet higher personal standards.
2. Center Stones Are Getting Supersized
The average engagement ring diamond isn’t so average anymore. The average total carat weight for an engagement ring reached 1.16 carats according to the Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report, reinforcing the steady upward trajectory seen in recent years.
Two-carat center stones are also becoming more mainstream, with the 2–2.24 carat size range showing sustained growth in 2025. Sales grew by 10% year-over-year on top of 18% in 2024 for diamonds of that size, taking their category market share to 12% and positioning it right behind stones of 1–1.04 carats.
In other words, what feels like a “standard” diamond is quietly getting bigger, and couples are increasingly willing to invest more in their dream natural diamond ring.
3. Elongated Diamond Shapes Are Gaining Ground
Enter shapes like marquise and emerald cuts, which are gaining ground and showing 12% and 7% year-over-year growth, respectively. These stats from Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report aren’t exclusive to engagement rings and focus on diamond jewelry as a whole, but they reflect the appeal of elongated silhouettes for those looking for something different yet timeless – not to mention flattering.
4. The Setting Is the Statement
Celebrity engagement rings often set the tone for what comes next, and 2025’s headline-making proposals revealed a clear shift toward settings rich in history and personal meaning. More than ever, natural diamond engagement rings are being used as vehicles for self-expression, with couples choosing designs that reflect personal style as much as tradition.
For example, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement put Swift’s stunning ring in the spotlight, an old mine cut diamond set on a hand-engraved yellow gold band – and a perfect choice given Swift’s love of vintage romance and “grandma-core” aesthetics.
Meanwhile, Zendaya and Tom Holland chose an elongated cushion-cut natural diamond set east-west in a Georgian-style, button-back mounting. The vintage-inspired setting with a contemporary twist reflects Zendaya’s effortless elegance on and off the red carpet.
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando also went with an east-west orientation and elongated cushion cut, but with a bolder vibe: a chunky, gypsy-style yellow gold band that gives the classic stone an edge and goes well with Cyrus’ bohemian-leaning personal style.
Speaking of chunky, Dua Lipa’s engagement to Callum Turner also sparked conversation among jewelry lovers, thanks to her distinctive ring featuring a thick yellow gold band and a brilliant-cut diamond. The bold, almost retro silhouette feels refreshingly modern while nodding to the sculptural styles of past decades.
5. Warm Diamonds Are Heating Up
White diamonds may be timeless, but a warmer palette is gaining momentum. Near-colorless diamonds have been consistently favored in the US for several years, accounting for around half of demand with only small annual fluctuations. White diamonds are always a good idea, of course, but the 2025 launch of De Beers Desert Diamonds and the increasing number of celebrities rocking natural diamonds of every hue have sparked interest in a broader palette.
There is also a growing appetite for individuality. As couples look for rings that feel personal rather than predictable, warmer diamonds offer subtle distinction without straying from classic appeal. From cream and champagne to shades of brown like amber and whisky, warm diamonds have entered the conversation in 2025 and will likely continue to gain momentum for their expressive and natural beauty.
Warm natural diamonds also align with the broader shift toward vintage-inspired style. Antique and old-cut diamonds often display softer color, and today’s renewed fascination with heritage settings has naturally brought warmer hues back into focus. The result is not a departure from tradition, but proof that the definition of timeless continues to evolve.
6. Engagement Season Still Reigns
Yes, engagement season still drives diamond sales—and dictates when a majority of people pop the question. November and December accounted for 30% of overall natural diamond sales in 2025 according to the Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report, and diamond rings are the best-selling diamond jewelry category during the holidays and Valentine’s Day.
That said, beyond the traditions that continue to fuel sales, emerging buying habits are quietly reshaping demand for natural diamonds. Trends like self-purchasing—a 2024 consumer survey by Ipsos on behalf of De Beers found that more than 40% of women’s natural diamond jewelry sales by value are self-purchased—and men’s engagement rings reflect an evolution in how people mark milestones and express personal style through diamond jewelry. Divorce rings are also entering the conversation, with some consumers choosing to commemorate personal reinvention or new chapters with diamonds of their own choosing.
The most revealing insight from the Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Report? Natural diamonds remain constant, even as the rituals, aesthetics, and values surrounding them continue to shift. What’s changing isn’t the symbolism of the engagement ring itself, but the way couples express it—through larger stones, more distinctive shapes, and settings that feel deeply personal.
