Every year the same conversation happens at our bench: what are people asking for? In 2026 the answer has moved away from the safe round solitaire and toward shapes that look larger on the hand, settings that sit low enough to live in, and designs with a story attached.
Here is what we are cutting, setting and shipping most of this year — and what each trend actually means for your budget.
1. Elongated shapes have taken over
Oval, pear, marquise and emerald cuts are the defining shapes of the moment, and the reason is simple geometry: an elongated stone spreads its weight along the finger, so it reads bigger than a round of the same carat. The trade-off is that these shapes show more finger — and more skin — around the stone, so proportion matters more than it does with a round.
- Oval remains the most requested shape overall.
- Pear is the fastest mover, worn point-up or east-west for something less expected.
- Marquise is back for buyers who want maximum spread per carat.
- Emerald is the choice for people who want presence without sparkle overload.
Shop by shape: Oval · Pear · Marquise · Emerald
2. Hidden halos replaced the visible halo
The classic halo had its decade. In 2026 the halo has gone under — a hidden halo sits beneath the centre stone, visible from the side and in photos, but from above the ring still reads as a clean solitaire. It adds a rim of light to the profile without changing the top-down look, which is exactly what buyers who "want sparkle but not too much" end up choosing.
Hidden halos also explain why low-profile settings are trending alongside them: the two together give a ring that stacks flush with a wedding band and doesn't catch on knitwear.
Shop: Hidden Halo Rings · Low Profile Rings
3. Toi et Moi went from red-carpet moment to everyday style
Two stones, side by side. The toi et moi setting has moved well beyond celebrity announcements and is now a mainstream request — popular with buyers who want a ring that symbolises two people rather than one centre stone, and with anyone who likes the asymmetric balance of a round beside a pear or oval beside a marquise.
It also solves a practical problem: two smaller stones cost far less than one stone of their combined weight, so the style delivers presence on a sensible budget.
Shop: Toi et Moi Wedding Rings · Toi et Moi Style Rings
4. Settings are getting lower, thinner and stackable
Bridal jewellery is now designed with the wedding band in mind from the first sketch. Slimmer shanks, cathedral and open-gallery profiles, and contoured bands that nest against the engagement ring are all being specified at the same time rather than years later. If you plan to stack, choose the pair together — that's what our matching wedding band sets are built for.
5. Lab-grown stones are the default for size-seeking buyers
When the stone itself is a smaller share of the total cost, the conversation shifts to design: buyers put the budget into the setting, the metal and the details they'll look at every day. Every ring we make is cut from the same quality standards whether the stone is grown or natural — the difference is where the money goes.
Start here: All Engagement Rings · Lab Grown Diamond Wedding Rings
Which 2026 trend fits you?
If you want the trend with the least maintenance, choose an elongated solitaire in a low setting. If you want the trend with the most conversation, choose toi et moi. Either way, book a free design consultation and we'll show you the shapes at your actual hand size before you commit.
