The Evolution of the Anniversary Ring

Settings include white or yellow 14- and 18-karat gold, platinum or an innovative combination of the two. And the diamonds themselves are no longer just round brilliants: princess cuts, baguettes, ovals and marquises are all part of the mix, sometimes in graduated sizes, other times perfectly matched.

More recently, one of the interesting design trends to those in the know is the changing status of the prongs. Of course, the diamonds will always be the focal points of the ring, but in many new designs, the prongs holding the diamonds are not just functional, but an integral part of the design. There are U and V shapes, scalloped and sculpted combinations and some that repeat the shape of the stones ? round, oval or princess cut.

Some anniversary rings sparkle with the brilliance of many small diamonds, set pavé or even micropavé, adding sparkle to larger center stones or appearing as a shimmering field. Gold and platinum bands are often more detailed with engraved, cutout and millegrain designs that add texture and sparkle. Many of the newest anniversary rings sport imaginative side interest, where the top of the ring is enhanced with complementary scrollwork or diamond accents at the two sides, thus looking beautiful at every angle.

Finally, there’s no such thing as a plain diamond anniversary ring anymore. In keeping with today’s more fashion-forward styles, many new rings feature multiple overlapping or interlocking bands, some plain, others dotted with diamonds. The width of the ring, as well as the number of diamonds, is the choice of the buyer.