6 bridal jewelry trends for 2015

3) Unusual cuts. Angelina Jolie’s engagement ring this year had multiple baguettes tapering down the sides of her the emerald-cut diamond ring, a look we haven’t seen much of since the 1970s. 

Other formerly passé cuts seem to be gaining momentum as well. “Shapes that really weren’t popular, like the marquise and the pear shape, are coming in again,” Tropila said.

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Many celebs also opted for emerald cuts, a look that doesn’t work so well with average-sized diamonds. Other fancy cuts that seem to be gaining momentum, Gizzi said, are cushions particularly as well as also ovals, radiant and Asscher cuts.

Openwork shanks also are appearing in celebrity engagement rings, a style that works for longer cuts such as the oval. Actress Hayden Panettiere, of Heroes and Nashville, opted for a pave-set split shank to hold her massive emerald-cut diamond.

4) Colored stones. Yellow stones appeared in a couple high-profile engagement rings this year. Clooney gave Alamuddin a 7-carat emerald-cut fancy yellow diamond. 

Since sizable yellow diamonds can be quite expensive--Alamuddin’s ring cost a reported $750,000--brides might opt to add the shade by using yellow sapphires, as was seen in the ring Donnie Wahlberg gave his now-wife Jenny McCarthy. 

For now, Krodel predicts most brides will restrict color to the side stones.

She adds that she expects to see more champagne diamonds as well, also in that color range. HSN’s new diamond expert Diane Warga-Arias said champagne diamonds are hot right now in general.

Both younger and older brides are avoiding conventional diamond rings for different reasons, Krodel said. “A lot of older brides, perhaps because they’ve already been through it before, are doing non-traditional stones but maybe in traditional settings,” she said. 

“People under 30 who are getting married for the first time, they’re the ones looking for something that isn’t traditional in any regard,” she said. “It could be a band or a colored gemstone, maybe a gray or an uncut diamond, something rough, in the Todd Reed style.”

5) Stacking bands. Stacking mania is affecting choice of wedding bands and creating add-on sales opportunities. 

“People are loving the idea of stacking bands now, this idea of buying a band that doesn’t have to match your engagement ring and then buying another band for an anniversary present or a life’s occasion,” Krodel said.

For now, brides are sticking to white metals, sometimes with touches of rose gold. “As much of a driving force as it is in fashion jewelry right now, yellow gold is not translating to bridal,” Gizzi said. “I think people still feel it’s dated.”

6) Gem-set men’s bands. “Men’s bands are getting more and more stylized, with diamonds, etching or borders,” Tropila said. 

Platinum and gold bands incorporating diamonds are big for men, Gizzi said. “We’re even seeing some color, like flush-set sapphires or rubies, but primarily diamonds--one round or three round or three princess cut, flush-set.”