How engagement rings have changed over the past 100 years

According to WP Diamonds, engagement rings with geometric shapes and sharp lines were popular in the 1920s, coinciding with the height of the Art Deco period. Emerald-cut and Asscher diamonds were especially common, and more extravagant rings were accentuated with diamond halos.

Engagement rings in the 1930s were "trying to evolve" from the Art Deco period, according to WP Diamonds' infographic. Single diamonds were often used as the centerpiece on bands shaped like ribbons or bows.

Round stones rose in popularity in the '40s thanks to De Beers' famous "Diamonds Are Forever" commercial. Rose-gold and yellow-gold bands also became common choices as World War II limited access to platinum in the US, according to WP Diamonds.

Audrey Hepburn's iconic engagement ring, which featured a trio of bands in three different types of gold, brought stackable bands into fashion in the '50s.

This decade saw the return of Art Deco, according to WP Diamonds, and with it, Asscher-cut and emerald-cut stones.

Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring from John F. Kennedy, which featured emeralds in addition to diamonds, also made colored gemstones a popular choice for couples.

During this decade, brides also began to match their engagement rings to their wedding bands, many of which were yellow- and rose-gold.

However, emerald-cut styles are still quite popular today, and are even worn by some celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, who announced her engagement to Alex Rodriguez in March 2019.

Lopez's ring features an emerald-cut stone, which is estimated to weigh between 15 and 20 carats, according to diamond experts. In a statement provided to INSIDER, experts from JamesAllen.com said that the ring is likely worth more than $1 million, while gemologists at Rare Carat said in a separate statement that the ring could be worth around $4.5 million — that is, if it has a D-Flawless diamond, a rare type of stone that has a totally colorless appearance.

Round-cut diamonds and yellow-gold bands were still extremely popular in the '80s, but Princess Diana's engagement ring from Prince Charles, which featured a sapphire gemstone, changed the nuptials industry.

The royal ring was so popular that many replicas were made, according to WP Diamonds' infographic.

Read more: Meghan Markle wore one of Princess Diana's rings to the royal wedding reception and people are here for it

With the rise of grunge in the 1990s, rings became bolder and sharper. Marquise-cut diamonds were particularly fashionable, and yellow-gold bands took a backseat to bands made of white gold and platinum.

Many couples in the 2000s opted for engagement rings with large diamonds or stones. Taking inspiration from the '60s, the princess cut also came back into fashion.

According to WP Diamonds, the classic cushion cut is still popular today.

Skinny bands and large oval diamonds are in style, according to WP Diamonds. Usually set vertically — or, on occasion, horizontally — oval diamonds let couples play around with the appearance of their engagement rings. Celebrities like Julianne Hough and, more recently, Hailey Baldwin, are also fans of oval engagement rings.

Another huge trend in 2018 is having a custom-designed ring, as brides aim to better showcase their individual personalities.

Speaking to INSIDER, the president of WP Diamonds, Andrew Brown, said the most popular engagement ring style in the last 100 years is actually pretty simple: A "round solitaire diamond, around one carat, set on a simple yellow-gold band."

According to Brown, there will always be innovation in the diamond industry but trends often "revert to the classics."

So, what will come next? Brown thinks that round diamonds will "remain the most popular shape" while oval and cushion cuts will "continue in their rise." The WP Diamonds president also expects other trends to go out of style, like the princess cut popularized in the early 2000s.

Unfortunately for those who love colorful stones, Brown said that we can also expect to see a "decline in production of colored diamonds due to supply constraints."

• Read more:
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• A male model proposed to his girlfriend with 6 different rings and let her choose which one she wanted
• A man went viral for proposing to his girlfriend in the middle of the New York City Marathon — and people have a lot of thoughts
• 17 of the most ridiculous viral wedding stories of 2018