Engagement rings

Avril Lavigne and Mod Sun. Photo: Instagram.com/avrillavigne
In a week that saw the engagements of two much-loved singers—Avril Lavigne and Jennifer Lopez—also come two unique rings with jewelry inspiration in tow.
Photo: Instagram.com/avrillavigne
On Thursday, Canadian star Avril Lavigne announced her engagement to fellow musician Derek Ryan Smith, known as Mod Sun, who popped the question in Paris on March 27. Given that engagement rings with an emotional meaning have been a trend for long, and that Lavigne is known for her stand-out pop punk style, the ‘Sk8er Boi’ singer’s rock had to be just as special. While in the City of Love, against a romantic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, Mod Sun asked Lavigne to marry him with a heart-shaped diamond ring. What’s more, the ring is also marked with a personalized inscription. “It has the words ‘Hi Icon’ engraved in it, which were the first words he ever said to me,” the 37-year-old told People. “And it has Mod + Avril on the inside. He knew from the very beginning I wanted a heart-shaped diamond because on the day we met, we had matching heart-shaped pavéd rings on. We’ve worn them every day since, so it’s only fitting to have a heart-shaped engagement ring. I love it so much.”
Photo: Instagram.com/avrillavigne
Mod Sun enlisted Lavigne’s friend and designer Caryn Alpert at the celebrity-loved XIV Karats for the custom-made ring. “He knew that he really wanted to do something with hearts and have the most dazzling, biggest, flawless heart-shaped ring for her,” Alpert told Page Six of the 5-carat stone set in a royal setting and featuring little diamond hearts on the band. “They also have a connection to France and royalty and he wanted it to look like a crown too, so there’s a lot of beautiful detail around the heart shape itself,” said the designer.

Major announcement!!!! https://t.co/G5oGxtX0z5 pic.twitter.com/HTIqbHMJ2M
— jlo 💍 (@JLo) April 9, 2022

While Lavigne’s sparkler made headlines for its distinct shape, Lopez’s did the same for its extraordinary color. The star announced her engagement to actor Ben Affleck for the second time, via her newsletter On the JLo, and showed off her ring which appears to be a 8.5ct natural green diamond set on a silver band. According to an older newsletter from Lopez, the color of the stone is particularly meaningful. “I always say the color green is my lucky color. Maybe you can remember a certain green dress,” the 52-year-old had written, referring to her viral moment in the iconic Versace jungle print dress. “I’ve realized there are many moments in my life where amazing things happened when I was wearing green.”
Lopez’s engagement ring as seen in the announcement video
Previous engagement rings received by Lopez have been equally noteworthy, with Affleck presenting her with a ring featuring a pink stone set between two diamond baguettes for their first engagement.
Read Next: Jennifer Lopez Reveals What Her Dream Proposal Looks Like

Over in Paris, Viltier’s offering is made for those on the hunt for a fabulously unique engagement ring. Even rings that were not designed with the intent of becoming an “engagement ring” – as such – have become the ideal choice. “We do have a ring that initially was not created thinking it would become an engagement ring, but it has been chosen as an engagement ring by many of our clients because it features a big, unique, coloured stone, which is a good alternative to diamonds,” says Thomas Montier Leboucher.
Hancocks London yellow diamond ring, Hancocks London
Gee Woods Asscher cut diamond ring with baguettes, The Cut London
Bear Brooksbank vintage Cartier diamond ring, The Cut London
Viltier Brulante ring, Viltier
Lily Kamper rainbow sapphire ring, The Cut London
Chaumet Liens D’Amour ring, Chaumet
Good things come in threes
Sometimes, less is more. On occasion, more is more. Whatever your preference, rings with multiple dazzling stones are becoming increasingly popular. Trio settings – a sparkling hat trick, if you will – are a timeless engagement ring style. Trilogy settings are entrenched in symbolism: the three stones represent the past, present and the future.
Modern takes on the classic three-stone engagement ring are a winning option for those who can’t pick between gemstones or want maximum impact. Be it a classic diamond flanked by sapphires or vice versa – or an offbeat rainbow stone arrangement – a band can never be too crowded.
Jessica McCormack mini diamond vine ring, Jessica McCormack
Ruberg diamond cluster ring, The Cut London
Conscious mindset
With any purchase, there comes a responsibility. Conversations regarding transparency, sourcing and sustainability have been brought to the fore of the jewelry conversation this year and 2022 will truly put this to the test. No longer can people buy with disregard for the environment or ethical practices involved in the making of their goods – and for jewelry, especially.
“If the brand doesn’t have a sustainability agenda or sustainability credentials, then for many consumers – millennials in particular – it will just not be viable,” McKinsey partner Alexander Thiel said on the McKinsey on Consumer and Retail podcast earlier this month.
Together with Tyler Harris – an associate McKinsey partner and expert in various fields, including jewelry – he conducted a 96-page report entitled State of Fashion: Watches and Jewellery, that details changes in consumer behavior in the watches and jewelry sector, specifically the “sustainability surge”.
Origin is more important than ever – customers are keen to know where the raw materials come from. “I’ve seen a marked increase in enquires for lab-grown diamonds, as well as a lot of clients wanting to reset inherited or heirloom diamonds,” says Baxter. “If clients are unsure about lab-grown, I always suggest finding an antique diamond as a more sustainable alternative.”
Thelma West rebel rose ring, Thelma West
Viltier Scintillante ring, Viltier
Toi et moi is a shape to keep an eye on
Toi et moi rings – a coiled band, with two gemstones nestled side by side where it meets around the finger – dominated the market in 2021. Emily Ratajkowski and Ariana Grande were responsible for the toi et moi hype, but it’s been a romantic style for some time. Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Joséphine de Beauharnais with one in 1796 – a gesture that inspired Chaumet’s Joséphine Duo Éternal collection. “The symbolism of two stones in one ring is full of romance,” says Baxter, who has witnessed piqued interest in the style.
Toi et moi engagement ring styles have grown in popularity. Jemma Wynne
Bespoke pear and emerald cut diamond open ring, Jemma Wynne
Toi et moi ring, Katkim
Originally published on Vogue.co.uk 
Read Next: Legendary Supermodel Afef Jnifen Dons Bulgari’s Most Precious High Jewelry Collection Yet – Magnifica