Best of 2014: engagement rings

By Åse Anderson

Those of you who were lucky enough to get engaged in 2014 really were spoilt for choice when it came to unique engagement rings.

From simple but stunning solitaires with glittering pavé bands to coloured gemstones in unusual settings, this year we have seen a flurry of engagement rings to suit every conceivable style.

To round up the year, The Jewellery Editor team has picked out a selection of our favourite engagement rings from 2014.

The round brilliant-cut diamond is a classic choice that will never date, but this Chanel engagement ring ramps it up a notch with a double pavé band that ripples around the finger.

With an elegant vintage feel, an emerald-cut diamond engagement ring conjures up images of iconic beauties such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor, who were both fans of this distinctive, long-faceted silhouette. It will come as no surprise that emerald-cut engagement rings also grace the hands of many modern celebrities, including the newly married Cheryl Fernandez-Versini as well as Beyoncé and Angelina Jolie. This Asprey emerald-cut engagement ring, featuring a platinum band set with round brilliant diamonds, has movie star glamour written all over it.

The pear-cut diamond is one of the most challenging diamond shapes to cut and the Boucheron Ava engagement ring shows off the central stone to perfection in a setting that creates the illusion of the stone floating in mid-air. Mounted on a double band, the De Beers Promise princess-cut engagement ring is the perfect choice for girls who want a sparkler with a modern edge, while romantics can’t help but fall in love with Sophie Harley’s impossibly pretty heart-shaped diamond engagement ring.

Engagement rings with coloured centre stones continue to rise in popularity, thanks in no small part to the Duchess of Cambridge, who wears a sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to her late mother-in-law. The Anne Sportun sapphire engagement ring, available exclusively at Astley Clarke combines a Periwinkle blue stone with textured rose gold. If regal, ruby red is more your thing look no further than this Boodles engagement ring featuring a cushion-cut ruby, tied with a pretty diamond bow that lends it a vintage air.

Engagement rings set with coloured diamonds are as extravagant as they are beautiful, and we have seen many exceptional examples in 2014. Whether it is the intense sky blue of Graff’s blue diamond engagement ring, the sunny hue of Harry Winston’s yellow diamond ring or the wonderfully pretty combination of a pink diamond cut into a heart shape in Messika’s stand-out design, coloured diamond engagement rings remain the pinnacle of luxury.

As we wave goodbye to a sparkling year, get ready for more spectacular ring proposals in 2015.

Harry Winston Classic Winston emerald-cut yellow diamond engagement ring in platinum with two brilliant-shaped diamond side stones.
Anne Sportun Periwinkle blue sapphire engagement ring in rose gold, available from Astley Clarke (£3,250).
Chanel round brilliant-cut solitaire diamond engagement ring featuring a band which splits where the pavé diamonds are featured (£8,575).
Asprey emerald-cut diamond engagement ring set with round brilliant diamonds on a platinum band (£8,000).
Boucheron Ava white gold engagement ring features a central pear-cut diamond that appears to float in mid-air amidst thirty-five round diamonds.
Promise princess-cut diamond engagement ring

De Beers

£ 3,400
Sophie Harley London 2.50ct heart-shaped diamond engagement ring set in yellow gold with pavé diamond wings (£63,000).
Boodles Vintage Rosette cushion-cut ruby engagement ring in platinum surrounded by melée diamonds and a pretty diamond bow.
Graff 1.04ct Internally Flawless Fancy Deep blue diamond engagement ring flanked by two pear-shaped white diamonds.
Messika Heart pink diamond engagement ring with rose gold prongs and a diamond pavé band.