When it comes to designing engagement rings, Neil Lane is always thinking about the future.
The celebrity jeweler, who has designed rings for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Hudson, tells PEOPLE that extravagant rings will be the next big trend in engagement lights.
“Boring is going out of style,” says Lane. “Sophistication is coming back, I think glamor is definitely on fire, vintage aesthetics with a modern twist and a very contemporary feel is really happening.”
Lane, who recently launched a new collection with KAY, says he’s taken his design further than ever with his latest project. Some of his favorite rings in the collection include 3/4 ct tw diamonds in 14K rose gold and a 2-1/8 ct tw 14K white gold oval diamond engagement ring.
“When we started all those years ago, there was very little variety in American weddings. It was round, maybe a princess, maybe another one. There was no choice,” he says. “There were no fancy shapes. We were able to introduce it to the American market.”
Lane adds, “Now with the new lab-grown diamonds, we can get bigger centers. The collection is just another level and more variety.”
During his years in the industry, Lane was also the lead jewelry designer for Bachelor franchise.
“It’s been an amazing, amazing, amazing journey with Hollywood. Not just famous people, but beautiful people, creative people and working with America,” he says.
“When I go to Bachelor show, I work with people who have never looked at a ring before. It’s overwhelming, but it’s also helped me understand how to convey information properly,” adds Lane.
As the new year quickly approaches, Lane shares more engagement ring trends for 2024 and her tips for shopping for the perfect piece of jewelry.
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Neil Lane Artistry Collection.
KAY
Go Lab Grown
“Laboratory-grown diamonds are definitely becoming a trend,” says Lane. “That’s why we’re doing that in this collection. With the new lab-grown diamonds, we can get bigger centers which means more choices for our customers.”
Bring on the color
“We have morganite and a very beautiful purple color,” he explains of his new KAY collection, which features a wide variety of stones in different colors. “And rose gold and yellow gold are big.”
When looking for rings, Lane explains how important it is to always keep an open mind—especially when it comes to color.
“Everyone is posting rings online and on social media, but keep an open mind because when you see something in person online, you may realize you want a different color,” he adds. “I think social media is great because it opens up a world of information, but then you just have to try something to see if it’s good. There are all these different biases that we have, and sometimes they just go out the door or out the window.”
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Shop together
“I’ve noticed over the last few years that a lot of couples are shopping together now,” he says. “It used to be that a person would go get a ring without really knowing their loved one’s style. But back then it wasn’t a real thing.”
He adds: “Nowadays, I think more than 50% of them shop together. They give each other hints about what they like and you can see what they like. People will tell you what they like, and if they don’t really know and you go into the store, let them counselor or the person behind the counter help.”
Another tip from Lana: “Ask questions. What do you think? How does this rose look in my hand?” he adds. “One of the most important things is to really be careful when getting a ring. Make sure you get the right ring for the right person for their style.”
It’s not all about the ring
“Today, even though we have a fast-paced society and social media, people are really trying to get back to what a ring means romantically,” he continues. “The meaning behind the ring is more important today. People want a ring that takes them to the future, to their new journey, the ring will travel with them throughout their life. That’s actually my goal in all the collections I make.
At the end of the day, you have to walk away with a ring you love,” he adds.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education