What is an East-West Ring?
In the hunt for unique engagement rings, East-West engagement rings have become commonplace in the collections of contemporary brands. In fact, one of the most recent engagement ring trend was the east-west ring. But what exactly is it? And is it truly a practical choice? We’ll reveal all in this guide to east-west engagement rings.
What does an east-west ring mean?
In name is the biggest clue. Where engagement rings traditionally have the centre stones positioned vertically, for east-west rings these stones are placed horizontal. So think of a marquise or emerald or oval cut diamond, the stone is always facing up, with the longer edges going up the finger. In east-west rings, their stones are turned 90 degrees and set horizontally. The benefit to having the stones placed sideways is not only for a unique look. Long stones placed on their side takes up more space on the finger, and can give the illusion that the ring or stone is bigger. That said, the benefit of lab grown engagement rings, other than being environmentally conscious is that they’ll give the same look at a significantly more affordable price than a mined stone.
Which cuts look best in east-west cuts?
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Due to the nature of east-west rings, a stone is completely symmetrical from all angles, like a round or cushion cut, won’t make any sense in this setting. In this case, the centre stone will look the same no matter whether placed in a vertical or horizontal position. As for which cuts look best, the more statement the stone, the more exaggerated the east-west setting will look.
Popular cuts for east-west settings include emerald cut and marquise cut stones , like our Olive East West Emerald Solitaire ring with Cathedral Bezel Setting and Angie Marquise East West Bezel Solitaire ring . While these rings are certainly more unique, classic cuts like an oval can be set beautifully in an east-west setting. Our Allison East-West oval engagement ring is a contemporary twist on a popular cut, great for those who are looking for a more modern style but with a classic stone.
Which wedding band to pair with an east west engagement ring
East west rings can make it a more concerned effort to choose a wedding band , though it’s perhaps not as difficult as it may seem. A high set engagement ring will allow for a wedding band to slide along next to it, and so pretty much any of our wedding band styles will fit nicely. For rings like the Olive East-West Bezel , matching the bezel theme with a chunky band such as the Dallas Emerald Bezel Wedding Band can add to the engagement ring and the overall aesthetic without taking all of the attention off it. Though those who like stacking rings rather than a traditional wedding set, pairing a thicker band engagement ring with a cigar wedding band is a great choice.
Not to mention, some of our east west engagement rings can also double as a wedding band, like the Franca East West Marquise Smooth Dome Ring and the Soraya East West Oval With Cigar Band . These thick bands can easily be paired with a wedding band of your choice, or worn alone if you’re not opting for a wedding set and rather one ring to symbolise your marriage. Speaking of bold rings, the Shai Pear Solitaire with Twist Band has a pear cut stone set in a wave style band. The curves of the stone pair beautifully with the fluidity of the wave band. While this ring would be difficult to pair with a wedding band, it makes a statement on its own.
Summary
So all in all, east west rings, while being a recent trend, are here to stay thanks to their versatility and the general preference towards more personal engagement rings. As with all engagement ring styles, the only way to be sure is to talk through your decision with an expert, and at Cullen Jewellery we have plenty of experienced consultants for you to speak to. Book a virtual appointment to speak with someone about the engagement ring of your dreams.
Explore our collection of east west engagement rings now
