The five engagement ring trends you need to know for the year ahead.

Finding the right engagement ring is a big deal. It is, after all, a physical reminder of the love you share with someone else and your life together.

But where does one start when it comes to ring shopping if you’re in the market for something a little less traditional and a little more one-of-a-kind? We’re glad you asked.

A photo posted by Kim Victoria (@kimvictoria) on Sep 6, 2016 at 1:48am PDT

Offer a new take on a girl’s best friend 

As we all know, diamonds are girl’s best friend. Rather than going down the ultra-predictable route, though, why not look into a ring with a spin on it, like Kataoka’s diamond crown ring that gives off medieval Game of Thrones vibes, or Kim Victoria’s custom engagement bands.

Drop down a size

Nothing screams “I’m engaged!” quite like an enviable rock on your left hand, but ostentatious declarations aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. With that in mind, dropping down to a more understated stone – like Sarah and Sebastian’s stone ring or Lucy Folk’s Blue Hues ring – can make for an understated, yet beautiful ring.

Twist the traditional 

If you or your significant other is a traditionalist at heart, finding a setting that’s old-world-meets-new is a fail safe option. (For example, think Luhrmann’s Gatsby over Clayton’s.) Melbourne jeweller Kim Victoria’s amethyst and diamond ring is a perfect example, as is PopRing’s morganite ring.

Mamamia Out Loud thinks ‘forever and ever’ is on the way out. Post continues. 

Go colourful 

Haven’t you heard? Single stones are so 2016! Joking, joking! They’re actually very timeless and elegant, but sometimes you just need some colour diversity to accurately represent your love. If you’re a colour-wheel kinda gal, Sarah and Sebastian’s tiny stone ring or Lucy Folk’s stolen fortune ring are both absolutely excellent options.

A photo posted by MANIAMANIA (@themaniamania) on Feb 5, 2017 at 11:14pm PST

Think outside the stone box 

The days of the “I’ll have what she’s having” wedding are officially over. And with that comes the desire for an original engagement ring that doesn’t bear resemblance to every other one you’ve ever laid eyes on. For those wanting more, opal engagement rings are now all the rage, as are Belinda Saville’s coloured diamond rings.