Engagement Ring Trends From the 1990s

The 1990s was an important decade, both in America and around the world. It was the decade when the West won the Cold War, learned to use the Internet, and grappled with questions of racial justice. By and large, despite some more jarring events, the 90s was an age of optimism and innovation.

From the standpoint of fashion, the 90s were much more easygoing than the 80s. The era of big hair, shoulder pads, and trench coats ended. Now, young fashionistas chose simple styles, dyed hair, and tracksuits.

Jewelry Trends

Likewise, there were major changes in jewelry trends. As with clothing, the 80s era folded designs fell out of favor. Additionally, the old became new again. We refer to the 90s as the second Art Deco period. In other words, the clean lines and simple styling of the 1930s made a comeback. And like the original Art Deco, white gold and platinum were much more popular in the 1990s than they were in the 80s.

Let’s look at 90s trends a little more closely:

• Grunge and Minimalist styles dictated a casual vibe. Also, grunge is a very carefree, even messy aesthetic so you wouldn’t see a lot of very fancy engagement rings.
• White gold and platinum bands. There was a lot of yellow gold being used during the 1980s, and this often came out as very showy. Part of the understated vibe of the 90s was using metals that would be unobtrusive and show off the diamond itself.
• Marquise cut diamonds. Fancy shapes, in general, were relatively popular, but the marquise diamond was the star of the show. The two-point shape of a marquise diamond means that it looks large for its carat weight.
• Large solitaire stone. This is one reason why fancy shapes like the marquise were so popular. While round brilliant stones were still common, selecting a large round brilliant stone was expensive. To get a better bang for their buck, a lot of people chose a fancy cut like the marquise or the oval.

Nowadays, many 90s fashion trends have returned, especially when it comes to engagement rings. That includes the ripped jeans, the flare hams, and the large solitaire stones. You will even see some three-stone engagement ring options.

1990s Inspired Engagement Rings from With Clarity

At With clarity, we love to provide our customers with high-quality options at an affordable price. Each of the white gold engagement rings we offer in this section will make you remember this optimistic decade.

Petite Knife Edge Solitaire Engagement Ring

This is the quintessential 1990s Minimalist platinum ring. The setting features a knife edge, which introduces the grunge and art deco sense of clean lines. You can make this ring small and even more understated with a more modest-sized stone or go bold with a larger rock. Also, you can choose from any of several diamond shapes to suit your style and budget.

Four Points Diamond Engagement Ring

Marquise fans rejoice! This is a platinum engagement ring option that’s available with a marquise diamond. And if you want even more of a 90s vibe and have the budget, you can order this with a relatively large stone.

With that said, this setting is less playing than Minimalist. You might say that it’s more of a preppy look with the Milgrain and diamond band. Still, the large center stone is the star of the show. If you don’t want platinum, we can also make you one in any color of gold.

Petite Baguette Solitaire Engagement Ring

Another ring that recalls the 90s is this number, which includes a large center stone and small baguette diamonds down the shank. Several celebrity rings from the 90s featured baguette diamonds, and they also sometimes featured a plain line of diamonds down the shank. Baguettes are also reminiscent of the Art Deco period.

Because brilliant round diamonds were very popular in the 90s, we’ve selected the version that contains this shape. But there are other options available if you would prefer. Either way, you’ll get a simple, understated elegance without the ring being excessively plain.

Something Blue Iris Three Stone Engagement Ring

Three stone rings became popular toward the end of the 90s. This three-stone engagement ring stays true to the trend with relatively small side stones that keep the ring petite. It’s also delightful because the side stones are sapphires rather than diamonds. Finally, for people who prefer white gold engagement rings, this one can be the star of the show.

Final thoughts

The 90s were full of optimism, and at the same time, the fashion trends were eager to distinguish themselves from the excesses of the 1980s. To that end, clothing trended toward very simple, and so did jewelry. For engagement rings, this usually meant platinum or white gold settings and simple designs. A large center stone would typically be the star of the show.