Celebrity rings steer bridal jewelry toward bold, personal designs

A chunky gold cigar band and a sideways cushion diamond are pushing bridal jewelry past the standard solitaire. Dua Lipa and Zendaya show how the new engagement-ring code is built from shape, mounting, and metal, not just carat weight.

The new bridal signal is construction, not just size

Late-June jewelry coverage, including WWD’s, put celebrity rings at the center of the shift, and the message is clear: the most influential rings now read as deliberate design objects. That marks a change from the “quiet luxury” mood in 2023, when shoppers were already leaning toward minimal, logo-free pieces and asking for rings that feel personal rather than merely large. The categories that kept showing up then, solitaire, antique and vintage styles, emerald, oval, cushion, and Asscher cuts, are still present, but they are now being framed through bolder settings and more specific silhouettes.

The current moment is defined by a clearer design language. A cigar band says something different from a slim pave shank; an east-west mounting tells a different story than a vertical prong setting.

Dua Lipa’s ring turns a classic stone into a heavier, more modern statement

Dua Lipa’s ring was custom-designed by Callum Turner with help from her sister Rina, then executed by Milan-based EÉRA. It first appeared in Instagram photos on Christmas Eve 2024, the couple confirmed the engagement in June 2025, and they married in London in May 2026. The ring itself is a round-cut diamond set on a thick 18k yellow-gold cigar band, with estimates landing around $65,000 to $73,000.

The wide gold band gives the finger a substantial frame, while 18k yellow gold keeps the look rich without the overly polished sharpness of white metal. For anyone who wants this effect, the takeaway is practical: look for a wider shank, a secure low-set head, and a diamond that can hold its own against the metal rather than disappearing into it.

A cigar-band profile distributes visual weight across the hand, which makes it useful for everyday wear and for stacking with a wedding band later on. If provenance is part of the purchase, this is the kind of bespoke ring where a buyer should expect clear documentation on the center stone and should ask whether the gold is newly mined or recycled.

Zendaya’s east-west cushion shows how a single stone can feel architectural

Zendaya wore her ring publicly at the Golden Globes on January 5, 2025, and the details have made it one of the most discussed bridal silhouettes of the cycle. The ring is an approximately 5-carat elongated cushion-cut natural diamond set east-west on a yellow-gold band, and it was tied to a proposal at her family home over the 2024 holiday season. Stylistically, the ring recalls Jessica McCormack, whose namesake brand launched in 2008.

Turning the cushion sideways makes the ring feel more contemporary and less expected, while the yellow-gold band softens the geometry and keeps the setting warm. The Georgian-inspired button-back style gives the stone a low, enveloping profile, which is part of why this kind of ring feels wearable rather than precious in a delicate way.

East-west rings are not a novelty invention. Jewelry historians place the style’s real rise in the 1920s and 1930s, when Art Deco geometry and changing social codes made horizontal gemstone layouts feel modern.

Why these rings are winning now

In 2026, individuality is shaping bridal jewelry. National Jeweler trend round-ups and Natural Diamonds coverage highlight east-west settings, bezel-forward looks, yellow-gold bands, sculptural shanks, and elongated cuts as some of the strongest directions in bridal jewelry right now. These rings sit closer to the hand, wear more comfortably than many tall solitaires, and create a clearer style signature at a glance.

How to translate the look into a real purchase

If the goal is Dua’s effect, start with the band. A thicker 18k yellow-gold shank gives the ring its weight and helps a round diamond feel intentional rather than conventional. If the goal is Zendaya’s effect, start with the silhouette: an elongated cushion or oval turned east-west will create that horizontal, modern line without needing an oversized center stone.

• Choose a mounting that keeps the stone close to the finger if you want a cleaner, more durable profile.

• Ask for a grading report on the diamond and clear sourcing documentation, especially if provenance matters to you.

• Consider recycled gold or a jeweler who can tell you exactly where the metal and stone came from.

• If the five-figure celebrity price range is out of reach, keep the proportions and simplify the materials: a smaller stone, solid gold, and a thoughtful setting can preserve the look.