Everything to Know About East-West Engagement Rings, the Style Brides Don't Regret
The east-west ring puts a modern twist on a traditional design, and it is getting more popular thanks to celebrities like Zendaya. Experts talk the history of this look, how to personalize it, and why brides are going for it more and more.
Zendaya's decision to soft launch her engagement to Tom Holland on the Golden Globes 2025 red carpet fueled the rising interest in east-west engagement rings. The actor, styled by Law Roach, stepped out wearing an apricot-hued Louis Vuitton gown, but eyes quickly shifted to her left hand, where an elegant diamond ring adorned her ring finger, confirming her engagement. This also sparked a conversation about the east-west trend in fashion, which started with handbags and has now made its way to the bridal world.
The Dune actor's east-west setting will likely gain a cult following in the years to come, re-introducing the look to a new generation. Zendaya's 5.02-carat ring was designed by London-based jeweler Jessica McCormack, and it represents the east-west look's harmonious union between sophistication and individuality, aligning perfectly with the fashion icon. Jewelry designers and experts report already seeing clients interested in the look, and they expect its popularity to grow among brides. After all, it's a style that brides don't regret.
“Around the late 2010s, we began to see a shift—couples started seeking engagement rings that felt personal and unique rather than adhering to more traditional norms,” Page Neal, co-founder of jewelry brand Bario Neal, says. This is part of why there's more openness to ring styles today, versus a reliance on solitaire rings with a round, white diamond.
Keep scrolling to learn everything to know about east-west engagement rings, according to two woman-led jewelry brands, including what distinguishes the style, how brides like to customize them, and why some prefer them for practicality.
What Is an East-West Engagement Ring?
A modern twist to tradition is what fashion is all about, and that’s what the east-west ring setting offers brides who appreciate what's classic but welcome a modern vision. Neal notes the east-west engagement ring look has a more referential character.
“The east-west ring design is a beautiful nod to creative innovation in jewelry design, with origins tracing back to the Art Deco era of the mid-twentieth century,” she says. “During this time, jewelers began to explore fresh ways of showcasing gemstones, and the horizontal orientation—what we now call the east-west setting—offered a new perspective.”
The design strays from the traditional vertical placement, but the horizontal placement is no less elegant. The perspective shift of the gemstone allows brides to treasure the gemstones in a fresh, unique way. “We love how this orientation feels both modern and timeless—it’s a striking way to feature a stone’s natural beauty while stepping outside traditional design boundaries of engagement ring design,” Neal adds.
Why Does the East-West Cut Appeal to the Modern Bride?
Contemporary preferences have become synonymous with minimalism in fashion. Trends have taken a refined simplicity approach, creating the quiet luxury aesthetic that's been so popular in recent years. This clean, polished look embodies classic elegance, and brides find that the east-west design encompasses what they're looking for in a jewelry piece to wear for the rest of their life.
Jennie Yoon, founder of Kinn Studio, finds that east-west engagement rings channel a lowkey flair and character of elegance. "Turning the stone horizontally gives the design a modern edge while maintaining timeless sophistication," Yoon tells L'OFFICIEL. "This subtle shift not only highlights the stone’s shape in an unexpected way, but also creates a slight optical illusion, making it appear larger and more dazzling."
East-west placements allow for personalized customizations to fit each individual’s sense of style. The versatility of the piece is a significant factor that couples should consider when choosing the ring that will symbolize their love until death do them part. After all, Yoon explains, brides tend to regret choosing something trendy over something timeless.
“While trendy designs can feel exciting at first, tastes often change, and some brides later wish they had opted for a classic or minimal style that stands the test of time,” Yoon says. East-west rings might be having a moment now, but it's not because they're a trendy style as much as an underrated one now getting more recognition.
Are East-West Engagement Rings a Passing Trend or Here to Stay?
In the wise words of fashion visionary Yves Saint Laurent, “Fashion fades, style is eternal.” Both specialists Neal and Yoon agree that this design is not going anywhere. One glance at the east-west setting is enough to reveal the features that define timelessness.
"While it feels fresh and modern right now, its roots in vintage styles, like the geometric elegance of the Art Deco era, give it staying power,” Yoon says.
Neal agrees on its enduring yet unique look as one to continue defining what engagement rings look like. “It’s a design that has the staying power to last beyond trends, especially when thoughtfully crafted and infused with personal meaning,” Neal said. That’s the beauty and brilliance of versatility, there’s flexibility to reimagine the ring as personal style changes without interfering with its integrity.
The Best Stones for an East-West Engagement Ring
According to Neal, the arrangement is accentuated best by elongated gemstones like oval, marquise, emerald, baguette, and pear cuts. If modern brides opt for a non-traditional gemstone, Neal recommends they complement the east-west setting with colorful rocks like sapphires, emeralds, morganites, and zircons. Harder gemstones like diamonds (the ultimate classic, of course) and sapphires and more resistant to scratching and chipping. The horizontal setting is equally durable to the popular vertical setting.
When customizing an east-west ring, there are a few things to consider. Regular maintenance is always important, Neal says, and that holds true for this style. Even more, “Choosing the right setting is key—secure options like prong, bezel, or half-bezel settings provide excellent protection while allowing the unique orientation to shine," she says. "We [at Bario Beal] also reinforce the band to reduce stress on the gemstone’s sides, which can be slightly more exposed than in traditional vertical settings."
Ultimately, the stone choice and setting are some of the most personal options to customize the east-west ring look. Either way, it's hard to wrong with this bridal favorite.
