East-west engagement rings are becoming an increasingly popular choice, but what exactly are they?
This style of engagement ring is all about how the centre stone is set, creating unique silhouettes that honour both contemporary and traditional styles. Today, we’re diving into the topic of east-west engagement rings; read on to learn what they are, the benefits of them, what they might cost, and where to find them online and in London if you discover they’re what you (or your soon-to-be-fiancé) would like.
What is an east-west engagement ring?
An east-west engagement ring is one that features the main stone set in a horizontal, east-to-west orientation. This sideways setting creates a completely different look to the more traditional north-to-south setting seen in many classic engagement rings, adding uniqueness, modernity, and a sleek profile.
An east-west setting can be paired with a vast range of other engagement ring design elements, from solitaire (single-stone) to trilogy (three-stone), and traditional claw/prong-set to bezel set. The stone in an east-west engagement ring can be any type, from diamond to sapphire to ruby; however, its cut needs to have one side longer than the other, for example, an oval, pear, or baguette. Symmetrical stone cuts like round or cushion-square cannot be set east-west, as they look the same when rotated.
As long as the main stone is set horizontally instead of vertically, it’s an east-west ring.
Pictured: East-West Parti Sapphire Emerald Cut Trilogy Engagement Ring
Are east-west rings popular?
Yes, east-west rings are a popular engagement ring style, especially amongst those looking for an engagement ring that has both traditional and contemporary design elements. East-west rings are favoured for the uniqueness they provide, stepping away from the traditional north-west setting.
What are the most popular east-west styles?
East-west engagement rings come in a range of popular engagement ring styles, including solitaire, allowing the single east-west stone to be the star of the show, and trilogy, where the centre east-west stone is accompanied by two smaller stones in a symmetrical composition. This is our favourite east-west style, and we have a range of gorgeous sapphire and diamond trilogy rings within our collection to shop - or use as inspiration for a custom design.
We also love how east-west cluster rings look, especially when set with tapered round diamonds like this beautiful 5-stone parti-sapphire east-west ring.
Pictured: 5-Stone East-West Oval Parti Saphire Engagement Ring with Diamonds
The benefits of choosing an east-west engagement ring
A unique, contemporary choice
If your soon-to-be fiancé wants something a bit different to what’s considered traditional, an east-west ring might be for them! They are known as a modern style which combines both unique, contemporary elements with traditional ones - an east-west engagement ring can be traditional by design, for example, an oval diamond solitaire, but in an east-west setting, it’s given a unique silhouette and takes on a whole other look.
Durability: Are east-west rings more secure?
While some simply choose an east-west setting for aesthetic reasons, it’s also a good choice for someone looking for a unique style that’s slightly more durable than a traditional, high-set, north-south oval engagement ring, where the stone is held higher from the finger.
Due to the slimmer, sideways profile of an east-west engagement ring, many consider them to be more secure and protective for daily wear. This is because the stone's longer dimension runs across the finger instead of up it; its shorter side becomes its height when looking from above, giving a sleeker profile that's less likely to catch on things.
If you want a super secure east-west engagement ring, consider one with a low-profile setting, where the stone(s) and bottom of the collet touch the skin, vs being raised above it. This means the stone doesn’t protrude away from the finger, protecting it from snags, catching, or damage. Read more about the differences between high-set and low-set engagement rings here.
Choosing a bezel engagement ring is also a good way to ensure your east-west ring is secure, where the stone is fully encased within the metal, as opposed to being held in place with claws and therefore more exposed.
Either of these styles can be incorporated into your design, or just one or two - it all depends on your personal taste and how protective you want your ring to be.
Our guide to durable and protective engagement rings dives deeper into this topic
Pictured: East-west bezel-set trilogy ring: a recent bespoke commission
The illusion of a bigger-looking stone: Do east-west rings look bigger?
Some argue that an east-west ring looks bigger than a more traditional north-south setting. This is because the sideways setting of the stone takes up more space horizontally on the finger, creating the illusion of a larger stone overall.
This, of course, isn’t always the case, and it depends on the individual design, carat, and assortment of the gemstone(s), and whether it’s bezel-set or claw set. But generally, this is a common observation of east-west rings, and a reason some choose this style - especially if their budget doesn’t allow for a large stone, but they still want the ring to have a certain prominence.
Shopping for east-west engagement rings
How much do east-west engagement rings typically cost?
East-west engagement rings can cost anything from £1,000 to more than £10,000, and the cost depends on how and where the ring is made, the metal used, and whether the gemstone(s) are natural or lab-grown.
At Wild Fawn, our east-west rings are made from start to finish in England using solid recycled gold, ethically-sourced sapphires, and lab-grown diamonds. The east-west setting doesn’t influence the price of our rings, and they’re priced in the same region as the rest of our engagement ring styles; our ready-to-ship and made-to-order east-west engagement rings start at £2,500, while a bespoke east-west engagement ring typically starts at around £4,000.
Can I book a virtual consultation for choosing an east-west engagement ring?
Yes, you can book a virtual consultation to help choose an east-west engagement ring with us at Wild Fawn. Our consultations are held in person in our South East London workshop, but if you’re not local or can’t make it in, we’re always available via video call too. To book a virtual consultation to discuss east-west engagement rings, simply choose one of our available slots and select Zoom under the Location field in the booking form.
Book a virtual engagement ring consultation
Pictured: Model wears White Gold East-West Blue Emerald Cut Sapphire Engagement Ring
Wedding bands for east-west engagement rings
Shopping for a wedding ring to pair with your east-west engagement ring is no different than if you have a north-south ring; the main thing to consider when shopping for a wedding ring is whether your engagement ring is high-set - or “wedfit” - or low-set. This determines if you should go for a straight wedding ring, a curved one to create a flush, sleek ring stack.
Many also like to match the metal of their engagement ring to their wedding ring, e.g., choosing an 18ct gold wedding band if your engagement ring’s shank is 18ct yellow gold. However, there really are no rules, and contrasting metals can create a contemporary, unique look, too.
If you are looking for a bespoke, shaped wedding ring to fit your low-set, east-west engagement ring, simply book a Wedding Ring Consultation with us. We specialise in sustainable, recycled metal wedding rings that beautifully curve around your low-set engagement ring, achieved by using 3D scanning and printing technology. We also have a range of pre-designed wedding rings in both traditional straight and curved designs to go with your east-west engagement ring, plus textured, lab-diamond and nesting styles, each ethically-made in the UK from 100% recycled gold or platinum.
Learn more about how to match your wedding band to your engagement ring
Learn more about bespoke wedding rings
Pictured: Solitaire East-West 6-Claw Diamond Engagement Ring
Where to find east-west engagement rings online or in London
We’re proud to be a London-based jewellery brand that specialises in ethically-made engagement rings - including east-west engagement rings.
At Wild Fawn, our east-west engagement rings are made with love and care using 100% recycled gold or platinum, lab-grown diamonds, and ethically-sourced sapphires. Based in South-East London, just a stone's throw from London Bridge, we’re available by appointment only (in person or virtual) to help you find your dream east-west engagement ring. Whether that’s trying on our beautiful designs (which are also available to simply order directly from our website), or discussing something bespoke, we can’t wait to meet you!
Shop east-west engagement rings
Book an engagement ring consultation
Shop all ethical engagement rings
Pictured: Wide Bang Engagement Ring with Cushion Cut Diamond
Read next...
A guide to non-traditional & alternative engagement rings
When is wedding season? & what to consider when setting the date
What to expect at a Wild Fawn jewellery consultation
