Engagement Season runs from around Thanksgiving, through the Christmas holidays, past New Years Eve, and all the way to the end of February encompassing Valentines Day.  This season, what many thought would be less active in response to the fledgling economy, has actually been full of diamond ring proposals, much more than expected!  Not only has the general American population been full of engagement ring love, but many celebrities have also surprised the gossip columns and have become engaged as well.  Carrie Underwood is set to marry hockey player Mike Fisher, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean proposed to his girlfriend on the eve of his thirty-second birthday, and singer Katie Perry is engaged to comedian Russell Brand after just four months of dating!

Are you considering joining the likes of Fisher, McLean, and Brand, and proposing to your girlfriend as well?  Or, are you dropping hints to your man to treat you like Carrie Underwood or Katy Perry, drop to one knee, and present you with a diamond ring?  If so, you may want to consider what some of the diamond engagement ring trends for 2010 will be.

Eternity Rings:

Eternity rings, or anniversary rings, are unlike a diamond solitaire engagement ring and have diamonds that run the circumference of the band.  These are typically given to a wife by her husband on an anniversary, but are also becoming popular as engagement rings and wedding bands.

Alternative Metals:

Gold is a hot commodity in a down economy, it has also caused quite a stir among the “Green” crowd as detrimental to the environment, and is one of the softer engagement ring metals available.  These facts have increased the popularity of alternative metals such as titanium and stainless steel.  Both of these metals are less expensive then gold, they are much stronger than gold, and many rings made from stainless steel have been comprised of recycled materials.  Today, many jewelers offer extensive selections of titanium engagement rings and stainless steel engagement rings.

Non-Traditional Designs:

People are thinking outside the box and straying from traditional diamond engagement ring solitaires.  Think colored gemstones such as rubies and sapphires, geometric shapes such as triangles, diamonds, and rectangles, and other non-traditional designs like those that incorporate several types of metal, inset the stone as opposed to a raised setting, and include more stones that just the diamond solitaire.  There are many modern engagement ring settings on the market…or design your own!

Custom Engagement Rings:

Can’t find the ring you want already designed by a jeweler?  Today’s ring buying market wants to see their funds spread as far as they can, and if they choose to part with their hard earned cash in this type of economy, they want to get the ring of their dreams.  This is leading many couples to opt for custom engagement rings with the help of online retailers as well as brick and mortar jewelers.

Antique Engagement Rings:

While many couples are breaking from engagement ring tradition, others are seeking a symbol of the past and selecting among the many recreated engagement rings from the Edwardian and Art Deco period.  These rings are very detailed and feminine, often made from white gold or platinum.