Our Cocktail Rings Guide
The statement cocktail ring has been a favourite accessory for decades. The ultimate party piece and the perfect way to curate a stylish ring stack, add a dazzling finish to your outfit with a timeless cocktail ring. One thing’s for sure, cocktail rings are a trend that’s here to stay.
“I love styling my cocktail rings to add lots of luxury to my look, and I’ll choose tones which match my outfit and complement my other jewellery pieces. Cocktail rings are the perfect way to wear your diamonds or other precious gemstones every day, and when you add a pop of colour or bold centre stone, it creates a truly eye-catching finish which I love for special occasions.” - Debbie, Beaverbrooks Brand Ambassador.
Bejewelled and beautiful, we’re all about cocktail rings that go bold on colour, showcase precious gemstones, and are crafted in luxurious materials to adorn your finger. We also love delicate styles that exude quiet luxury, and are perfect for layering with other jewels. So, whether you’re looking to enhance your ring stack or are searching for statement sparkle, we’ve curated our cocktail rings tips to take you from coffee to cocktails in effortless glamour (literally!).
What Is A Cocktail Ring?
A cocktail ring traditionally holds a central colourful gemstone with diamonds in a large, statement design. Although through the years, cocktail rings have been made in all shapes and sizes and these days, any statement ring can be classed as a cocktail ring. Choose from bold, large centre stones or more subtle cocktail rings with glistening pavé stones.
Cocktail rings first became popular in the 1920s. This was a time when alcohol had been banned, but illegal cocktail parties became very popular. For women, it was a lavish statement to be drinking cocktails around this time and to show this off, they'd pair their cocktails with dramatic and sometimes colourful cocktail rings with a large stone in the centre.
A prominent accessory for the art-deco era, the cocktail ring first flourished in the setting of dimly-lit jazz bars, worn with fringed dresses and dramatic headpieces. Now, cocktail rings are a staple accessory to wear all day, every day, but their timeless glamour will always be iconic, and are also emerging as a current trend - although we know they never go out of style.
How to style a cocktail ring
We love wearing cocktail rings with other sparkly rings in a stylish ring stack, and we recommend wearing large cocktail rings on your central three fingers. The key to curating a perfect ring stack is finding a centrepiece, and then choosing complementing styles to align with it. Because of the style of large cocktail rings, they make the ultimate focal point to start your stack.
Once you’ve got your cocktail ring in mind, look at the tones, gemstones and shapes to choose the rings to stack with. For example, match gold cocktail rings with other gold rings, and a silver cocktail ring with silver rings. If you love vintage cocktail rings, pair it with other styles that exude a retro aesthetic, such as rings that feature emerald cut and oval cut stones. Like to go bold on sparkle? Match your diamond cocktail ring with polished or pavé rings will let your cocktail ring take centre stage.
@debbielegrainger
Get Debbie’s cocktail ring style with this Platinum Diamond Blue Sapphire Oval Cut Ring and this Platinum Diamond Pink Sapphire Oval Cut Ring.
For inspiration on creating a flawless jewellery stack (including stacking rings), discover our Stacking Jewellery Guide.
Match your cocktail ring to your birthstone
Cocktail rings are perfect if you’re going bold on colour and want to co-ordinate with a vibrant stone adorning your finger. A great way to do this is by matching your birthstone to your cocktail ring. If you love birthstone jewellery, then choose from an aquamarine cocktail ring, emerald cocktail ring, sapphire cocktail ring, amethyst cocktail ring, and more to give your cocktail ring style a personal touch.
Or, opt for multiple cocktail rings with different gemstones for lots of luxury! The statement colour from the precious gemstones are beautiful for co-ordination, especially if you’re someone who loves to wear bright colours when it comes to jewellery. Whether you want to wear yours solo or experiment with mixing and matching, there’s so many ways to wear a birthstone cocktail ring.
Discover more birthstones, their meanings, history and facts in our Guide To Birthstone Jewellery.
Our Top Five Cocktail Rings
Platinum Diamond Pink Sapphire Oval Cut Ring - £5,250
Take on the cocktail ring trend with diamonds with this Platinum Diamond Pink Sapphire Oval Cut Ring. Featuring a central pink sapphire, it’s perfect for adding a pop of luxurious colour to your cocktail ring styling, and the vibrant hues are the ultimate way to make a dazzling statement - especially if you love pink as much as we do! Embellished with hand-selected round brilliant diamonds and diamond-set shoulders, this is the ultimate diamond cocktail ring to add fire and brilliance to your finger. Crafted in polished platinum, this is a truly rare, eternal and precious cocktail ring to treasure forever.
“Statement diamonds will never go out of style, so I love wearing a diamond cocktail ring for special occasions. With a central pink sapphire and array of dazzling stones, this ring catches every light beautifully, it’s elegant and show-stopping.” - Debbie, Beaverbrooks Brand Ambassador.
Pair this pink sapphire cocktail ring with this Platinum Diamond Blue Sapphire Oval Cut Ring to get Debbie’s look and stun in diamonds and precious gemstones.
Silver Cubic Zirconia Cluster Ring - £80
A central cushion-cut cubic zirconia stone takes centre stage upon this Silver Cubic Zirconia Cluster Ring, adorned with smaller stones in a cluster design. With a glittering cubic zirconia embellishment on the sterling silver band, this cocktail ring is the ultimate definition of glamour. Wear this ring solo, or as the centrepiece of a stunning ring stack with your other silver cocktail rings. We know that every cocktail dress needs this show-stopping ring, and it’s ideal if you’re looking for a sparkly piece on a budget.
★★★★★
“I have just received this stunning ring today and already I'm in love, it is honestly the most beautiful ring I've ever seen. It is larger than the normal sized rings like those you usually get with similar styles and much more sparkly. I just cannot stop looking at it, OMG I'm blown away.” - Vicki, Beaverbrooks Customer
18ct White Gold Diamond Aquamarine Halo Ring - £2,250
If there’s a gemstone combination we’ll never get enough of, it’s aquamarines and diamonds. With the central aquamarine adding lustrous blue hues to this 18ct White Gold Diamond Aquamarine Halo Ring, this piece has a vintage elegance that reminds us of the iconic art-deco styles of the 1920s. Adorned with round brilliant diamonds in a halo design and on the diamond-set shoulders, we can’t take our eyes off the indulgent dazzle of this aquamarine cocktail ring. Crafted in stunning 18ct white gold, this aquamarine cocktail ring has the perfect backdrop to complement the pristine glow of the diamonds and aquamarine.
★★★★★
“I’ve had this ring over 5 years and it still shines gorgeously. It’s a ring I get compliments on daily! I’d happily buy again and more of the range.” - Dani, Beaverbrooks Customer.
If you love coloured stone rings, discover our Our Favourite Gemstone Engagement Rings And Jewellery blog.
Silver Cubic Zirconia Cluster Ring - £145
Looking for a vintage-style cocktail ring? Make a striking blue statement with this Silver Cubic Zirconia Cluster Ring. With a central synthetic sapphire, this cocktail ring will make you feel like royalty. A cluster design of cubic zirconia embellishes the central stone, and we love how this cocktail ring looks like it’s come straight from the cocktail party era of the 1920s. The sapphire-inspired stone is giving us all the deep hues and rich tones that are great for giving the appearance of a luxury cocktail ring, for a budget-friendly alternative to a sapphire and diamond combination.
18ct Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Ring - £3,950
This 18ct Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Ring showcases an enchanting pear-shaped emerald stone with a halo of stunning diamonds. An emerald cocktail ring that exudes timeless elegance and glamour, we love how the indulgent hues of the emerald and luxurious 18ct yellow gold create a truly radiant finish. It’s a perfect emerald cocktail ring for styling with your occasion wear or with other show-stopping emerald pieces.
“Styling cocktail rings like this, with a bold central stone and lots of sparkle, calls for delicate styles to complement it. Start your stack with this piece as a focal point on your main finger, and add other rings of smaller sizes alongside it, so this piece steals the show. Remember to keep your metals the same to avoid tarnishing, and ensure your cocktail ring is in perfect, sparkling condition.” - Debbie, Beaverbrooks Brand Ambassador.
How to clean your cocktail ring
When cleaning your cocktail ring, you need to consider the metal and stones in your ring. Different metals and gemstones require different care, and we know that your cocktail rings look their best when sparkling and clean. If your cocktail ring needs a deep clean, we always recommend bringing it into your nearest Beaverbrooks store and letting our experts take a look. But if you’re looking to show your rings a little TLC from home, follow our tips to keep your cocktail rings looking their best.
Gemstone and diamond cocktail rings: Diamonds and gemstones can encounter natural oils from your skin, water, moisturisers, and other liquids when worn as a cocktail ring. Although this may dull the appearance of your gemstone or diamond cocktail ring, it’s very easy to remove on hard gemstones. We recommend using a lint-free cloth to wipe away any marks, a gentle foam cleanser, or our on-the-go Diamond Dazzle Stik to give your diamonds the touch up they need. However, if your cocktail ring features a softer gemstone such as pearls, harsh cleansers can remove the stone’s layers, also known as nacre, so they only require a gentle cleanser or wipe to clean them.
Yellow gold cocktail rings: Gold is a very durable metal, and thanks to its natural qualities, it will not tarnish over time. When cleaning gold cocktail rings, we recommend using one of our gold cleaners, such as our Connoisseurs Jewellery Foam and Connoisseurs Gold Polishing Cloth. Or, we recommend mixing a mild detergent, such as baby shampoo, with water to work as a quick cleaning solution.
White gold cocktail rings: White gold cocktail rings need to be treated with special care, as although this high quality metal is durable and will not tarnish, white gold does have a rhodium plating that can wear off and needs to be re-plated over time. This plating ensures your white gold cocktail ring has a pristine white shine, but needs to be treated with care so that it is not removed whilst cleaning. Avoid using harsh cleansers, and treat with cleaning products specifically for white gold, such as our Connoisseurs Jewellery Beauty Wipes.
Silver cocktail rings: Silver cocktail rings will tarnish over time naturally, and this is when silver oxidises and turns a dark or black colour. The best way to combat this is by storing your silver jewellery in its original box or bag, and away from any liquids. To polish your silver jewellery, we recommend using a gentle foam cleanser, or our Connoisseurs Ultrasoft Silver Jewellery Polishing Cloth and Connoisseurs Silver Jewellery Cleaner.
For more advice and tips when it comes to cleaning and storing jewellery, visit our Jewellery Care Guide, our take a look at our How To Clean Gold Jewellery At Home and our How To Clean Silver Jewellery At Home guides.
If you love sparkling jewellery for special occasions (and always) discover our Sparkling Party Jewellery edit. Or, if you’re looking for more advice and inspiration when it comes to diamond rings, discover our Diamond Buying Guide.
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