Cocktail Rings: The Perfect Party Piece
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 festive party outfits with a timeless cocktail ring. One thing’s for sure, cocktail rings are a trend that’s here to stay.
Perfect for commemorating an anniversary milestone, a sparkling self-gift, or for the one who loves to stay on-trend, a cocktail ring will show them how much you know them, and be the Christmas gift that gets it just right.
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, an unforgettable Christmas gift, or are searching for statement sparkle, we’ve curated our cocktail ring 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. Also the perfect piece to style at weddings and special occasions, cocktail rings are 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. If you’re planning your Christmas party jewellery looks, the decadent tones of gemstone cocktail rings are a stunning way to stand out.
“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.
@debbielegrainger
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, as it will let your cocktail ring take centre stage.
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. It’s also a beautiful way to give them a Christmas gift that shows you know them so well.
“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 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.
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 are so many ways to wear a birthstone cocktail ring.
Discover more birthstones, their meanings, history and facts in our Guide To Birthstone Jewellery.
Our Favourite Cocktail Rings
Cocktail rings for a flash of colour
Take on the cocktail ring trend with diamonds with this Platinum Diamond Pink Sapphire Oval Cut Ring. Featuring a central pink sapphire adorned with hand-selected diamonds, 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 Christmas party statement - especially if you love pink as much as we do!
“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.
Showcasing August’s stunning birthstone, peridot, this 9ct Yellow Gold Peridot Ring is set in a rich backdrop of 9ct yellow gold, for lasting quality and shine. Guaranteed to make statement during the festive season and beyond, this cocktail ring marries beautiful warm hues for a luxurious glowing finish. Whether they have an August birthday or love to stand-out, be the best gift-giver this Christmas with a piece they’ll never forget.
Cocktail rings for the gold-lovers
A central citrine stone takes centre stage upon this 9ct Yellow Gold Diamond Citrine Ring, adorned with dazzling diamonds in a halo design. Blending the finest precious materials, wear this ring solo, or as the centrepiece of a stunning ring stack with your other cocktail rings. The show-stopping November’s birthstone takes centre stage, making it an unforgettable gift for the festive season.
From fine Italian jeweller brand Marco Bicego, this handcrafted Marco Bicego Lunaria Colour 18ct Yellow Gold and Charoite Ring is set in 18ct yellow gold, with an eye-catching charoite stone. An extra special gift for the one who knows luxury feels as good as it looks, this cocktail ring showcases Marco Bicego’s meticulous goldsmithing techniques, for stunning craftsmanship like no other.
Looking for the perfect timepiece to match your special occasion jewellery? Our Top Picks To Master The Cocktail Watch Trend blog is full of inspiration to help you find a chic watch for timeless styling.
Cocktail rings for a shining finish
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 9ct White Gold Diamond Aquamarine Ring, this piece has a vintage elegance that reminds us of the iconic retro cocktail rings of the 1920s. Adorned with round brilliant diamonds, this aquamarine cocktail ring is crafted in pristine 9ct white gold. A piece to treasure, this Christmas gift will make all the surprise planning so worth it.
If you’re looking for truly glamorous emerald cocktail rings, this 18ct White Gold Diamond Emerald Halo Ring is accentuated by hand-selected diamonds in a halo design and upon the 18ct white gold band. A lasting gift for the one who’s celebrating something extra special this year, the emerald stone is not only beautiful to style for Christmas and beyond, but it also makes a meaningful anniversary or birthstone gift.
If you love coloured stone rings, discover our Our Favourite Gemstone Engagement Rings And Jewellery blog.
Big cocktail rings that make a statement
Fancy cut diamonds always make a statement, and this Messika My Twin Toi & Moi 18ct White Gold Diamond Ring features two central stones, enhanced by a halo design of more mesmerising diamonds. Sure to be the centre of attention of your Christmas party looks, the 18ct white gold backdrop creates a truly radiant finish. If you’re looking to gift something show-stopping, this diamond cocktail ring is that one special Christmas gift they’ll always remember - and that it all started with you.
Start planning their Christmas gift, and find one that tops last year with this 9ct White Gold Diamond Amethyst Ring. Designed in stunning 9ct white gold with hand-selected diamonds, this cocktail ring lets February’s birthstone, amethyst, do all the talking - and it’s a piece they’ll cherish beyond the festive season. For the one with a February birthday, or the one who loves glamorous green hues, this cocktail ring will show you know them so well.
Fashion cocktail rings
Looking for retro cocktail rings? 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. With a sterling silver backdrop, it’s a versatile piece to wear throughout party season and beyond.
From fashion-forward Astley Clarke, this Astley Clarke Luna 18ct Yellow Gold Vermeil Green Chalcedony Ring is the ultimate gift for the one who loves designer elegance. 18ct yellow gold plated sterling silver makes a luxurious backdrop, with a striking pop of colour from the green stone, and added sparkle from the cubic zirconia embellishment. Pair it with other gold pieces for a perfectly co-ordinated Christmas party aesthetic.
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 Christmas 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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