The Rise of Vintage-Inspired Engagement Rings: Why Celebrities Are Choosing Old Mine & Cushion Cuts

If 2025 has proved anything, it’s that vintage-inspired engagement rings are having a serious moment. From Taylor Swift’s old mine cut diamond to Zendaya’s cushion cut ring, stars are gravitating towards antique diamonds that feel storied, romantic and one-of-a-kind.

And they’re not the only ones. According to Pinterest Trends, searches for “vintage style engagement rings” rose by 1,725% between January and August 2025, and by 86% across the year. “Timeless engagement rings” also climbed by 150%, peaking in August – the same week Taylor Swift confirmed her engagement on Instagram. These trends point to something far more than seasonal interest: a return to sentimental, meaningful design that prioritises individuality over uniformity.

This cultural moment coincides with subtle changes in the diamond market. Previously, Queensmith clients opted for lab grown diamonds around 80% of the time. Now, that split has moved closer to 70/30, with natural diamonds regaining ground.

The romantic allure of antique-inspired styles may be driving this shift. Some celebrities and couples are drawn to the rarity and provenance of a natural or antique diamond, a quietly powerful way to reflect personal values and sentiment. That said, lab grown cushion and old mine cuts offer a similar vintage aesthetic, making this look accessible to a wider audience.

The old mine cut is the ancestor of the modern cushion cut, dating back to the Georgian and Victorian eras. With a soft squarish shape, high crown and chunky facets, it emits a candlelit glow, rather than intense sparkle – a unique charm that’s only enhanced by the fact each stone is hand-cut and completely one of a kind.

Taylor Swift’s engagement ring, reported to feature an old mine cut diamond, perfectly illustrates this appeal. Instead of a highly engineered sparkle, her ring exudes character, warmth and individuality – qualities that make old mine cuts so sought-after today.

Pinterest searches for “old mine cut engagement ring” spiked 800% from January to August, and doubled overall in 2025, closely aligning with Taylor Swift’s engagement announcement. On Google, the same term saw a 900% increase in searches year-on-year. The timing and trajectory of this data suggests Taylor’s engagement ring design directly influenced search behaviour.

The aesthetic appeal is clear: her ring doesn’t dazzle with engineered brilliance, but radiates character, warmth and individuality. Similarly, Gabriella Brooks’s engagement ring from Liam Hemsworth is believed to feature a cushion-shaped old mine cut diamond in a yellow gold rubover setting, blending antique romance with a contemporary edge.

Learn more about this cut in our guide: Old Mine Cut Diamonds: The Ultimate Guide to Antique Brilliance.

The cushion cut evolved directly from the old mine cut, refining its soft, pillow-like shape while retaining much of its antique character. It’s a versatile cut: some are faceted for depth and vintage-style romance, while others are crafted for extra brilliance, appealing to those who want the best of both worlds.

In 2025, this diamond cut gained serious momentum, with Pinterest searches for “elongated cushion engagement ring” rising by 50%, and “cushion cut engagement rings” increasing by 40% across the year.

In 2025, this celebrity engagement ring trend has been impossible to ignore. Zendaya’s engagement ring from Tom Holland kicked off the antique-inspired trend at the start of the year: a mixed metal 5 carat cushion cut set in an east-west orientation.

More recently, musician Finneas proposed to Claudia Sulewski with a 5/6 carat antique cushion cut, and actress Zoey Deutch received a 4 carat cushion cut from comedian Jimmy Tatro.

Millie Bobby Brown’s engagement ring from Jake Bongiovi, meanwhile, was ahead of the curve back in 2023: a cushion-shaped halo on a scallop diamond band, reported to be a family heirloom and a true antique.

Miley's Cyrus' engagement ring reveal in early December added another famous to the cushion cut club. The ring features a 3.5ct elongated cushion cut diamond, set east-to-west in a chunky yellow gold bezel (rubover) setting. The look is bold, minimal and modern, yet deeply connected to vintage roots.

Miley's ring features multiple design trends that we're going to see a lot more of in 2026, as highlighted in our latest Engagement Ring Trends Report. Pinterest data backs up the growing interest in the details, for example, the search for “bezel engagement ring” was up by 186%, and "east-west engagement ring" interest rose by 80% across the year – signalling growing demand for design-led, distinctive styles.

Miley’s ring channels trending ‘quiet luxury’ energy, a aesthetic also embraced by stars like Zendaya and Dua Lipa, whose engagement rings lean into bold silhouettes and understated elegance.

What unites both old mine and cushion cuts is individuality. Where the round brilliant cuts are optimised for sparkle, antique-inspired cuts carry romance, quirks and a sense of history. In 2025, that’s exactly what couples and celebrities seem to be seeking, with “unique engagement ring” searches having grown by 60% across Pinterest in 2025.

The market shift from an 80/20 lab-to-natural split to 70/30 also hints at a renewed interest in rarity. Some couples see antique-style stones as a way of underlining provenance, while others prefer the accessibility of lab grown cushion cuts that recreate the same vintage aesthetic. Either way, there’s a clear move away from uniformity and towards personality and characterful charm – a trend that shows no sign of slowing down in 2026.

A vintage-inspired engagement ring doesn’t always mean old-fashioned. It means creating something distinctive, storied and personal – a ring designed not only for today, but for generations to come.

Whether you’re drawn to the chunkier, candlelit romance of an old mine cut or the adaptable elegance of a cushion cut engagement ring, our experts can guide you through every option – from cut and carat weight to metal and setting. Book an appointment in-store or online to explore diamonds and designs, and create a bespoke ring that’s uniquely yours.