By Stephanie Audette

Long before Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly peered through the windows of a certain iconic jewelry store in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, girls dreamed about the perfect diamond engagement ring. Not unlike the classic film, some vintage styles are back and more popular than ever.

Diamond buyer for JB Hudson, Patrick Nelson, says he has seen a resurgence in the popularity of fancy shape diamonds, particularly oval. From princess to pear, fancy shape diamonds encompass all those stones cut in shapes other than the traditional round – and demand for them is growing.

“They’re no more expensive [than round cut],” says Nelson. “They’re just unique.”

In fact, fancy shape diamonds may be less expensive than their round counterparts. Due to the sparkle factor of the round cut, it remains the most requested shape, according to Jessica Gylsen of Wixon Jewelers. Contrary to any preconceived notions one may have about anything with the word “fancy” in the name, a bride can usually get more for her money when it comes to fancy shape diamonds.

Perhaps for economical reasons, or perhaps as a simple matter of taste, Gylsen has seen customers gravitate toward antique rings from the early 1900s. “Brides are starting to branch out now more than ever before and are venturing away from traditional styles.” Revived from another era, cushion and emerald cut diamonds echo that same vintage vibe.

The trend away from traditional engagement rings (the average colorless, round rock) doesn’t only refer to the shape. Jewelry stores are increasingly fielding requests for fancy colored diamonds. “A little burst of yellow is original and special,” says Gylsen. “It is refreshing and exciting to see so many new brides wearing outrageously beautiful yellow diamonds.”

Reports of celebrity engagement rings in a rainbow of colors and a spectrum of shapes have undoubtedly fueled this fire, and we’re not complaining. Any ring that manages to be one-of-kind and cost less money is alright in our book.