Why The ‘Toi Et Moi’ Ring Is Trending In 2022

While engagement rings are designed to last forever, this doesn’t make them immune to trends. Occasionally, an A-list celebrity with a sparkling left hand can influence an entire zeitgeist with seismic impact, such as the Princess of Wales, who sparked ‘the sapphire effect’ in 2010 – a trend that saw cluster-set sapphires soar for the next 10 years. Engagement-ring trends, however, certainly don’t move quickly. As we approach the festive period – a peak time for proposals – the top trending ring style is one that Megan Fox sparked at the very start of the year.

In January, Fox unveiled her ‘toi et moi’ ring: two sleek, pear-shape stones set upon a platinum band designed by Stephen Webster, comprising a diamond (the birthstone of her fiancé Machine Gun Kelly) and an emerald, her own birthstone. French for ‘you and me’, the ‘toi et moi’ style always features two stones that represent two lovers, often reaching around the finger to intertwine. Thanks to this romantic symbolism, the style has proved a popular choice of engagement ring for the rich and famous – in the past 10 years alone, Emily Ratajkowski, Ariana Grande, Kylie Jenner and Solange Knowles have all flaunted ‘toi et moi’ styles. This, however, is one engagement-ring trend that isn’t entirely reserved for brides-to-be: unlike a traditional diamond solitaire, a ‘toi et moi’ ring can just as easily be worn as a contemporary right-hand ring, or on the index, middle or fourth fingers without connotations of being betrothed.

“If not worn for bridal, I think a ‘toi et moi’ looks best worn on the index or middle finger,” says Pooja Gandhi, founder of Mumbai-based brand Kamyen. “It’s a design so effortless and chic that can easily be worn by women of all ages with different styles. They’re easy to wear for every day, too.” It’s hard to miss Kamyen’s neon pink design – perhaps the perfect accompaniment to this season’s hottest hue on ready-to-wear runways, crafted here in pink enamel, rose gold and diamonds.

Designer Emily P. Wheeler has similarly explored a zingy pink with her heart-shaped ‘toi et moi’ ring – a more literal exploration of the romanticism behind these designs. “Designing one with hearts seemed extra romantic to me, and so I created the ‘Elsa’ ring. The white enamel border is something I use in many of my designs – it’s a surprising touch that gives the piece a more modern feel,” says Wheeler. There is, according to the Los Angeles-based designer, somewhat of a formula for working out where to wear one, too. “I think they can be worn on any finger, even the pinky! For me, though, the scale of the ring determines where I will wear it. Smallest on the pinky, biggest on my pointer or middle finger.”

If you seek a ‘toi et moi’ style to serve as a cocktail ring, then they don’t come much more glamorous than Shay’s white topaz, pink sapphire and rose gold design. The combination of asymmetric pear-shape and marquise-shape stones feels especially cool and contemporary and is the perfect companion for minimalist eveningwear. “You can be so creative and enhance meaning and personality through the combination of gemstone cuts and colors,” says Tania Shayan, co-founder of Shay. “The deep meaning behind this style of ring doesn’t need to be reserved for special occasions, though; the modernization of this design in recent years has made it more wearable.” Shay designs ‘toi et moi’ styles to fit every size, including the pinky – the perfect excuse to buy one for every finger.