Stacking or layering jewelry has been a hot trend for quite some time now and most advice you can find focuses on bracelets and necklaces but, earrings and rings can be stacked too. As with combining any various pieces of jewelry, ring stacking requires practice to get it right otherwise it can look like a cluttered mess.

It’s all about mastering the technique so that you can combine wedding bands and eternity bands with cocktail rings and fashion rings. You don’t want to give up wearing your diamond engagement ring to enable you to wear other ring styles you want to try. Creating an eye-catching ring stack incorporating different jewelry designs, different silver or gold rings, stackable rings, and different brands can be achieved if you follow some simple advice.

Here is our guide on how to achieve the perfect ring stack, whether it is for a special occasion or as part of your everyday look.

Choose A Focal Point For The Stack

One way to build the perfect ring stack is to choose a focal point for the overall look. If you are creating a bridal stack, for example, then it makes sense for your focal point to be an engagement ring with a nice shining center stone. You can also steal a march on creating a great look by choosing stacked wedding rings in the first place. However, focal points don’t always have to be bridal sets or showy gemstones if there is something else eye-catching about your ring like sparkling pavé diamonds.

No matter the kind of standout feature you are rocking, from an emerald cut diamond engagement ring in rose gold to a diamond and sapphire eternity ring, pick the one feature that stands out the most and then build the rest of the stack to complement it.

Types of diamond cuts that are ideal for making the focal point of any stack include marquise, baguette, and round diamond, with the great thing about a stack being that you can get away with smaller carat sizes without sacrificing impact.

Decide On A Theme

One option when putting together a ring stack is choosing a specific theme rather than a gemstone or ring feature focal point. Some stacks are chosen for a particular era like Art Deco or Victorian or are based around a particular design theme such as floral. You might choose a single metal like white gold or prefer a mix. The ideas are endless and there is a lot of versatility as you explore the history of jewelry design.

Deciding on a theme rather than selecting a particular focal point for your ring stack allows for greater flexibility in the potential for your overall aesthetic. This is particularly the case when you aren’t putting together a wedding ring set, but instead something for a different special occasion like a birthday or anniversary gift.

Themes don’t necessarily have to be related to a particular design style, they could also be more sentimental. For example, you could create a stack with different rings that all symbolize important milestones in your life. This is the kind of idea that can very easily include something like a solitaire engagement ring.

Opt For An Odd Number Of Rings

The number of rings in any given stack can determine the success of the style elements, as well as what suits your personal style. As a general rule in fashion (and other art forms such as interior design), odd numbers are considered to be more desirable and stylish than even numbers. When thinking about rings, you might think there is a fluid connection with the fact that we have an odd number of ring fingers in the first place! (The pinky is usually discounted as a ring finger!)

You are, of course, free to wear as many rings in your own personal stack as you wish, but most fashion experts would agree that 3 or 5 rings are ideal, depending on the size of each ring and also the practical amount of space that you have to play with between the base of your finger and your first knuckle.

Make Sure To Mix And Match

When you are browsing for rings to include in your stack, it is important to explore all of the brands and ranges that online and in-store jewelers have to offer. You should feel free to express yourself by choosing mixed metal diamond bands, the colors of gemstones, and the various geometric shapes you see in rings. You should consider the stack as artwork and your finger as the canvas.

Importantly though, metals, colors, and shapes are not the only features that you should be thinking about when it comes to the nature of mixing and matching. Don’t limit yourself to stacking bands. To add dimension to your stack, you can think about choosing rings with different widths, sizes, and levels of detail to create a unique combination.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the entire range of gemstone options. So many stones look fabulous alongside diamonds in band rings, is there even a stone that doesn’t look good with diamonds?

You should also think about matching your stack to other items of jewelry that you might wear with it like necklaces and earrings. It is important to create symmetry and fluidity in your style, from your left hand to your right ear and everything in between!

Take Your Time Curating The Perfect Stack

Creating the perfect ring stack isn’t a race against time. You can take as much time as you need to find and create the perfect set of complementary designs for your finger.

We think that the most beautiful ring stacks are the ones that have been curated over a long period, perhaps made up of jewelry that has been gifted to you over various special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, and everything else that families and friends tend to celebrate. The result of stacks that have been created over a long time is that you don’t only have a ring stack that is stunning to look at, but you also have a ring stack that is filled with special and precious memories that tell the story of a lifetime.

Try Variations Of Stack Ideas On In Store

If you are visiting a jewelry store looking for rings to build a stack with, don’t be shy in trying on everything and anything that takes your fancy behind the glass cases.

What looks good in a case might not look quite as you had hoped when you slip it on your finger. Even if one particular ring has been on your wishlist for a long time, you should not feel bad about changing your mind once you have seen it on your hand.

By trying rings on in person and together in a series of different combinations, you can assess the success of the design layering in real time.

This is also the opportunity for an experienced jewelry salesperson can answer any questions and offer advice.