At the 2025 Golden Globes, Zendaya wore a statement Bulgari necklace with a 31-carat oval paraiba tourmaline and matching earrings – but somehow, it was another piece of jewellery that got the world talking: a smaller diamond ring on her left ring finger. The next morning, outlets confirmed what the internet had been fervently speculating. Zendaya had gotten engaged to boyfriend Tom Holland.
More (reported) details soon followed: the proposal happened over the holidays, it was intimate, and London-based jeweller Jessica McCormack designed the ring itself. And it was a unique design – while recent engagement ring trends focused on vertical oval and marquise diamonds, Zendaya instead went for a bezel-set east-west diamond.
“When you think of a traditional solitaire engagement ring, elongated diamond shapes such as emerald or oval cuts will be set north-south, or vertically,” London jeweller Rachel Boston explains. “An east-west engagement ring features a stone that has been set horizontally, with its most elongated side set parallel to the ring band.” It’s traditionally a less popular choice, as the vertical settings elongate the finger and often create the optical illusion of a bigger gem in the process.
Yet, thanks to Zendaya, east-west diamonds are now getting their time to shine. “Zendaya’s engagement ring will definitely reignite the east-west trend,” gemologist Olivia Landau of The Clear Cut tells Vogue. McCormack, whose fans include Saoirse Ronan and Zoe Kravitz, is known in particular for the setting and is partially responsible for the resurgence: “The style is a hallmark setting of the celebrity-favourite jeweller,” says Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vogue’s jewellery director. “East-west settings were popular in the Art Deco era and were very hard to find in the modern market until the past five years or so.”
It’s also important to note that the east-west setting can be, well, a bit of a flex. Those who opt for it often do so because such a setting supports a large carat design. Zendaya’s is rumoured to be around five carats, whereas another east-west wearer, Kate Hudson, has a stone that’s estimated between six and eight carats. “For those seeking less traditional styles, east-west settings offer a fresh and modern approach to showcasing larger carat stones without feeling overly formal,” says Sarah Narici, the founder of the New York-based fine jewellery brand Dyne.
As for why the Challengers actor chose such a setting? Beverly Hills-based jeweller Martin Katz points out that, in an age where symmetrical round or north-south arrangements are the most common, east-west rings make the wearer stand out. No doubt that was an attractive quality for the fashion-forward Zendaya, who frequently wears daring, statement-making outfits with the help of her stylist Law Roach. “You should always find a stone that is going to be reflective of your personality,” says Katz. “East-west engagement rings are great options for the modern bride. By simply orienting stones east-west, the classic diamond cuts such as emerald cut oval, and marquise are given a fresh perspective.” A few months ago, Katz crafted an east-west engagement ring set with a 5-carat Moval diamond, as he (correctly) predicted the oft-overlooked style would come into the spotlight.
Inspired to put your own east-west ring on it? Landau offers the following advice: “Know that your diamond will cover most real estate from side to side on your finger. You will want to opt for an elongated shape like a marquise, oval, elongated cushion, or emerald cut so the east-west orientation is made distinct,” she says.