What Are Solitaire Engagement Rings?

There are certain things almost every woman dreams about when it comes to romantic relationships. A dashing man who treats her right and helps run the household would of course be at the top of many a bride’s list, but almost as important as these is often a shiny, sparkly diamond ring.

And when the topic is fairytale engagement rings, one specific kind is almost synonymous with it in most women’s minds: the kind with a large, sparkly stone topping it. This is the default image that most people, regardless of whether man or woman, have when they think of the expression ‘diamond ring’, and the one you will likely see representing this category in the most popular media.

What some people will probably not know is that this particular type of diamond ring has a name. Rings of this type are usually known as solitaire engagement rings. No, these jewels are not named after the popular card game but rather, the ‘solitaire’ designation comes from its lone-diamond topping.

In fact, the expression ‘solitaire engagement rings’ denotes any ring where the centrepiece is a single, large stone; a solitaire diamond. These are usually cut in a round brilliant shape for maximum visual impact, although the solitaires topping some rings may have other types of cuts. The princess, pear, cushion and radiant cuts, in particular, are popular alternatives to the round brilliant cut for this particular type of ring.

Nor does the term ‘solitaire setting’ refer to any specific type of support for the gem. Solitaire engagement rings can have any number of different settings supporting the stone, with the most popular ones being the perennial prong setting, the cathedral setting, the bezel setting and the tension setting. Each of these styles, while exuding a totally different final effect, highlights the stone in a manner befitting the solitaire setting, where the main objective is to make the gem look as big and impressive as possible. In addition, they offer brides and grooms shopping for solitaire engagement rings a bit more variety in their choice of visual appearance.

It is clear, then, that the term ‘solitaire setting’ does not refer to just one kind of diamond ring. While television, cinema and other forms of media may continue to sell the general public the ‘classic’ idea of what one of these rings should look like, couples shopping for a ring of their own will find that this category encompasses a number of variants, all of them stunning in their individuality, with at least one of them sure to please even the most demanding of brides.

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From solitaire engagement rings to princess cuts and engraved bands, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.