Solitaire Engagement Rings | 4 Key Aspects to Consider
This blog article aims to provide insights into designing a solitaire engagement ring.
My goal is to help readers gain a clearer understanding of the 4 key design elements that influence a solitaire ring's overall appeal.
Center stone (most important)
The claws and setting style
Ring and band profile
The metal
18ct yellow gold oval diamond solitaire ring, bezel set.
What is covered in this blog article | Solitaire ring design aspects
Choosing your center stone (most important)
Claws and prong style
Band profile and width
Metal options | 18ct yellow, rose gold, white gold, platinum
Solitaire ring FAQ’s
Three factors to consider when choosing your solitaire center stone | 1: Variety (colour), 2: Shape, 3: size
All attention is on your center stone which is why it is the most important factor in a solitaire engagement ring.
The best types of gemstones to use in an engagement ring are diamond and sapphire. If you are leaning towards a diamond, then you have the option to choose a white diamond, yellow diamond or champagne diamond.
There are also other rare options including blue and pink, these varieties are very expensive.
Diamond options | Natural or Lab:
The main difference between lab diamond and natural diamond is; Lab are man made and natural diamond is formed within the earth over billions of years.
Both natural and lab diamonds are available in white, yellow, champagne or konjac.
Article | Difference Between Lab and Natural Diamond
Sapphire varieties | A rainbow of colour options:
Sapphires are available in a whole spectrum of colour, from dark to light green, blue, purple, pink, peach, orange and yellow to mixtures of each.
Popular green sapphires are found in Australia and Sri Lanka.
Lighter blue sapphires are most commonly found in Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Yellow and orange sapphires are found around Australia, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Article| How to choose a sapphire | Tip’s from a Gemmologist
Choosing the shape of your solitaire center stone
The shape of a gemstone can be broken down into two aspect;
1 - The length: Elongated (long and skinny) or tabular (short and wide)
2 - The external edges: Rounded or square
Gemstone shapes from top left: Round-shape, Emerald-Cut, Oval, Cushion-Cut, Marquise, Pear
Elongated shapes include; Emerald-cut, oval, pear, elongated cushion-cut, marquise, radiant-cut.
Tabular shapes; Round, square-cushion, Asscher-cut, princess-cut (square)
Rounded shapes include: Round, oval, pear, marquise.
Square shapes include: Emerald-cut, asscher, radiant-cut, princess-cut
The outlier is a cushion cut which blends the line between square and rounded.
The shape of your chosen gemstone should suit your hand, generally speaking, long fingers suit longer stones and shorter fingers suit shorter gemstone shapes.
However the rules don’t always work that way, so it’s best to see in real life how the shape of a gem looks on your hand.
Gemstone size | Budget considerations
The size of your chosen gemstone will be dictated by your budget.
A good size starting point for the center stone in a solitaire engagement ring is 0.5cts. Any smaller than this and the ring will look very tiny.
The average size people aim for is 1ct for diamond and 1.5cts for sapphires.
Designing the claws | Consider setting size, style and placement
There are a handful of different claw styles to choose from, each giving a different overall look to your engagement ring as a whole. (See setting style image above).
The shape and colour of your chosen gemstone or diamond should also be considered when deciding on claw finishings.
Keep in mind that your claws are holding your gemstone in place, they need to be made thick enough to withstand everyday wear and tear.
Pointed Claws
Pointed claws give off a fine and delicate look.
Rounded Claws
Rounded claws give a classic soft finish.
Double claws
Double claws are a common addition to antique style rings. If you are looking for a vintage look, think about adding double claws to your solitaire ring.
V claws
V claws are best added to princess-cuts, pear-shaped and marquise-shaped gemstones, or any other gemstone or diamond that have pointed corners.
Bezel Setting
Bezel set styles have a sleek and modern finish, ideal for larger gemstones with added security.
Semi Bezel Settings
Semi bezel setting offer great gemstone security without covering too much of the stone.
The ring surface | Band profile and width
The profile of the band creates either a softer overall look or a sharper more defined look.
Fully rounded and half-round bands give a soft finish to a solitaire engagement ring. Rounded bands also make the ring look finer compared to a band that has a flat finish.
If you are after an antique, classic or soft look, a half round band will work best.
Flat bands are more sleek and generally suit square edged gemstone shapes best, like emerald-cuts. Flat band options tend to make the ring look more chunky and modern.
How thick or wide should an engagement ring be?
The width of an engagement ring should be no less than 1.8mm and can go upward from there depending on the look you are after.
The solitaire green sapphire engagement ring pictured above, has a band width of 4.5mm tapering down to 2.5mm at the back.
Wider rings offer a more modern look.
Metal options | 18ct yellow, rose gold, white gold or platinum
All engagement rings should be made with either platinum or gold no less than 18ct in purity.
18ct gold is 75% pure gold, the added 25% is a mixture of silver, copper and other metals.
These added metals make the gold stronger and workable, as pure gold is too soft.
A lower percentage of gold, for example 14ct or 9ct may tarnish and dis-colour over time which is why 18ct gold is the best to use.
What gold should I choose for an engagement ring?
18ct gold is available in yellow, rose and white. Generally choosing the same colour metal as the jewellery you or your partner already wear is a good start.
Otherwise matching the colour to your skin tone is ideal.
Yellow gold is the most classic type of metal to use in a solitaire engagement ring.
You can also make the setting in white gold or platinum to enhance the brightness of the center stone, this gives an elegant look to an engagement ring.
Solitaire diamond engagement ring made in platinum and 18ct rose gold featuring a princess-cut diamond with V claws.
Solitaire Engagement Ring FAQ’s
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A solitaire engagement ring is the most classic style, so yes, it is a good style for an engagement ring.
The quality of a solitaire engagement ring depends on the quality of the craftsmanship and the quality of the center stone.
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For $5000AUD you can expect to get up to a 0.50ct diamond made into an 18ct yellow gold ring.
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For $5000AUD you can get a solitaire 2ct+ lab diamond engagement ring made in platinum or 18ct gold.
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A 1ct diamond is equal to 0.20grams.
Carat is a form of weight measurement used when weighing diamonds and gemstones.
A round 1ct diamond should measure 6.4mm in diameter.
About the author: Lisa Clune is a qualified Jewellery Designer, Goldsmith, and Gemmologist. To learn more about her work and journey, visit her profile or read her latest interview.
Are you looking for a solitaire engagement ring? We are located on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, we also work remotely with interstate and international clientele. More info on our remote jewellery design service
For other enquiries, Contact us here
