Solitaire Engagement Ring

A solitaire engagement ring features one centre stone mounted on a band with no additional accent stones. The word "solitaire" comes from the French word meaning "alone" or "solitary." The beauty of the solitaire is in its simplicity. Without side stones or halos competing for attention, every facet of the centre diamond is on full display. This makes the quality of the stone paramount — there is nothing to distract from it. Solitaires work with every diamond shape, from round brilliant to emerald cut, and can be set in a variety of prong configurations (four-prong, six-prong, bezel, or cathedral).

The solitaire engagement ring as we know it was born in 1886 when Tiffany & Co. introduced the "Tiffany Setting," a six-prong design that lifted the diamond above the band to maximise light entry. Before this, diamonds were typically set into the band in closed-back (bezel) settings that limited their brilliance. The Tiffany Setting revolutionised engagement ring design and established the solitaire as the definitive engagement ring style. Over a century later, the solitaire remains the most requested engagement ring design worldwide.

The solitaire suits people who appreciate timeless elegance and understated luxury. It is ideal for those who want the diamond to be the star and prefer a ring that will never look dated. The solitaire is also the most versatile style for pairing with wedding bands, as its clean lines complement virtually any band design.

While the classic solitaire has a plain band, popular variations include knife-edge bands (a subtle V-shaped profile that catches light), tapered bands (wider at the shoulders), twisted or rope-style bands, and solitaires with hidden details like a hidden halo beneath the centre stone or a diamond-set gallery. These variations add personality while maintaining the single-stone focus that defines the solitaire.

A solitaire's simplicity makes it incredibly easy to stack. Pair it with a matching plain band for a cohesive, classic look, or add a diamond eternity band for extra sparkle. Two bands flanking the solitaire (a ring stack) is a popular contemporary approach. The band width should complement the centre stone — a thin 1.5-2mm band makes smaller stones appear larger, while a slightly wider band (2.5mm+) provides more visual balance with larger stones.

Because the solitaire has no accent stones, virtually your entire budget goes into the centre diamond, which means you can often afford a larger or higher-quality stone compared to more elaborate styles at the same price point. Lab-grown diamonds and moissanite make larger solitaires accessible at significantly lower price points. A well-cut 1.5-carat lab-grown diamond solitaire can deliver the same visual impact as a much more expensive natural diamond.