Solitaire Engagement Rings: One Diamond, Nothing to Hide Behind

One diamond, one band. That is the whole definition. A ring with a halo around the center, or small diamonds along the band, is not a solitaire even if the center stone is large. When you read a listing, compare the center weight with the total weight. If they match, it is a solitaire. If the total is higher, the extra weight is in side stones.

Example from our own house inventory: a pear ring with a 1.02 ct center and a 3.85 ct total carries most of its weight outside the center, so it is a halo or side-stone design, not a solitaire.

Pears and marquises need a V-prong at each point. Emerald and radiant cuts often use corner prongs. A bezel, a rim of metal around the stone, is the most protective option of all.

• Cathedral: the band rises in arches to the stone. Classic, sits higher.
• Low set: the stone sits close to the finger. Snags less, sits flush with a wedding band.
• Knife edge: the band comes to a ridge on top. Looks thinner and sharper.
• Band width: 1.8 to 2.0 mm makes the stone look bigger; 2.5 mm and up feels sturdier.

Every shape works, but some carry a solitaire better. Round gives the most sparkle and is the classic. Oval and pear look larger for their weight and make the finger look longer. Emerald cut is the boldest choice, because nothing distracts from its clean step facets, which is also why it needs a high clarity grade. Radiant gives sparkle in a rectangle. Our diamond shapes guide compares them all.

Our house rings are graded E color, VS1 clarity. In plain words: E is the second-whitest grade on GIA's D-to-Z color scale, so the diamond looks icy white even next to white paper. VS1 means the diamond has small inclusions that a trained grader finds with effort under 10x magnification; with the naked eye it looks clean.

With no halo to add sparkle, the center diamond does all the work. That makes cut the first grade to protect, then color, then clarity. For how carat weights look on the finger, see carat size on the hand.

Many of our house rings add side stones or a halo, and we label weights so you can tell. If you want a pure solitaire, ask in the showroom which rings in the case have matching center and total weights, or have one made through custom engagement rings: you choose the stone, shape and band, we design it and give you the exact price before anything is made, then we make and deliver it. Current lab rings with photos include Round Lab Diamond Ring 1.5 ct, 14K White Gold ($2,000) and Round Lab Diamond Ring 4.62 ct, 14K Yellow Gold ($2,800); ask us whether either is a single-stone setting before you decide.

A halo adds a ring of small diamonds that makes the center look up to a size larger, for less money than a bigger center stone. A solitaire puts every dollar into the center. If your partner loves clean, classic jewelry, choose the solitaire; if she loves sparkle and size, a halo stretches the budget further. Many couples land on a solitaire with a slightly larger lab-grown center, which gives both.

Solitaires are the easiest rings to resize in general, but resizing is not part of our published policies and all sales are final, so get the size right first. Ask about the grading paperwork for the exact stone. Compare settings in person at 7900 NW 27th Ave, Unit 506, Miami; call 954-504-5640 first. More reading: engagement ring buying guide, lab ring guide, lab engagement rings and all rings.