Undoubtedly the classic diamond engagement ring style is the Solitaire Setting, which showcases a single diamond of (ideally) impressive color, cut, weight, and clarity. The band is most often white gold, yellow gold, or platinum.
- the classic Solitaire setting consists of prongs at the corners to give the stone the most exposure and light. The Knife Edge setting uses an angled shank to keep the height and much of the exposure while keeping the stone more secure and protected
- a Cathedral setting uses two bands on either side to offer more protection for the stone but slightly less exposure; the Contour setting has these bands extending smoothly from the ring to the stone for a slightly more graceful design.
- Bezel settings surround the entire underside of the diamond for the most protection and least exposure.
- creative and vintage settings often feature other designs that utilize the prongs and/or bands to create a unique combination of protection and beauty.
The engagement ring need not be a Solitaire, however; while a center stone is usually the focus, many engagement ring designs add additional stones in various configurations. The center stone is usually prong-set in such designs, though there are exceptions.
- the Three-Stone setting is a popular design, often described as symbolizing past, present, and future. You’ll very often see baguettes (smaller rectangular square-cut diamonds) as the accompanying stones, though it is also common to use smaller diamonds cut in a similar fashion to the center stone.
- The Eternity Ring is a popular choice which places stones uninterrupted around the entire ring. This can cause some difficulties with sizing and alterations, so popular alternatives include a section of metal on the palm-side of the band (i.e., a ‘half-eternity’ ring).
- other sidestone designs can be found that utilize stones other than diamonds for accent and color. Rubies and sapphires are by far the most common choice.
- the pavé technique is often used with sidestones, where the individual stones are set together with no metal showing in between them.
The engagement ring is very often matched with the wedding band, either as a specifically matched set (most common) or at least as a pleasant complimentary design.
