Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring Types

The term “solitaire engagement ring” describes practically any style of engagement ring that contains only a center stone and no accent stones of any kind, like the ones you might see in a three-stone ring. There are various types and settings available for solitaire rings. The traditional solitaire-style engagement ring is without a doubt the most popular style of diamond engagement ring due to the timelessness of its design. 

The Types of Solitaire Diamond Engagement Rings

6 Prong Engagement Rings

A six prong solitaire style engagement ring is often referred to as a classic or traditional solitaire. In this style, six prongs secure the diamond, which many believe enhances the round appearance of the stone.

Take a look at the Legera Six Prong and the Six Prong Twist Solitaire for more examples!

4 Prong Engagement Rings

For those who prefer a more square shape for their diamond with minimal metal coverage, a four-prong solitaire might be the way to go. One traditional example is the Four-Prong Round Solitaire, designed specifically for round diamonds.

You can also choose from a variety of metals to accommodate round brilliant or fancy-shaped diamonds of practically any carat weight. 

The Four Prong Princess Solitaire is a stunning example of a setting for diamonds up to 2 cts.

The Classic Style Half-Round Solitaire

The classic style half-round solitaire is a variation of the traditional six-prong solitaire. It features a more elegant prong structure that gives the ring a little more flair. The ring shank is flat on the inside and rounded on the outside. 

The ring is also available with a knife-edge style shank, which has an outer edge that extends out to a point. 

Every variation of this classic style solitaire is available in different metals, including 18k white gold, 18k yellow gold, and platinum, to fit a variety of stone sizes.

Tension-Set Engagement Rings

Another style that can suit a solitaire diamond is a tension-set engagement ring. In this case, two metal pieces suspend the diamond above the band. 

These are stunning, but this setting presents certain challenges. For example, striking the perfect balance of heating and cooling the metal is necessary to create just the right amount of tension to support a diamond in mid-air.

With that in mind, not just anyone should design or maintain your tension set ring. Very few jewelers know the right way to clean and polish one, which means you risk having your ring damaged in inexperienced hands.

If you want this look without as much worry, the Spiral of Love ring gives you a faux tension set ring that’s just as beautiful. 

For a traditional tension setting, we are proud to offer tension-set diamond engagement rings by Stephen Kretchmer Designs. As one of the first designers of tension set rings, Tension-Set™ jewelry by Steven Kretchmer is the only tension setting with U.S. patents. 

Bezel Set Solitaire Style Engagement Ring

Bezel-set solitaire-style engagement rings are another popular option, especially for people who work in the medical field or need to wear gloves for their work. That’s because the prongs that traditionally hold a diamond can tear the gloves throughout the day. 

One example is the full bezel set diamond, in which the metal holding the diamond in place goes all the way around the girdle edge of the diamond. But, there are several ways to bezel set a diamond. 

It is possible to set the stone in a half-bezel solitaire, which covers only half the outer edge of the stone. This leaves half the girdle edge exposed and creates an interesting design line.

Fancy Solitaire Style Engagement Rings

Fancy diamond solitaire engagement rings are named because they use fancy diamonds instead of traditional round diamond shapes. However, they are still considered solitaire-style engagement rings because they are set with a single center stone. 

One of our favorite options is our Certified Preset Lab Grown 2.25ct Emerald Diamond Solitaire Ring. It features a single, stunning F+ VS+ LAB Diamond on an 18k white gold or 18k yellow gold band.

Compass Settings

Rather than the traditional square orientation in a four-prong setting, a compass setting aligns the prongs with the cardinal points of a compass (north, south, east, west). Some find this setting makes the diamond appear larger and more prominent.

A compass setting can add a slightly unique and modern twist to your engagement ring. One thing to keep in mind if you choose this diamond setting is that the prongs can get in the way of your wedding band, and your rings might not be able to sit flush against one another.

Cathedral Settings

Cathedral solitaire-style engagement rings offer diamond buyers another variation of the solitaire. The cathedral setting incorporates an A-frame structure into the ring shank, so the outer edges of the ring rise up on two sides of the center stone. 

The added height from this setting might make your diamond look bigger. However, cathedral settings can be less secure in some cases. 

We offer cathedral set rings in a variety of metals, including 14k rose gold, which is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Rose gold engagement rings look amazing with diamonds of all colors but look especially good with warmer hues thanks to their softer, warmer appearance. 

Rose gold also looks amazing with a variety of colored gems, especially with deep pink, red, and purple undertones of rubies, garnets, and topaz. 

There is a trend worth mentioning that bends the rules of what constitutes a “solitaire-style engagement ring.” This is the practice of setting a “secret stone,” tucked away under the prong structure of the ring, like in our Ashleigh Cathedral Solitaire.

In this instance, the accent diamonds are not readily visible, so most people within the industry still consider this a solitaire setting with an elegant twist. We’ve noticed that many of our clients really like the concept of a hidden surprise stone, which makes the Ashleigh Cathedral an excellent choice! 

Basket Settings

This style incorporates traditional prongs that extend from the band as well as horizontal bands that wrap around the prongs to connect them. Essentially, it forms a basket to hold the gemstone. 

This setting can be very secure but is also more prone to trapping dirt and debris, so you may need to clean your engagement ring more often. 

Bypass Settings

A bypass setting wraps around the sides of a diamond with a twisting band rather than continuing in a straight line like a traditional wedding band. The twisted setting is meant to represent infinity and the embrace of two lovers.

This option is popular among people who want a more unique, eye-catching design. 

Brian Gavin Diamond’s “Julia” is a bypass half-bezel engagement ring with a high polish on one side and 35 diamond melee (0.16 ctw) on the other side. 

Customize Your Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring with Brian Gavin Diamonds

In this article, we've explored various solitaire-style engagement rings, including traditional four- and six-prong settings, bezel-set solitaires, cathedral settings, compass settings, and fancy solitaires.

Existing within each of these categories are countless variations of ring styles with the solitaire design. 

Be sure to check out the numerous options of Solitaire Engagement Rings from Brian Gavin Diamonds on our website. If you have a specific vision in mind, explore our custom engagement ring design services to turn your dream ring into reality. At the Brian Gavin Workbench, you can create custom engagement rings that look even more beautiful than what you imagined. 

Discover BGD Diamonds for Your Solitaire Ring

Whether you want a classic round shape or a fancy shape with a unique band, prong arrangement, or other detail, we’ll help you create something magical. We offer laboratory-grown diamonds and natural diamonds making sure there is something that matches your taste.

Learn more about the custom ring design process, or contact us today with your questions. 

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