One center stone, a million emotions: all so endearing! Such is the craze of a Solitaire Engagement Ring for you. Being a timeless classic, this ring holds a special place in every woman’s heart. And deservingly so! After all, we’re talking of the ring that’d officially be binding you and the love of your life together forever. The ring she’d never want to take off, the ring that she’d never get bored gazing at.
Nearer the big day comes, the excitement grows a little extra, doesn’t it? But comes with it, a great deal of dilemma. What to and what not to look for in this solitaire ring? How to even decide from the incredibly huge pool of options? How to start the hunt for that perfect engagement ring? To end the dilemma once and for all, here we are with a whole guide covering everything under one umbrella, right from the definition of a solitaire engagement ring, tips to buy a variety of versatile options to choose from our popular solitaire engagement ring collection.
What is a Solitaire Engagement Ring?
First things first, let’s get to know the exact meaning of a solitaire engagement ring. Well, it is a ring that is crafted with one large center stone that captivates all the attention, with usually no side stones, a timeless design and a classic appeal.
Significance: Do you often find yourself questioning why this ring is practically like an emotion for couples? There’s got to be some deeper meaning behind! Well, a solitaire engagement ring, thanks to its single stone centric design, represents that you have found your ‘one and only’ and officially decided on a ‘happily ever after.’
History & Origin
While engagement rings officially came into being as early as 850 when Pope Nicholas I gave it a meaning, it was really in 1477 that the tradition to present your beloved with a solitaire diamond ring on engagement quite sparked. It has been recorded that Archduke of Maximilian of Austria proposed to his ladylove Mary of Burgundy with a diamond engagement ring and the rest is history.
Diamond Solitaire, on its own, came into being in the Ancient Roman times, when a trend of fashioning gold bands with single stone of Diamond, became popular. The trend for Solitaire Engagement Ring, thanks to their simple design, sparked the most during the 1940s.
Why Choose Solitaire Engagement Rings?
If you want to go with a timeless and versatile beauty, a Solitaire Engagement Ring will be perfect choice for you. All the attention will be drawn to the center stone. Whether you want a minimalist or a never to go out of style ring, a solitaire ring is a must have as it can be customized in different shape of stones, metal color and settings, according to your desires.
Solitaire engagement rings are the classic ones that can be styled alone or stack with other wedding rings for a modern look of today.
There are numerous styles of solitaire engagement ring such as low-profile, high-profile, or minimalist, and so on. Its a timeless choice that will be cherished forever!
These are the reasons why you should choose a solitaire engagement ring. It’s a classic engagement ring that will remain cool and trendy till eternity and beyond.
How to decide on a Solitaire Engagement Ring?
What to look for, what not to look for, how to be assured that it is perhaps ‘the one’, so on and so forth. A million questions might be popping into your mind before you pop the big question and hey, we’re here to narrow it all down to simpler steps:
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Quality: To decide on a ring that is going to be mark your ‘forever and beyond,’ you’d want to be assured that it is going to last a lifetime. For that, always go for the one with gemstone/diamond certified from a reputable laboratory, thus carrying a proof of authenticity.
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The 4 Cs: Cut, color, clarity and carat weight: the four Cs that dominate the appearance as well as the value of any ring.
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CUT
The cut of a stone determines how preciseness with which it has been faceted, proportioned and polished.
• Each stone cut has it’s own distinct style and sparkle.
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CLARITY
Clarity of the center stone in an engagement ring not only determines its visual appearance but also the durability.
• Always go for the one with less noticeable blemishes, fractures and impurities.
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COLOR
The Color of the center stone determines its appeal, sparkle in case of diamonds. While colorless to nearly colorless diamond is the most sought after choice for a solitaire diamond engagement ring
• Gemstones with more color saturation, tone and uniformity, captivate attention like no other in a gemstone engagement ring.
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CARAT WEIGHT
The term ‘carat’ refers to the weight of a gemstone, not the size of a gemstone.
• The average Carat Weight is 1 CT in the USA while in the UK, it comes down to 0.6 CT.
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Metal: Metal is a true game-changer. Always give a good amount of time deciding on the one that goes best with your ring and is hallmarked. Gold engagement rings, for that matter, are a timeless classic with some options in tones of gold being white, yellow and rose gold.
Popular Gemstone Cut in Solitaire Engagement Rings
When we’re talking of a Solitaire ring, there is no denying the fact that the shape does all the talking. The most popular cut in solitaire ring is a classic Round Cut Diamond. But, their are many other popular choices for you. Let’s take a look:
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Round: The classic round ring! These display most depth, brilliance and fire, with round cut diamond being cut with around 58 facets. A forever go-to indeed!
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Oval: If you love one of those large, elongated rings, this is just the cut for you since it possesses more surface area. It also does a good job at hiding blemishes, thanks to its unique faceting.
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Princess: Princess cut ring is a modern take on the typical square cut. Such is the versatility that when viewed from above, it appears to be a square shape while from a side view, an inverted pyramid, just as beautiful from any angle.
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Pear: A pear shape ring is a unique amalgamation of marquise and round cut. Perfectly elongated, it is precisely fashioned with a round shape on one end and a sharp tip on the other.
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Cushion: If you’re one of those vintage jewelry fanatics, a cushion cut engagement ring is just the one for you. Having round corners and resembling a pillow shape, this ring carries great brilliance and scintillation thanks to a larger table.
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Emerald: Having slightly cropped corners, an Emerald cut is an interesting take on rectangular cut. Possessing an elongated, angular shape, an emerald cut engagement ring indeed carries an unparalleled beauty.
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Baguette: Similar to an elongated rectangle, a baguette cut ring is one-of-a-kind. It possesses steep, angled corners, unlike any other and is the one if you love your jewelry refined and oblique.
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Heart: For the queen of your hearts! Just what you need to propose with if she is a romance fanatic, a heart shape engagement ring radiates love and carries extraordinary brilliance. Lady Gaga was proposed to with an alluring heart shape engagement ring too that further fueled the trend.
Pros and Cons of a Solitaire Setting
The solitaire engagement ring has the most classic engagement ring setting that makes it a versatile option forever. Here, are some of the advantages and disadvantages that you must keep in mind while buying a solitaire ring:
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| The Single Stone of ring will be the center of attraction. | It can snag on things like fabrics, furniture, and other materials due to it’s design. |
| The Solitaire Setting is less costly compared to other settings. | Some people feel that the style is too basic or boring. |
| Easy to clean and preserve for years. | Limited options of solitaire ring settings. |
| The minimalist and classic look of the setting makes it a versatile option for engagements. | It’s better to go for an expensive stone rather than a setting, as the stone will be the main focal point. |
| Goes well with other pieces of jewelry like wedding rings and so on. | A solitaire ring requires just a little more care. |
| Complements every shape and size of gemstone. | The center stone has less protection around it. |
How to wear it?
While it all boils down to your personal preference, wearing a ring so special carries its own set of beliefs and ways. Interestingly, ancient Romans believed that a vein from the left ring finger connects to the heart directly, known as the “love vein” which gave wearing an engagement ring on this finger a special meaning and sparked the trend.
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Flaunt it Solo: Never underestimate the power of a Solitaire ring when worn solo. Since special emphasis is put on the center stone to shine through, why not let it shine all solo?
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Stack n style: One of the most common styles of wearing it is by stacking it up with your wedding band. Brides often go for matching engagement ring and wedding band and wear the band just below the ring, because of the popular left ring finger belief. To compliment it with a more dramatic look, you could always wear it stacked with multiple bands.
How to Take Care of your Solitaire Engagement Ring
It’s essential to take care of your solitaire engagement ring to keep it elegant and sparkling for a prolonged period. Here, are some of the points that’ll help you to maintain your solitaire engagement ring :
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Remove your ring during hand-on activities
Don’t wear your engagement ring while engaging in activities like playing sports, swimming, gardening, or cleaning dishes with engagement ring. You might not want to but it’s necessary to take off your engagement ring to keep it safe and shiny for year to come.
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Keep your ring away from harsh chemicals
Remove your engagement ring when you directly come into contact of harsh chemicals like chlorine or any other harmful chemical as it can damage the color of metal or dull the sparkle of the stone.
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Keep your ring clean
It’s necessary to clean your ring several times in a year. The dirt or oil can basically dull it’s sparkle. It doesn’t make any point to wear a dirty ring, so clean your ring regularly by filling a bowl with lukewarm water and adding a few drops of mild dish-wash detergent. Soak your engagement ring for around half an hour in this mixture.
Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub your ring and rinse the ring thoroughly with freshwater and pat it dry with a lint free cloth.
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Safe storage
Store your engagement ring in a safe and clean ring box that’ll keep your jewelry maintain it’s beauty for a longer period of time. Plus, if you don’t wear your engagement ring regularly then you must have a safe spot, so that you have a habit of keeping your ring at a particular spot.
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Professional cleaning and maintenance
Of course! It’s important to take your ring to any professional jewelr at least once a year for proper cleaning and maintenance. As they have expertise in work and tools that can thoroughly clean your ring and can check whether the prongs are tight enough or any other repair that needs to be done.
PRO TIP : Don’t touch your diamond or any precious stone directly with your fingers as when you touch the stone, it leaves fingerprints or smudges that take away the stone’s shine over time.
FAQs:
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What is the most popular part of solitaire engagement rings?
It’s so simple, the most popular part of a solitaire engagement ring is the center stone of a ring, as all the eyes will be drawn to the singular beauty.
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What is the best gemstone cut for the solitaire rings?
The best gemstone cut for the solitaire rings is Round due to it’s precise cut and faceting arrangement that reflects light in a way which maximizes it’s brilliance. Also, it’s a best choice if you want to achieve a classic and timeless look.
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Is solitaire ring good for engagement?
Indeed! A solitaire ring is the most popular and classic choice for an engagement ring. Due to it’s elegant and sophisticated look, the focus is entirely on the center stone, and it’s a timeless piece of jewelry that will never go out of style.
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How many carats should a solitaire engagement ring be?
It’s totally a subjective choice that depends on the particular person’s preference, style, and budget. On an average, most people go for solitaire engagement ring ranging from 1 to 2 carats.
Final Thoughts
Solitaire Engagement Rings, being an emotion itself for couples, are something we can and shall never settle on. After all, it is a token of love that you would forever be cherishing.
Being well versed with that, we have come up with our very own guide that covers everything under one umbrella right from what this ring exactly is, the profound meaning it holds, how to take care of it and how you could actually go ahead and pick ‘the one’ for you.
Here, we sign off wishing you all the luck in picking a ring that celebrates your perfect happily ever after.
