How do you find the right engagement ring style?
You chose the perfect diamond, now you need to choose the engagement ring style that will be a ring she will want to wear for many years to come.
There are so many types and styles to choose from, but you know her best.
What can you envision her wearing? What kind of jewelry does she wear already? What styles has she “liked” on social media? Has she told any of her family or friends what she likes?
I will guide you through questions like these and help you find or create that Perfect Ring that will make you the heroic Prince.
As Long Island’s expert when it comes to custom engagement rings, I love to help guide clients in choosing the best design options to create their dream engagement ring that will express their unique personality, hold up with their lifestyle and be a stunning piece that they’ll love and want to show off to all their friends!
So what are the different engagement ring styles? Let’s find out…
Engagement Ring Styles and Their Benefits:
Solitaire Engagement Ring
A solitaire ring has a single stone, generally a diamond or other center stone (like Lab-Grown Diamond, Moissanite or colored Gemstone), set in a basic setting (usually four or six prongs).
Benefits of the solitaire engagement ring:
- The most popular engagement ring settings due to Tiffany & Co’s timeless classic.
- Simple, graceful and timeless.
- Easily goes with every type of wedding band or wedding ring stack
- Available in a wide range of sizes and designs; thin & dainty, wide, split shank, with engraving, modern or vintage.
A solitaire style designed with a narrow band will enhance the appearance of a smaller diamond and complement little or thin fingers.
A solitaire with a thicker band gives more variety:
Thicker engagement ring styles:
- A split shank.
- Modern negative space design.
- Engrave designs or patterns.
- More options to setting the center diamond- prong, half-bezel, bezel, tension set..
You can compliment a solitaire ring with ring guards (or ring wraps) or stack wedding rings to frame the central diamond and make it appear larger.
Pavé Engagement Ring
To provide the appearance of a solid diamond surface, a pavé engagement ring is encrusted with very little diamonds all around the band.
Because pave-set diamonds are held in place by tiny beads or prongs, very little of the metal band shows through, giving the impression that the diamonds are free-standing, giving your engagement ring tons of sparkle.
Pave settings can go all the way around the band (full pave eternity band) or stop halfway around it (half pave band).
Micro pave rings are even more delicate and detailed than traditional pave. Because the stones are so small, they appear to merge together and create a spectacular display of fire.
Benefits of Pave engagement rings:
- Have become very popular.
- Give a lot of glittering sparkle for less money (smaller stones cost less than larger).
- Are more delicate since the bead prongs are very small.
- Shouldn’t be worn for active women that are hard on their hands.
Channel Set Engagement Ring
Channel setting means that small diamonds, usually round, princess or straight baguette, are inserted into a groove cut into each side on the mounting walls creating a channel.
The diamonds are held in place by a thin metal strip rather than prongs and sit side by side with no space in between each stone.
Benefits of Channel set engagement rings are:
- Sturdier than other styles because more metal is holding the diamonds.
- The channel walls are a great protection for the diamonds.
- Less likely to catch on clothing because the diamonds are flush with the band.
- Gives an ALL diamond look since there is no metal in between the stones.
- Great for active women.
- A classic look.
Engagement Ring with large side stones
Large side stone engagement ring settings, which typically consist of a main or center diamond flanked by two or more slightly smaller-sized side stones–either diamond or colored gemstones– to create a 3 stone or 5 stone engagement ring.
The center diamond is usually set slightly higher that the side diamonds and are prong set, basket set, or bezel set.
Benefits of Large Side stone engagement rings:
- Give the center stone a larger and brighter look.
- Has a more striking and beautiful overall appearance since the side stones are usually large too.
- Three stone and five stone rings are the most popular.
- Have a variety of options to set next to and enhance the center.
What are the typical side stone shapes that will go with my favorite center shape?
- Round Center: Round, Pear or Baguettes
- Radiant or Rectangular Cushion Center: Trillions
- Emerald Center: Emerald, Trapezoid or Baguettes
- Princess Center: Princess or baguettes
- Oval Center: Oval, Pear or Half Moon
Tension Set Engagement Ring
Tension set engagement rings are a type of modern engagement ring in which the diamond is held in place by the setting’s physical force rather than prongs.
Benefits of Tension set engagement rings
- The diamond appears to be floating in mid-air.
- Shows a lot of sparkle from the center diamond since more light enters the stone.
- Are among the most secure, as the entire band works to keep the diamond in place even tighter than prong settings.
- Round, princess, and emerald shapes are the most popular shapes for a tension set engagement ring
Halo Engagement Ring
The halo engagement ring is designed with a main gemstone surrounded by smaller, micro pave diamonds.
Benefits of Halo engagement rings
- Enhances the ring’s overall sparkle.
- Gives the center stone a larger appearance.
- Protects the center diamond with a single or double halo “buffer”.
- Most popular next to the solitaire.
- Enhances any shape center stone.
- You can customize by creating any shaped halo which can be different from the center shape, a hidden halo which can be seen from the side or use colored diamonds or gemstones to make the center really pop . The most popular is to set a round diamond with a cushion halo.
Vintage Engagement Ring
Vintage and antique-style engagement rings combine the beauty and intricate craftsmanship of vintage jewelry with the sturdiness and longevity of modern engagement ring design processes.
Benefits of Vintage-style engagement rings
- More unique since they are inspired by different eras.
- Usually have diamonds cut in current diamond shapes that optimize fire, brightness, and light reflection vs. an original vintage piece that has older, duller cut diamonds.
- Designed with more texture which makes it stand out from other designs.
- Design elements like scroll-work, millgraining, or open filigree give it a fancy, more royal look.
- Rings are usually wider (not as delicate) to highlight the beautiful detail work.
So which engagement ring style is perfect for her? Remember the questions I asked in the beginning? If the engagement ring is a total surprise, do some homework and try to answer those questions. Be a bit of a snoop and see what Pinterest or Instagram pictures she usually likes. If she knows, then either ask or work together to create the perfect engagement ring for this cherished event!
Did you know, you can also create engagement rings from old style or heirloom jewelry
And if you’re Looking to create a unique custom engagement ring that shows how special she is, I’d love to help.
It’s easy, just click the blue button below if you have any questions or need any help, I would love to chat with you!
If you have old jewelry, you can redesign it into your new custom piece! You can get some amazing Inspiration Ideas, Click the Button Below to get my Free Jewelry Redesign Inspiration Kit:
