What Does Solitaire Mean?
Solitaire means alone, single, or by itself. In the jewelry world, this ubiquitous term refers to rings set with a single diamond or gemstone.
Additionally, the term applies to earrings and pendants that only have a single stone. Most people associate a solitaire diamond with the classic and most popular
Making it a little confusing for some is the alternative Solitaire definition that refers to a card game played by one’s self that dates back to the mid 1700’s. We are not
talking about a game you can play on your phone or Ipad!
Many of our customers who are new to buying jewelry ask which solitaire styles are the most popular style for brides to be. For decades, the ever present Tiffany
Engagement Ring has been the standard go to for those wanting a solitaire engagement ring. It is a simple, timeless, and elegant ring setting, so it is no wonder why it is so
popular. Historically, these rings have had a natural diamond as the focus of the ring. However, lab diamonds, moissanite, and colored gemstones have become
increasingly popular as younger buyers eschew natural diamonds. These buyers prefer lab diamonds over natural because of environmental and social issues.
Another reason lab diamonds have become popular is the price. Buyers can achieve the impact of a 2 or 3 carat at a fraction of the cost of a natural diamond.
The Most Popular Engagement Ring Style
This is a 6 prong Tiffany style solitaire engagement ring. 4 prong settings are also very common on smaller stones as they show more of the stone than a 6 prong setting. Click on the image to see more pictures.
To be sure, Tiffany revolutionized the jewelry world with the creation of this type of setting. They also made Platinum engagement ring popular despite toe added cost. Set
with a single diamond, a Platinum solitaire provides the most secure setting for your center stone. It provides more strength to hold a diamond than a gold ring does,
which is a major selling point to those wanting more expensive center stones.
When most think of a Tiffany style solitaire engagement ring, they think of a ring with a round diamond. However, these rings can be made with any shape stone. After
the round brilliant cut, the square Princess cut is the second most popular diamond cut for solitaire rings.
Popular Diamond Shapes
Round – The round brilliant cut is the most common round diamond cut. This design is what people imaging when asked what an engagement ring looks like.
Princess – Square princess cut . The second most popular cut, the square Princess cut was created in 1979 and features over 70 facets, which is more than the 53 and round
brilliant cut has.
Emerald-Cut – Rectangular step-cut . Emerald cuts are not faceted like a round brilliant or princess and are cut for fire rather than brilliance. Because of this, these stones
need to have a higher clarity and better polish than the brilliant or princess cuts.
Oval – Similar to the round but typically 1.5 times longer. Oval cuts do not have the demand that a round does, so prices are lower, making them an excellent option for those on a budget.
Marquise – These are shaped like a canoe and have pointed ends. Not as popular as they once were 30 years ago, marquise cuts have an elongated shape that lends itself to
certain design styles.
Heart – These are harder to find and can demand a premium in terms of price. They are also a more specialized cut that does not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, they
are still popular with some.
Here is a princess cut solitaire engagement ring. However, we have played with the shank here. Instead of the solid band, we have split the shank into two pieces and crossed them over each other. Click the image to see more pictures.
What Makes The Solitaire Diamond Ring So Popular?
On top of Tiffany creating their revolutionary new solitaire setting, DeBeers was also responsible for the popularity of the setting, creating one of the most popular and effective advertising crusades ever seen in the jewelry industry.
DeBeers was looking for a way to cement the diamond engagement ring as a necessity for newlyweds after WWII. The United States was booming and couples had more
money to spend on things like diamond rings. With a stroke of genius, the phrase “Diamonds are Forever” was created as a way to market diamonds rings. Consequently,
the solitaire diamond engagement ring and diamonds in general because highly fashionable. And with philanthropy in mind, DeBeers even created the idea that 3 months
salary was the proper amount to spend on a diamond engagement ring. They even created the idea of the man proposing on one knee, which because the de facto standard
way to propose. As a result, the solitaire ring became an iconic symbol of romance.