Why the Solitaire Remains the Most Popular Engagement Ring
The solitaire diamond engagement ring has been the number one engagement ring style for over a century, and there's a reason it hasn't been dethroned. One diamond, one setting, all the attention on the stone. There's nothing to distract, nothing that competes, and nothing that dates the design. A solitaire from 1950 looks just as current as one made today. We sell more solitaire engagement rings than any other style, and customers choose them because they want the diamond to be the entire story.
The beauty of a solitaire is its simplicity. Every detail matters more when the design is this clean—the quality of the diamond, the precision of the setting, the proportions of the band. There's nowhere to hide a mediocre stone in a solitaire, which is why cut quality matters more here than in any other ring style. When you get it right, a solitaire engagement ring is the purest expression of what a diamond can do: catch light, create fire, and stop someone in their tracks. If you prefer more sparkle, explore our engagement rings with side stones or find a matching bridal set that includes a fitted wedding band.
Solitaire Engagement Ring Settings
The four-prong setting is the classic solitaire choice. Four metal claws hold the diamond at the corners, maximizing the amount of stone visible and letting light enter from every angle. It makes the diamond appear slightly larger and gives maximum brilliance. The six-prong setting (the Tiffany-style) adds two more contact points for extra security and gives the diamond a slightly more rounded silhouette from above. Six prongs cover a tiny bit more of the stone but the added security is worth it for active lifestyles.
A bezel setting wraps a thin rim of metal completely around the diamond's girdle. It's the most protective setting available and gives the ring a sleek, modern profile. Bezels are ideal for people who work with their hands or want a low-profile ring that won't catch on anything. Cathedral settings use arched metal supports that rise from the band to hold the diamond higher, creating an elegant profile from the side and allowing a wedding band to sit flush underneath. Tension settings use the pressure of the metal band itself to hold the diamond in place, creating the illusion that the stone floats between the two ends of the band—dramatic, modern, and a real conversation starter.
Choosing the Diamond for a Solitaire Engagement Ring
In a solitaire, the diamond is everything. There's no halo to add sparkle, no side stones to create visual width, and no ornate metalwork to draw the eye. The single stone has to deliver on its own. That's why we tell every solitaire customer the same thing: prioritize cut above all else. An excellent-cut diamond will sparkle, flash, and create fire in a way that makes it look bigger and more impressive than its carat weight suggests. A poorly cut diamond, regardless of size, will look dull and lifeless.
After cut, allocate your budget to carat weight—that's the second most visible factor in a solitaire. Color and clarity can be stepped down without a noticeable difference to the naked eye. A G or H color diamond looks white and bright in most settings. An SI1 clarity diamond is eye-clean, meaning you can't see inclusions without magnification. The money you save on color and clarity can go toward a larger stone or a better cut, both of which have more visual impact in a solitaire than the difference between a D and a G color or a VVS1 and an SI1 clarity. A diamond pendant in a matching metal makes a thoughtful companion gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good carat size for a solitaire engagement ring?
The most popular range we sell is 0.75 to 1.50 carats. A 1-carat solitaire is the benchmark most people aim for, and it makes a beautiful statement on the finger. But carat weight isn't the whole story—a well-cut 0.80-carat diamond can look as impressive as a poorly cut 1-carat stone because the brilliance and fire create visual size. We always recommend prioritizing cut quality and then going as large as your budget allows. Try on a few sizes in person if you can, because the way a diamond looks on the hand depends on finger size and proportions. A 1-carat stone looks different on a size 4 finger than on a size 7.
Four prongs or six prongs—which is better for a solitaire?
Four prongs show more of the diamond and let more light in, which means slightly more brilliance. Six prongs provide more security and make the diamond appear slightly rounder from above. For round diamonds, both work beautifully—it's really a personal preference. We lean toward six prongs for stones over 1 carat because the extra security is worth the tiny amount of diamond coverage. For fancy shapes like princess, oval, and pear, prong placement needs to protect the vulnerable points of the stone, so the number and position of prongs is dictated more by the shape than by preference.
What metal is best for a solitaire engagement ring?
White gold and platinum are the most popular for solitaires because the neutral metal color lets the diamond dominate. White gold is more affordable and lighter; platinum is denser, more durable, and naturally white without needing rhodium plating. Yellow gold creates a warmer, more classic look and can actually make slightly warm-colored diamonds (H, I, J) appear whiter by contrast. Rose gold is the modern, romantic choice. There's no wrong answer—the best metal is the one that matches her style and the other jewelry she wears most.
How much should I spend on a solitaire engagement ring?
Forget the old "two months' salary" rule—that was a marketing campaign, not financial advice. Spend what you're comfortable with. A beautiful solitaire engagement ring doesn't require going into debt. We help customers at every budget find a diamond that looks stunning in a solitaire setting. If budget is a consideration, focus your spending on cut quality and go slightly lower on color and clarity—the visual difference is minimal but the price difference is significant. A well-chosen 0.75-carat diamond with an excellent cut will make someone just as happy as a larger stone with inferior sparkle.
How do I care for a solitaire engagement ring?
Soak it in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently brush around and underneath the diamond with a soft toothbrush. The underside of the setting is where oils, lotion, and soap build up the most, and that buildup is the number one reason solitaires lose their sparkle. Rinse, pat dry, and it'll look brand new. Do this every couple of weeks. Have the ring professionally inspected twice a year so a jeweler can check the prongs—worn or bent prongs are the biggest risk to a solitaire because the entire ring depends on those few contact points holding the diamond. An ounce of prevention is worth a lot more than a lost diamond.