A diamond solitaire ring has always been a timeless classic for generations. Many women around the world prefer minimalist engagement rings, but not all of them know how to choose a diamond solitaire ring. Let’s see which are the most important factors to consider when shopping for one.
Choosing the Right Diamond
Colour
In case you want to save some money, it’s not worth to pay a premium for colourless round diamonds. In most cases, near-colourless stones graded H, I or J will look the same to the untrained eye.
However, if you are buying an emerald, Asscher or princess cut diamond, it makes sense to opt for G, H or I colour range as yellow tints are more visible in them.
Clarity
In case you don’t need a perfect stone, you may take a look at diamonds in VS (Very Slightly Included) or SI (Slightly Included) range since these stones will look eye clean from a normal viewing distance.
Round diamond solitaire engagement ring, Michael HillCut
The cut is extremely important as the way a diamond is cut effects on how it will reflect light and how much brilliance and sparkle it will show.
If you don’t want your diamond to look dull and lifeless skip the stones with “Fair” and “Poor” cut grades. For a solitaire ring, it’s important to have a diamond graded at least “Good”, and preferably “Very Good” or even better “Excellent”. After all, the cut is the deciding factor for how brilliant your diamond will look.
Choosing a Metal for a Diamond Solitaire Ring
The metal of your ring determines how quickly its parts will wear down.
Platinum is one of the most durable metals available, however, it is also among the most expensive. If you still prefer cool-tone metals but want to stay within your budget, white gold may be a good alternative.
In case you prefer warmer colour metal such as yellow or rose gold, be aware it is relatively softer and easier to wear out.
While choosing the metal you should also consider the diamond colour you opt for. Remember not to set a diamond with visible yellowish tints in a ring made of platinum or white gold, as the metal will highlight the yellow in the stone. In this case, yellow or rose gold will be a better option as it can mask the tints.
Round diamond solitaire engagement ring with accents, Michael Hill
Choosing a Setting for a Solitaire Ring
The prong and bezel settings are the most popular way to mount a diamond in a solitaire ring.
Prong setting leaves more of a diamond visible compared with the bezel. However, prongs are less safe and need to be checked for damages more often.
The bezel setting is safer, but the downside is that it covers more of the stone and makes it look a bit smaller.
Cover image credit: Michael Hill
