Ways to Make Your Solitaire Unique

Aug 12

Oval diamond yellow gold solitaire in brown box

A solitaire may be classic, but that doesn’t mean it has to be ordinary. There are countless ways to add personality and detail to your ring while keeping the timeless aspect of a single center stone. Read on for a few ways to make your solitaire uniquely YOU!

Choose a Colored Center Stone
A sapphire, ruby, or another unexpected gemstone can give a classic solitaire an entirely different character.

Rachel’s solitaire holds a ruby given to her by her family. Taylor made hers completely her own with an opalite center and floral details along the shank. Heather repurposed the tanzanite trillion from her original ring into an east-west bezel setting.

Play With the Setting
A bezel, compass, gypsy, or tension setting can give a solitaire an entirely different character.

William’s sweetheart chose a unique satin-finished bezel, while Thomas added a bezel around his darling’s salt-and-pepper diamond. Karlie chose a tension setting, and Amanda fell in love with a custom-cut elongated baguette in a unique gypsy setting. Chris and Cierra chose a compass setting — positioning the prongs north, south, east, and west — to complement the curves of their elongated cushion.

Try an East-West Setting
Turn an elongated stone sideways for a modern, unexpected take on the traditional solitaire.

Kristen added milgrain to her radiant cut stone to add a vintage element to her east-west set ring. Lauryn designed a ring around a green baguette she already owned, giving her a beautiful way to wear and enjoy it every day. Anthony and Janelle added a double prong to their elongated east-west set oval solitaire.

East-West Set Milgrain Ring with Radiant Cut Diamond in yellow gold — Kristen’s Ring

Green Baguette East-West Solitaire — Lauryn’s Ring

East West Setting Elongated Oval Ring with double prongs in yellow gold — Anthony and Janelle’s Ring

Add Filigree
Filigree brings intricate, often vintage-inspired detail to a simple solitaire.

Stacey added a beautiful design of filigree to the split shank of her marquise solitaire. Seth and Abbie brought their filigree all the way around the shank, completed by a pear-shaped diamond. Will and Megan used subtle floral filigree in yellow gold to create beautiful contrast against their dark center stone.

Smokey Quartz Brown Diamond Pear ring with filigree down side in yellow gold — Will and Megan’s Ring

Customize the Gallery
The space beneath the center stone is a perfect place for hidden details—custom metalwork, a symbol, initials, or even a small surprise that only the wearer knows is there.

Rischelle added a handwritten “SR” beneath her emerald cut for her and her husband Shawn. Kylee and Gene placed a horse on one side of their gallery and a mountainscape on the other, creating a little reminder of their love story.

Emerald Cut Split Shank Wedding Ring with milgrain in yellow gold — Rischelle’s Ring Pt I

Underside of ring showing handwritten "SR" — Rischelle’s Ring Pt II

Horse and filigree in under gallery of ring in white gold — Kylee and Gene’s Ring Pt I

Make the Shank Stand Out
A twist band, split shank, or sculptural design can make the entire ring feel custom without taking attention away from the center stone.

Darren made his sweetheart’s solitaire unique with a split shank and rose cut stone. Luis added to his sweetheart’s ring by connecting a v-band design to make the pear stand out. Crystal recreated a design she had seen online, setting her marquise horizontally in a twist band.

Go Organic
An organic bezel, organically shaped shank, or even organic stone can give the ring a softer, more natural, handcrafted feel.

Mitch and his sweetheart embraced the character of a rough diamond, while Jim’s darling chose a larger natural cut green stone paired with a split shank. Lori created an organic bezel around her oval center stone, and Brenden & Morghan chose an offset partial bezel for their moss agate pear.

Grey Rough Diamond Solitaire in yellow gold — Mitch’s Ring

offsetOrganic partial bezel moss agate pear solitaire — Brenden and Morghan’s Ring

Add Gold Work
Decorative gold work around the ring can introduce texture, dimension, and a little extra artistry.

Richard chose an incredible design featuring an unheated natural blue sapphire. Matthew surrounded his sweetheart’s purple-heart-shaped amethyst with golden flowers, while Grant and Kaylee created geometric gold work for their band.

Engrave the Inside
Sometimes the most meaningful detail is the one no one else can see. A subtle engraving inside the band can commemorate a date, phrase, or personal sentiment.

Landon and his sweetheart shared their first kiss after seeing a shooting star, so they added the memory to the inside of their ring. Michelle added sweet sentiments to matching gypsy-set rings for her husband and son — which they designed to be passed through the generations.