Solitaire Engagement Fine Diamond Rings
Whether you want a simple or ornate style, there is a range of solitaire engagement fine diamond rings to choose from.
If you'd like something that has never been worn, a brand new ring might be for you. Alternatively, if you'd prefer something with some history, a vintage style or professionally restored antique engagement ring could be an option.
Most pieces have a plain gold or platinum band with a single diamond or cluster featured. There are also diamond set bands with additional stone accents or 'shoulders' to accompany the main stone. A range of band sizes are available from G-Y UK size.
Diamond choice
When it comes to choosing a diamond, central stone shapes range from the popular round, princess and emerald diamond cuts, to less common pear and marquise styles.
Diamonds are graded by carats or points with quality and price increasing with upward scale. Colour and clarity grades are usually provided with clearest colour (colourless is the rarest), and greater clarity (absence of inclusions and blemishes) as indicators of value. Quality assurance is often indicated by independent lab certification, most commonly: GIA, HRD and IGI.
For a lower price, environmentally friendly option, there are Nano Simulated Carbon Diamonds (NSCDs) which are produced in the safety of a lab instead of naturally mined.
Band choice
There is a choice of white or yellow gold and platinum bands, with some featuring different metals for shank and setting.
Gold ranges in carat and weight, scaling upwards for quality, with those hallmarked guaranteeing authenticity and purity. Most rings are 9 to 18 carat gold.
When it comes to style, you may prefer the warm glow of a more traditional yellow gold ring or a more modern silvery-look white gold option. Yellow gold occurs naturally and is softer, whereas white gold has added palladium or silver to offer greater rigidity and is coated with rhodium to give it that white, luminous sheen. Because of the manufacturing process involved, white gold rings are usually a bit more expensive than yellow gold.
Alternatively, if you like a silver style and are looking for high durability and lower pricing, a platinum band might be for you. Platinum quality is measured by the percentage of purity, with most options featuring a PT950 stamp signifying that the ring is 95 per cent pure platinum.
Most ring options come in a velvet or leather box and with cleaning and polishing cloths.
