If you’ve shopped for an engagement ring, chances are you’ve come across a solitaire ring. These designs are what most people picture when imagining an engagement ring: A simple band with a prominent diamond center stone. No side stones, no halo, simply a stunning representation of your love and commitment.

Keep reading to explore solitaire ring meanings and learn why you might choose a solitaire engagement ring.

What is a Solitaire Ring?

Solitaire engagement rings feature a single stone. They’re a beloved choice for their iconic appearance and simplicity. Solitaire rings are easy to clean compared to more complicated engagement ring designs, and easy to style with a variety of wedding bands.

Solitaire ring bands can be plain or adorned with smaller diamonds or engravings. The center stone is usually held in place by four or six prongs or encased in a bezel—a thin layer of metal that sets the stone in place. The classic solitaire center stone is a round brilliant cut diamond, but solitaire rings can feature any shape.

Diamonds are the most common choice for a center stone, but solitaire rings can also feature other precious gemstones. View our gemstone guide for more ideas.

What do Solitaire Rings Mean?

Solitaire rings are an instantly recognizable symbol of your engagement. With these iconic designs, nobody will be kept guessing about your relationship status. 

Solitaire rings have many meanings across cultures. However, most can agree that a single diamond represents love, commitment, purity, and strength. The simplicity of solitaire rings’ designs keeps the focus on what’s important—your relationship, represented by the single stone.

Solitaire rings are a symbolic choice to represent your love.

Why to Choose a Solitaire Ring

Timeless Design: Solitaire rings are a classic design that never goes out of style. If you’re searching for a classic piece that’s instantly recognizable as an engagement ring, look no further than the timeless elegance of solitaire settings.

Maximize Your Budget: Solitaire rings are a budget-friendly option. Side stones and intricate bands can drive up the price of your engagement ring. With solitaire rings, you can focus a larger amount of your budget on finding the right center stone. 

Easy to Style and Stack: Solitaire rings have a sleek style that’s easy to pair with other rings. Transform the look of your stone with a tracer band that adds diamond details around the stone, or keep it simple with classic gold bands or pavé diamond bands. Your ring stack doesn’t have to end at “I do”. Anniversaries and other major life events are the perfect occasions to add a new piece to your wedding ring stack. Get wedding band pairing ideas in our stacking guide. 

Great Starter Ring: Your first ring doesn’t have to be forever. Many couples start with a simple, classic solitaire ring, then upgrade at a later occasion. Another option is to propose with a solitaire ring, then have the stone reset into a more stylized setting after the engagement. If you’ve found the perfect stone but aren’t sure how to set it, or want to surprise your partner without their input, this route might be for you.

Alternatives to Solitaire Rings

Solitaire rings are just one of many engagement ring settings. If you’re considering other options, here’s an overview of our most popular ring styles outside of solitaire engagement rings.

Halo Engagement Rings: Halo engagement rings feature a ring of mini or micro diamonds set around the center stone. The halo adds sparkle and makes the center stone appear larger at a lower cost per total carat.

Side Stone Engagement Rings: Side stone engagement rings feature diamonds or other gemstones on the sides of the center stone. This setting can enhance the shape of the diamond or create interesting contrast. Side stone engagement rings are often symmetrical, but not always. 

Three Stone Engagement Rings: Three stone engagement rings are a sub-category of side stone engagement rings. These rings specifically feature two smaller side stones that frame the center stone, creating beautiful symmetry. They can be the same cut as the center stone or a different cut.

Toi et Moi Engagement Rings: True to the name, which means “you and me” in French, toi et moi rings feature two center stones. These stones are typically similar in size. Toi et moi engagement rings often feature a combination of two different diamond shapes, such as pear and emerald, but the stones can also be the same shape. Some toi et moi rings feature two diamonds, while others feature one diamond along with an alternative gemstone, such as garnet or sapphire.

Our Favorite Solitaire Engagement Rings

When shopping for a solitaire engagement ring, it’s all about the details. Subtle nuances and stylistic touches take these solitaire rings from expected to iconic, for a symbol of your love that’ll never go out of style.

Read on for some of our favorite solitaire engagement rings. Or dive into the full Sarah O. solitaire engagement ring collection.

The Maeve Pear Solitaire, $2,075

A stunning pear-shaped diamond takes center stage in the Maeve solitaire ring. The five-prong setting balances the pear shape in this minimalist design. Available in 14k yellow, white, or rose gold, with lab-grown or natural diamonds ranging from 1–3 carats.

The Maren Ring, $2,365

The Maren solitaire ring features a 1 ct marquise diamond set with six prongs with a high polish gold halo. It’s set flush to the finger, for a low profile that’s practical for daily wear. Available in 14k yellow, white, or rose gold.

The Esperanza Oval Double Prong Solitaire, $1,950

The classic oval solitaire ring gets a modern twist with the Esperanza ring. The double prong setting adds a subtle touch of visual interest. Available in 14k yellow, white, or rose gold, with lab-grown or natural diamonds ranging from 1–2 carats.

The Jenna Emerald Cut Ring, $2,700

The Jenna ring features an emerald cut diamond on a dazzling diamond pavé band for a seamless sparkle look. Available in 14k yellow, white, or rose gold, with lab-grown or natural diamonds ranging from 1–3 carats.

Engagement Ring Buying Tips

At Sarah O., we’re dedicated to making the engagement ring buying process as exciting and seamless as possible. Because planning to propose is nerve-wracking enough without the added stress of buying a ring. 

Here’s our top tips for making your engagement ring buying journey a breeze.

Learn Your Partner’s Engagement Ring Preferences

If you’re planning to surprise your partner with a ring, try to find out their ring preferences. Even if your partner wants to be totally surprised, it’s good to consider the basics, like ring size and metal color.

Some couples prefer to go ring shopping together, or even book a custom ring design appointment to create their dream ring. Every couple is different, so choose the level of involvement that feels right for you and your partner!

Decide Your Engagement Ring Budget

Your engagement ring budget will guide many decisions while ring shopping. It’ll determine whether you choose natural diamonds or lab-grown, total carat weight, ring setting, and more. Check out our engagement ring budget breakdown for more in-depth information.

Learn the 4 Cs

If you’re looking for a diamond ring, you need to know the 4 Cs—Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. This knowledge will help you work within your budget to find the right stone for you. Learn more about the 4 Cs in our diamond guide.

Choose a Jeweler

Your jeweler plays a large role in your engagement ring buying process. There are many options available, from small local jewelers to national chains and large online retailers.

A small jeweler can give you hands-on attention and help you find the best setting and stone for your solitaire engagement ring. They can even create a bespoke design, or source diamonds for you based on your exact 4 Cs preferences and budget.

Choosing Your Solitaire Engagement Ring

Purchasing an engagement ring is an important step in taking your relationship to the next level. Solitaire rings have a timeless, iconic design that instantly shows the world your unique love story. At Sarah O., we’re here to help you along your ring shopping journey, from consultation through engagement and beyond.

Get more engagement and jewelry tips on the Sarah O. blog.