The Daily Diamonds Guide to Engagement Ring Styles
Share
Choosing an engagement ring is one of the most personal purchases most people will ever make. The style you choose will be worn every single day — it needs to feel right for the person wearing it, not just beautiful in a photograph.
This guide covers the most popular engagement ring styles, who they tend to suit, and what to consider before you decide.
Solitaire
The solitaire is the most classic engagement ring of all — a single stone, centre stage, with nothing to distract from it.
Its enduring appeal lies in its simplicity. A well-chosen stone in a well-made solitaire setting is as elegant in fifty years as it is today. It works with virtually any personal style, which is part of why it's been the most popular engagement ring choice for generations.
The solitaire is particularly well suited to anyone with a minimal, clean aesthetic — someone who wears jewellery that's considered rather than conspicuous.
At Daily Diamonds, we make round, oval, and pear solitaires, and can create a custom solitaire in any stone shape.
Pavé and micro-pavé
A pavé band features small diamonds set closely together along the band itself, creating a continuous line of sparkle around the finger. Micro-pavé uses even smaller stones for a finer, more delicate effect.
Pavé works beautifully as a standalone engagement ring or as the foundation for a more elaborate design. It adds light and movement to a piece without competing with the centre stone.
This style suits someone who loves detail — who notices the craftsmanship in a piece and appreciates it.
Halo
A halo setting surrounds the centre stone with a ring of smaller diamonds, which makes the centre stone appear larger and creates a striking, brilliant effect.
Halos are particularly popular with oval and pear-shaped centre stones, where they accentuate the elongated shape beautifully. They photograph extraordinarily well, which has contributed to their popularity in the age of social media.
This style is for someone who loves a bold, eye-catching ring — one that announces itself.
Three stone
A three-stone ring features a centre stone flanked by two smaller stones on either side. Traditionally, the three stones represent the past, present, and future of a relationship — which makes this style particularly meaningful as an engagement ring.
Three-stone rings work well with a mix of stone shapes — an oval centre with pear sides, for example, creates a distinctive silhouette that's become increasingly sought after.
East-west settings
Rather than sitting upright in a traditional orientation, an east-west ring positions the stone horizontally across the finger. It's a more contemporary, architectural look — unexpected and distinctive.
This style suits someone who wants something different — who appreciates design for its own sake and isn't drawn to the conventional.
How to choose
The most important question isn't which style is most popular — it's which style the person wearing it will still love in ten, twenty, thirty years.
Think about the jewellery they already wear. Classic and understated? Layered and expressive? Statement pieces or quiet ones? Their existing jewellery tells you almost everything you need to know about the ring they'll love forever.
If you're still unsure, we're always here to help. Reach out to Annabel or Isabella with a few images of jewellery they love — we'll take it from there.
Daily Diamonds creates bespoke engagement rings and fine jewellery, made to order in our Sydney workshop. We ship to New Zealand, Australia, and beyond.