Why are diamonds important?
With its brilliance, the diamond stands for light and life, but also for purity and innocence. The latter meaning therefore made it a popular engagement gift in the early modern era. Even though this association no longer plays a role today, people still associate diamonds with eternity and perfection. Therefore, most men ask for your sweetheart's hand in marriage with a diamond-studded ring. In addition, the diamond today is also seen as a sign of esteem and femininity. It could equally be seen as a lucky stone for a long marriage - after all, after 60 years of marriage you celebrate the "diamond wedding".
Most engagement rings have only a single diamond. If the diamond is held by a prong setting, these rings are called solitaire rings; if the diamond is set in the open ring band, it is called a tension ring. In size or weight, diamonds can vary greatly. The unit of measurement for diamonds is carat, where one carat is exactly 0.2 grams. Mostly the diamonds weigh between 0.05 and 1 carat, but even heavier diamonds are possible.
Of course, an engagement ring can also have several diamonds. In a so-called memoir ring, the ring band is continuous or at least the upper part is set with diamonds. Here, too, there are various options for setting the diamonds in the precious metal.
As a compromise between a solitaire ring and a memoir ring, it is also possible to have an engagement ring that has one large center-placed diamond and several smaller diamonds.
Diamonds of engagement rings are mostly white. Firstly, because white is the classic color of the bride, and secondly, because colored diamonds are extremely rare. But of course there are also engagement rings with colored stones, for example yellow diamonds. Other gemstones such as blue sapphires in combination with several smaller diamonds are also in demand because, after all, there is an old custom that the bride should wear something blue on her wedding day.
The shape of the diamond is determined by its cut, the most popular being the classic brilliant cut. Learn more about the different cuts in our diamond guide.
Very popular as an engagement ring is also the tension ring. Here, the diamond is held without a setting and appears to float freely between the ring band. How this miracle works: The ring rail of the tension ring has - as the name suggests - a very high tension, because it is not continuous, but is openwork. The diamond is clamped into this recess and receives additional support from notches in the ring rail. In this way, the diamond is freely visible from all sides, allowing it to unfold its greatest brilliance. Clamping rings have a timeless, minimalist character.
For those who prefer an unusual engagement ring with several diamonds, the so-called "inset setting" is a good choice. Here, precisely fitting recesses are made for the diamonds, which are held firmly in place by pressing the metal. One advantage of this setting is that the metal does not overlap the diamond at any point, but the diamonds still protrude slightly so that their brilliance can be fully developed. Set in settings look elegant and discreetly playful.
As the name suggests, in this setting the diamonds are in a channel enclosed by two precious metal bands. A special feature of this setting is that there is no metal between the individual diamonds, so the stones reflect each other and sparkle to the maximum. The channel can run both lengthwise and crosswise, or even in waves. For wedding rings or engagement rings, the channel setting with many smaller diamonds is often combined with a larger diamond. Channel settings are the right choice for combining maximum brilliance with harmonious design.
The beam setting could also be compared figuratively with railroad tracks. It is similar to the channel setting, but here metal strips set the individual diamonds apart. This allows the sides of the diamonds to remain visible, so they catch more light. This setting gives the ring a very modern, striking character.
Anyone who wants to give an all-around sparkling engagement ring should consider a pavé setting, because here the ring is "paved" with diamonds (pavé: French. paved.). And indeed, the many small gemstones that are set together here are reminiscent of mini pavé stones, held and separated from each other only by tiny gaps in the precious metal. Rings with pavé settings are often combined with other settings. On its own, this setting has a very luxurious look.
One of the most popular settings for engagement rings with a single diamond is the prong setting. Here, the diamond is held in place by three to six claws, or "claws" that are bent over the stone slightly for a secure hold. These claw ends can also be decorative in design, such as the claw setting with heart by Christian Bauer. A prong setting is the perfect setting when the main focus of the ring should be on the stone. It looks classic and playful at the same time.
