What's Her Ring Style?

For most women, the style of the ring itself is just as important as the diamond it holds. There are hundreds of styles available and most come in both gold and platinum, but there's no need to feel overwhelmed! Work with an expert to help you find the ring that will make her happy for years to come, at a budget that works for you too. Here is a brief introduction to the major ring styles to help you on your way:

Classic Styles

Classic ring styles are simple and timeless. The most popular classic styles include the solitaire, three-stone, and rings with diamonds along the shoulder. These rings tend to be the most durable since they can have heavy prongs and they tend to cost less than the other styles because they feature fewer diamonds. Classic rings start at under $400 in gold and $600 in platinum, plus the price of the center stone diamond. They will stay in fashion year in and year out, so if she’s a woman with classic, elegant yet simple taste, this might be the right category for you. Here are just a few classic styles to get you started:

Classic Four Prong Setting Starting at $395	Classic Six Prong Setting Starting at $395	Classic Four Prong Setting Starting at $395	Semi Bezel Setting Starting at $1,240
Princess Cut Solitaire Starting at $395	Princess Cut Solitaire Starting at $395	Tapered Cathedral Princess Cut Solitaire Starting at $750	Three Stone Round Trellis Setting Starting at $1,250 (incl. side stones)
Three Stone with Half Moon Sides Starting at $2,500	Princess Cut Three Stone with Pear Shape Sides Starting at $1,250	Tapered Baguette with Round Center Starting at $1,250	Three Stone with Princess Cut Sides Starting at $2,500

Diamond Accent Styles

These rings are similar to classic, yet have a little bit more diamond design for more sparkle and a more individual statement. These are great for women who appreciate the finer details and are somewhere between being understated and flashy. The prices tend to be slightly higher than classic styles because of the additional diamonds, yet they stay well below the diamond intensive pieces featured below.

Petite Pave Setting Starting at $1,525	Petite Pave Setting Starting at $1,525	Sapphire & Diamond Setting Starting at $1,250	Princess Cut Channel Set Mounting Starting at $1,850
Cathedral Pave Setting Starting at $1,250	Three Row Diamond Setting Starting at $5,000	Three Sided Pave Setting Starting at $2,550	Shared Prong Setting Starting at $1,500

Diamond Halo Styles

Diamond halo rings have a ring of smaller diamonds around the center diamond, which gives the illusion of a larger diamond ring. They have become incredibly popular over the past five years and continue to grow in demand. Halos can be built around any shaped diamond including rounds, square princesses and cushion shaped diamonds. We love halo styles for their delicate design and because hey offer a great value for the look of the ring. However, please be aware that they are not as sturdy as other classic styles and you will have a higher chance of losing small stones and needing maintenance over the long haul.

Oval Halo Setting Starting at $2,500	Micro Pave Halo with Milgrain Setting Starting at $2,500	V-Band Halo Setting Starting at $2,240	Hexagon Halo Setting Starting at $3,040
Round Halo Setting Starting at $1,600	V-Band Halo Setting Starting at $1,100	Split Shank Halo Setting Starting at $2,170	Square Halo Setting Starting at $2,500
Cushion Cut Halo Setting Starting at $1,970	Cushion Cut Halo Setting Starting at $2,000	Marquise Cut Halo Setting Starting at $3,000	Emerald Cut Halo Starting at $1,600

Diamond Intensive Styles

For some women, you can never have enough diamonds. They want diamonds all over the ring and believe in making a statement. That’s where diamond intensive styles come into play. They include heavily decorated halo rings, rings with rows of channel set, prong set or even pave set diamonds (derived from the French word meaning pavement, so picture a flat, diamond encrusted path). The prices of diamond intensive styles can vary, but expect them to be anywhere from a little more to a lot more than the other ring styles described here. Here are just a few intense pieces:

Double French-Set Mounting Starting at $3,450	Double French-Set Mounting Starting at $3,450	U-Set and Prong Set Split Shank Mounting Starting at $6,500	Pave Three Row Setting Starting at $6,000
Three Row Cathedral Setting Starting at $6,500	Graduating Channel Setting Starting at $7,000	Graduating Princess Channel Setting Starting at 7,725	Three Sided Halo Setting Starting at $3,550

Vintage Styles

You might find that a vintage style ring is right for your girlfriend. Vintage styles range from delicate diamond work reminiscent of 50 to 100 years ago or an engraved style such as these. The great thing about vintage is that you can buy a new piece with a vintage style or you can find a previously owned or estate ring that has a history of its own. Second hand pieces are often great values so, if you are looking for a vintage ring, check out jewelers that offer older pieces. The rings listed below in the second row are each one of a kind.

Lattice Micropave Setting Starting at $1,700	Leaf Diamond Setting Starting at $2,000	Tulip Setting Starting at $1,050	Leaf Diamond Setting Starting at $2,000
Vintage Diamond & Sapphire Engagement Ring $32,800 (includes center diamond)	Vintage Filigree Engagement Ring $4,650 (includes center diamond)	Mine Cut Vintage Engagement Ring $6,995 (includes center diamond)	Vintage Engagement Ring $875 (includes center diamond)

Fancy Colored Diamond Rings

Don't forget that diamond rings can feature other colors, such as pink diamonds and yellow diamonds. These accent colors can make for a beautiful piece that is unique colorful as she is. Pricing on these can really vary based on the quality and the rarity of the colored diamonds.

Fancy Yellow Three Stone Cushion Cut with Halo Call for Pricing

Fancy Yellow Radiant Cut with Halo Call for Pricing

Fancy Pink Oval with Yellow Half Moon Sides & Halo Call for Pricing

Fancy Yellow Radiant Cut with Graduated Sides Call for Pricing

Fancy Yellow Cushion Cut with Halo Call for Pricing

Frankly, it is hard to judge a ring based on a photo. Most people prefer to feel the ring and to compare differences side by side, because sometimes differences can be subtle and sometimes they can be dramatic. Different jewelers have different offerings, so make sure you find a selection that meets her particular style.