Classic Engagement Rings: Timeless Designs, Types

Sharif Khan
Sharif Khan
Last Updated    EST 
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The name “classic” describes any design with solid aesthetic values and has gained and retained massive popularity over time. When searching for the perfect engagement ring to present to your intended bride, there are many styles you can choose from today. From the new, trendy styles to the antique and vintage rings of yesteryears. Classic engagement rings are in the middle and the sweet spot for many people. These rings exude all the timeless exquisiteness of vintage styles while retaining all the elegance and other benefits of a more recent style. Classic engagement rings can also be the answer when you are unsure what type of ring she would like simply because most people like them, which is part of why they are referred to as classics. The undying popularity of classic engagement rings is reflected in their sales, making up almost half of all sold. They reflect sound and elegance but not necessarily adventurous taste.

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Solitaire engagement ring

Classic Diamond Engagement Rings

One of the most popular styles of engagement rings that fall in the classic category is the solitaire engagement ring. They have yet to go out of style since being introduced and have been used by intending grooms to propose on countless occasions. Mostly successfully. To ensure that your solitaire diamond engagement ring is properly made and fit for your lovely bride-to-be to wear, there are two basic parts (apart from the diamond itself) that you have to keep in mind and pay particular attention to when choosing a ring or having one made: Setting and metal. The setting is divided into two parts that are interchangeable and combined in varying styles to find the arrangement that best suits your requirements and the ideal diamond engagement ring you wish to buy. Generally, the goal is to find an arrangement that securely holds the diamond and highlights and showcases its best features.

Classic Engagement Ring Settings

classic Chanell set princess cut diamond ring

The basket is very integral to the safety of the setting. It comprises four or six claws (prongs) that are wire or cut-off types. Wire baskets are the lightest and most open, making them the most popular choice for people setting up their solitaire diamond engagement rings. There is a popular but mistaken belief that the wire setting will allow more light to flow through the stone, improving its appearance. This is wrong because a well-cut diamond will reflect back light that enters from its crown, regardless of any light coming from the back. Well-cut diamonds will have the same light performance in either setting. The openness is still advantageous, as it allows better maintenance because it holds less grease and is more accessible for cleaning. There is a fine balance between the diamond’s size, the prongs’ thickness, and the type of metal they are made of. The goal is to achieve a setting where the prongs are as discreet and less visible as possible, without compromising the strength, for safety’s sake. This means that although the prongs are often delicate and thin, they are made of very strong metal.

Gold is the classic metal used for this purpose, particularly white gold alloys. At the same time, it is important to consider that platinum and palladium will allow at least a 20% reduction in the thickness of the prongs. While using platinum would result in a noticeable increase in cost, palladium is a viable and more affordable alternative that can sometimes even be gotten for less than 18k white gold.