Solitaire diamond rings are one of the most common styles for cheap engagement rings. Finding the perfect one often takes time and patience, much like finding the perfect partner. After all, a wedding ring is meant to be worn for the rest of your life! You probably didn’t enter into the decision of marriage lightly, so choosing the ring deserves the correct amount of consideration also. Choosing the perfect setting and the best diamond are two important decisions when picking out diamond engagement rings.

The way a diamond is mounted impacts the style of a ring greatly. Many diamond solitaire rings are mounted with prongs. The diamond will generally sit on a small “basket” and be secured by metal prongs. The more prongs that are attached to the diamond, the more secure the setting is. Prong settings are generally used for larger size diamonds. This is a common setting that is still widely used today, but some women don’t like them because they have a tendency to get caught on things. If the prongs loosen, the diamond can be lost. Prong settings require some upkeep on the part of the user and will require periodic trips to a jeweler to make sure that they are still secure.

Bezel settings and flush settings are two more options. A bezel setting means that a piece of metal is actually wrapped around and slightly over the edges of the diamond to hold it into place. It is generally very secure and has the added bonus of covering any flaws that the diamond may have. Other times a diamond can be set into a hole within the ring and secured that way. That is called a flush setting. Both of these mountings are good for any size diamonds. They are very durable and don’t get caught on things like prong settings can.

Choosing the right type of metal is very important as well. Gold used to be the most commonly used option, but now more and more people are branching out and using other precious metals. Platinum and titanium are two metals that are being used for wedding bands. They are durable, stylish and strong. Sometimes the alloys that are used in gold bands can irritate some people’s skin. Common alloys that cause allergies are silver, lead, nickel and copper. Both titanium and platinum are considered to be hypoallergenic, which means that they do not contain alloys that will cause any allergies.

Of course, choosing the right diamond is important as well. If you have a family heirloom, then you might already have a vintage engagement ring.  If you’re looking at pre-set engagement rings, then the diamond is already chosen for you and is included in the total cost of the ring. However, if you are looking at loose diamonds and designing your own ring or choosing between other types of settings and mountings, then getting the best diamond for the price is definitely worth it. Diamonds are generally graded using the four “C’s”- meaning cut, clarity, color and carat size. It is important to research all of them in order for you to understand what to look for and how diamonds are priced.

Diamond shopping can be overwhelming, but armed with the correct information it can also be fun and rewarding. Buying an engagement ring is a process and making informed choices can really add to the pleasure that such a purchase will bring!