Solitaire engagement rings still remain one of the most popular styles of engagement ring. By definition, a solitaire engagement ring is a ring whose design is focused on one, central gemstone (often, but not always a diamond).
This style is relatively simple, despite advancements in jewelry creation, so what’s to account for the success of solitaire engagement rings? And can we expect their popularity to decline or change in the future?
Why Solitaire Engagement Rings Are So Popular
These are some of the most prominent reasons why solitaire engagement rings remain some of the most popular choices:
1. A minimalistic design
Though individual taste varies, most people prefer jewelry that’s minimalistic. They want something beautiful and something impressive, but they don’t want their jewelry to be overloaded with unnecessary or ostentatious adornments. Stuffing more gemstones onto a ring doesn’t naturally make it more beautiful; in fact, most of us would argue that it could make the ring look gauche or bloated. In art and design, minimalism is successful because it draws your attention to only the most important features. In the world of engagement rings, a similar premise holds true.
2. A focus on the stone
When most people shop for engagement rings, the stone is the primary consideration. It’s the focal point and the entire reason for the ring to exist. If you’re going to spend several thousand dollars on a ring, most of that money will go to the cost of the stone, since it’s the prettiest and most unique part of the ring. It makes sense that you would want the design of the ring to entirely focus on the stone; introducing more stones into the equation is going to complicate things.
3. The classic look
The earliest engagement rings were solitaire engagement rings, so it makes sense that solitaire engagement rings have become the tradition. People interested in a traditional proposal want to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and do everything the “right” way; they want to find the perfect engagement ring, surprise their partner, and get on one knee for the proposal. Showcasing a solitaire engagement ring in the box simply adds to the classic, traditional demonstration.
4. Affordability
Another reason why solitaire engagement rings have remained so popular over the years is the fact that they’re relatively affordable. As you might imagine, the more complex the design of the ring gets, the more expensive it gets. The more stones you add to a ring, the more you add to its price tag. If you’re looking for a beautiful, simple ring that fits within your budget, solitaire rings are probably your best bet.
5. Stylistic flexibility
Some people love solitaire engagement rings because of their stylistic flexibility. The more features you add to a ring, and the more complex you make the design, the less likely it is to fit with a given style. The recipient of the ring may not want to wear it often if it clashes with certain types of outfits. Conversely, a minimalistic solitaire ring should be able to work with a wide variety of different fashion options – and should be acceptable to a wider range of wearers.
6. A safe bet
Buying an engagement ring can be tough, especially if you’re someone with a limited fashion sense and with no experience in shopping for jewelry. If you find yourself in this difficult position, you’ll probably be eager to buy the simplest, safest thing possible. Obviously, you want to make a good impression and choose something that your partner desires, but you also don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. It’s another motivation driving people to purchase something with a classic look.
7. Customization potential
Though the traditional style of a solitaire engagement ring is straightforward, there’s also significant customization potential to this type of jewelry. If you want to include different features, or reshape the ring into something more interesting, you can do that without much of a hassle (or added expense).
Will the Popularity of Solitaire Engagement Rings Ever Decline?
With all these advantages and potential appeals, is it possible that the popularity of the solitaire engagement ring will ever decline?
It’s hard to predict the future. We don’t know if people 100 years from now will even be interested in jewelry, let alone this specific type of jewelry. But most of the motivational factors for choosing a solitaire engagement ring have indefinite staying power; as long as people are interested in engagement rings, there will be many reasons to choose a solitaire ring.
For now, it seems like the popularity of solitaire engagement rings will continue to sustain itself indefinitely. This classic looking engagement ring has been around for nearly a century now, and its popularity is still running strong.
No matter what you’re looking for in an engagement ring, it remains one of your most viable options.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
