The tradition of giving symbolic gifts as tokens of love and devotion by a man to a lady whose hand was sought in marriage has existed since ancient times. Egyptian male hopefuls offered gold coins, while Romans gave plain bands of gold to their objects of affection. The giving of diamond engagement rings started in the fifteenth century. Today, a ring is still an important symbol of an engagement and usually consists of a diamond solitaire, although a band of diamonds is also quite acceptable.

Although there are various choices of gorgeous gemstones, such as sapphires, rubies and aquamarine, which can be made into an engagement ring, nothing beats the popularity of a diamond solitaire as the symbol of engagement because diamonds are said to represent strength and purity. A ring is said to be a diamond solitaire ring because of the presence of a single diamond set on a band. Diamond solitaire is not only limited to rings, you can also find a pair of earrings and a pendant with diamond solitaire.

If you are not so sure on the preference, and you intend to surprise your fiancée, a diamond solitaire ring is a safe choice because it is classic and elegant. Diamond solitaires come in different cuts and shapes. The most popular among the shapes of diamond solitaire is the round brilliant cut. The design of a round brilliant cut diamond solitaire has been in existence for hundreds of years; it remains popular because it brings out the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond solitaire.

Other popular shapes of diamond solitaire include princess-cut, marquise, heart-shaped, emerald-cut, pear-shaped, and oval-shaped diamonds. For a contemporary look of a diamond solitaire, you may want to choose a princess-cut diamond which is gaining popularity these days. The marquise diamond featured in a diamond solitaire ring would highlight the beauty of the slender fingers of your fiancée.

For a romantic choice, you can select the heart-shaped diamond solitaire. When a round brilliant-cut diamond solitaire is not available, and you still want a classic design, an emerald-cut diamond solitaire is an ideal alternative. If your fiancée is not a traditional-type, the pear-shaped cut and oval-shaped cut diamond solitaires are excellent choices.

You may like some designs of diamond solitaire engagement ring that have accent stones. This type of diamond solitaire features a primary diamond stone, and decorative accents composed of smaller gemstones, such as diamonds, emeralds, sapphire, and rubies. The smaller diamonds that accentuate a diamond solitaire ring can be baguettes, melees or trilliants.

You’ll have to choose the stones to accent the diamond solitaire carefully. The baguettes, tiny at .15 carat, are elongated, either tapered or not. Melles, at under .20 carat, would make a good match to a round-cut diamond solitaire, as they are small round diamonds. Trilliants are bigger at under .33 carat cut in a triangular shape.

You may also want to complement a diamond solitaire ring with an enhancer to add more glitter to your fiancée’s finger. An enhancer is a thin band that embellishes the area around your diamond solitaire ring. It may include smaller diamonds that serve as accents on either, or both sides of the diamond solitaire engagement ring.

Whether you purchase a diamond solitaire ring, earrings, or pendant, you should make sure that it comes with a diamond certification. The diamond solitaire certification, also called diamond grading report in the industry, describes the individual characteristics and qualities that determine the value and attest to the authenticity of the diamond solitaire. These certifications are independent evaluations made by expert and reputable gemologists, and cover assessments on the proportions and symmetry of the cut, the percentages for depth and dimension, and overall finish.

A diamond solitaire engagement ring does not come cheap. Shopping online would help you determine the budget that you should set aside for the appropriate diamond solitaire ring.