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Choosing an engagement ring should be one of the loveliest decisions you ever make. It can also lead to a surprising number of questions.
Platinum or gold? Round or oval? Classic or contemporary? And, perhaps one of the biggest decisions of all, solitaire or three stone engagement ring?
Both are beautiful. Both can look incredible on the hand. Yet they have very different personalities.
A solitaire gives one diamond the entire spotlight. A three stone engagement ring brings more sparkle, more presence and a completely different feel.
So, which is best? That depends on the ring, the diamonds and, most importantly, the person who will wear it.
A solitaire engagement ring features one principal diamond.
Simple? Technically, yes. Boring? Absolutely not.
When you have one exceptional diamond sitting centre stage, there is nowhere for it to hide. The cut, shape, proportions and setting all matter.
There is something incredibly confident about a solitaire. It does not need to shout for attention. One beautiful diamond can do all the talking.
It is also wonderfully versatile. A round brilliant diamond feels timeless and full of sparkle, while an oval, emerald, pear or marquise cut can give the same style a very different personality.
For someone who loves clean lines and wants the diamond itself to be the focus, a solitaire can be very hard to beat.
If one diamond is beautiful, there is a fairly persuasive argument for three.
A three stone engagement ring places a central diamond between two smaller stones. Depending on the design, those side diamonds can add width, balance and an incredible amount of sparkle across the finger.
We absolutely adore the way a beautifully designed three stone ring catches the light. There is simply more going on.
The three diamonds can be the same shape for a beautifully balanced look, or different cuts can be combined to create something much more individual.
An emerald cut centre diamond with tapered side stones, for example, feels sleek and glamorous. A round brilliant centre with two brilliant cut diamonds creates sparkle from almost every angle.
For someone who likes jewellery with presence, a three stone engagement ring is certainly worth trying on.
Often, yes.
Because three diamonds spread further across the finger, a three stone design can have greater visual impact than a solitaire of a similar centre stone size.
That does not necessarily mean it is the better choice.
A large, beautifully cut solitaire can look spectacular because your eye is drawn immediately to that one diamond. With a three stone ring, the eye tends to take in the whole arrangement.
This is exactly why comparing rings in person can make such a difference.
Two engagement rings can sound remarkably similar when you read their specifications, yet look completely different once they are on your hand.
If sparkle is high on your wish list, three stones naturally give you more diamond surface catching the light.
But there is a little more to it than simply counting diamonds.
The quality and cut of each stone makes an enormous difference. A beautifully cut solitaire can have extraordinary brilliance, while three lesser stones will not suddenly become more impressive simply because there are more of them.
At Hancocks Jewellers, we would always rather see the right diamonds chosen for the design than focus purely on size.
Because when a diamond is beautiful, you can tell.
Solitaire engagement rings can be particularly easy to pair with a wedding ring, especially when the setting has been designed to allow another band to sit alongside it.
Three stone rings vary more depending on the shape and position of the side diamonds.
That does not mean you need to compromise. Far from it. It simply means it is worth thinking about your future wedding ring while choosing your engagement ring.
And when the time comes, we would always recommend trying your wedding ring and engagement ring together. What looks perfect in isolation can feel entirely different as a pair.
This is where trying rings on becomes rather addictive.
A design you have saved repeatedly online may not be the one you fall for in person.
Longer diamond shapes, including oval, emerald, pear and marquise cuts, can create an elegant lengthening effect on the finger. Wider three stone designs can give more coverage across the hand.
But there are no rules here.
The best engagement ring is the one you keep looking at once it is on your finger.
That little moment when somebody slips a ring on, looks down and goes quiet for a second? We love that bit.
Not necessarily.
The price of an engagement ring depends on far more than the number of diamonds. Diamond size, cut, colour, clarity and rarity all influence value, as does the craftsmanship of the finished ring.
One exceptional solitaire could be worth considerably more than a three stone ring, while a substantial three stone design could equally sit at a higher price point.
Rather than starting with the number of diamonds, we would suggest starting with the ring you love and then exploring the best stones within your preferred budget.
If you want a ring that feels clean, elegant and completely focused on one beautiful diamond, start with a solitaire.
If you love extra sparkle, more finger coverage and a ring with greater visual presence, try a three stone design.
But please try both.
Even if you are convinced you know what you want.
Engagement rings have a funny habit of changing your mind once they reach your hand.
You might arrive dreaming about a classic solitaire and leave unable to stop thinking about three diamonds. Or you may discover that, despite all those saved photographs, nothing looks quite as perfect as one beautifully cut stone in a handcrafted setting.
Hancocks Jewellers has been helping couples choose extraordinary jewellery in Manchester since 1860.
Our engagement rings are handcrafted in platinum or 18ct gold and selected for the beauty and quality of their diamonds.
You can explore our engagement rings online, but for a decision this special, we would also love to welcome you to our King Street store in Manchester.
Come in, try a solitaire. Try three stones. Try the one you were certain would never suit you.
Because sometimes the best engagement ring is not the one you planned to choose.
It is the one you put on and suddenly cannot imagine taking off.
