Looking at engagement rings is something our team here at Junebug truly never tires of. From celebrity rings with massive stones to dainty vintage rings passed down generations, engagement rings of all shapes and sizes have a genuine way of being beautiful. As a ring you’ll wear every day, it’s crucial that it speaks to your personal style. Beyond matching your personality, it’s also a representation of that special moment you said yes to forever to your partner. That’s a lot of significance for one piece of jewelry to hold. 

When doing any kind of shopping, it’s nice to see all of your options before narrowing down on a selection, which is why Blue Nile has helped us create a complete beginner’s guide to engagement ring types and styles. It’s the perfect place to start for anyone who’s dreaming of their engagement but can’t quite identify what ring is right for them. You’re sure to find your perfect match in our roundup below.

Engagement Ring Types

Blue Nile is a premier engagement ring and fine jewelry company that provides innovative design, value, and top-tier service to customers around the world. The ring choices at Blue Nile are endless–from timeless to modern to certifiably one-of-a-kind. To make shopping easier, we’ve rounded up the basic types of engagement rings, their identifying features, and available modifications. We’ll look at solitaire, sidestone and pavé, halo, and unique ring styles.

Also, keep in mind that with each ring setting, you have a variety of stone cuts and metal types to choose from. The possibilities are truly limitless.  Enjoy 25% off engagement rings and 40% off everyday jewelry at Blue Nile until August 14th!

Solitaire

The beauty of a solitaire diamond is unwavering, and its simplicity never overpowers the wearer. When you choose a solitaire ring, you’ll know, without a doubt, that it’ll never go out of style. 

There are a couple of features to keep in mind regarding a solitaire style. If you choose a round diamond, you’ll need to decide between a four-prong or six-prong setting. You can also enhance the stone mounting with a cathedral-style setting. This feature involves the metal arching upward toward the diamond, lifting it from the base. It gives the ring a more defined profile view.

Six-Prong Low Dome Comfort Fit Solitaire Engagement Ring in 18k Yellow Gold with Round Diamond 2. Milgrain Comfort Fit Solitaire Engagement Ring in Platinum with Pear Diamond 3. Tapered Cathedral Solitaire Engagement Ring in 14k White Gold with Round Diamond 4. Petite Solitaire Engagement Ring in 14k Rose Gold with Emerald-Cut Diamond

Sidestone and Pavé

If solitaire is a little too simple for your taste, consider a sidestone or pavé setting. With these two styles, you’re amping up the visual allure of your ring. Sidestones are small diamonds or gemstones that are featured beside a larger center diamond or gemstone, enhancing the style and impact of the ring.

Pavé, on the other hand, is a style that has multiple small diamonds set within the ring band. There are five main types of pavé settings: pavé, micropavé, French, channel, and scalloped. Each style utilizes different prongs and sizes to hold the stones in a seamless line.

Floating Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum with Oval Diamond 2. Petite Double Sidestone Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Rose Gold with Round Diamond 3. Dot Dash Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Yellow Gold with Princess Cut Diamond 4. Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k White Gold with Cushion Cut Diamond

Infinity Twist Micropavé Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Rose Gold with Round Diamond 2. Blue Nile Studio French Pavé Diamond Eternity Engagement Ring in Platinum with Marquise Diamond 3. Channel Set Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum with Oval Diamond 4. Riviera Cathedral Pavé Diamond Engagement Ring in 18k Yellow Gold with Round Diamond

Halo

The halo setting introduces a little more glamor to your engagement ring. The halo is defined as one or two rings of diamonds surrounding the larger, central diamond. If you want a little extra shimmer and sparkle, halo could be your style. 

Classic Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Yellow Gold 2. Princess-Cut Floating Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k White Gold 3. Blue Nile Studio Simple Emerald-Cut Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum 4. Pear Shaped Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Rose Gold

Unique

The rings that we’ve mentioned so far are on the more traditional side. But there’s a world of nontraditional rings that await. From vintage-inspired settings with hand-engraved details to non-diamond gemstones, the options are endless if you desire a truly unique engagement ring. Unique rings can also combine multiple features of the rings we’ve covered so far, like one ring having a pavé band, sidestones, and a halo. Having a hard time imagining it? Here’s a look at some of the beautifully unique rings that Blue Nile has to offer.

Oval Sapphire and Diamond Halo Split Shank Ring in 18k White Gold 2. Floral Ellipse Diamond Cathedral Engagement Ring in 14k Rose Gold with Round Morganite 3. Morganite Ring with Baguette Diamond Halo in 14k Rose Gold 4. Petite Pavé Leaf Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Yellow Gold with Emerald-Cut Diamond

Why You Should Choose a Blue Nile Ring

Now that you’re familiar with the fundamental styles and types of engagement rings, you need to know where to shop. And there’s no better place to find and purchase an engagement ring than Blue Nile. Here’s why:

• • Easy to Customize – You can design your own ring in one easy and simple process. With their ‘Build Your Own Ring’ feature, you can find your perfect stone, add it to your wish list, or purchase it with your dream setting and have it shipped for free
  • Conflict-Free Diamonds – All Blue Nile diamonds are warranted to be conflict-free. Blue Nile only purchases diamonds from trusted and respected suppliers, all of which adhere to and enforce the standards established by the Kimberley Process. Blue Nile also offers the growingly popular choice of lab-grown diamonds
  • Trusted Product Warranty – They offer a Lifetime Product Warranty. Think your ring has a manufacturing defect? Send it back to Blue Nile for an inspection where they will repair or replace your ring at no cost to you
  • Diamond Upgrades – Once you purchase a GIA or AGSL-graded Blue Nile diamond, you can participate in their Diamond Upgrade Program.  This means you’ll receive a credit equal to 100% of the original price of your ring to purchase a new ring
  • Excellent Customer Reviews – Don’t just take our word for it. Blue Nile has over 150,000 reviews from past customers, and 90% of the reviews are four stars or higher 
  • Expert Help – Blue Nile has 24/7 customer support from non-commissioned experts. You can also schedule free virtual appointments at any time

Ready to get shopping? Shop Blue Nile’s anniversary sale today until August 14th for up to 40% off jewelry and up to 25% off engagement ring settings. Subscribe to their email list to stay up to date on Blue Nile’s latest diamond and jewelry news.