Solitaire setting
JewelryWiki Editorial·2 sources·Reviewed 2026-08-04
Any piece with a single stone — not a holding method but a format, and the one most engagement rings take.
Properties
| Property | Value | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| How it holds the stone | A single stone in a head, mounted by whichever style is chosen: prong, cathedral, bezel or tension. [1] | — |
| Light access | The prong version allows the stone to catch the most light of the popular styles. [2] | — |
| What to watch for | A solitaire is a category, not a setting, and the distinction matters when comparing quotes — two solitaires can be built completely differently. GIA notes the round brilliant is by far the most common choice within it, and that the first demand of any setting is practical: that it hold the stone safely. [1] | — |
Sources
- GIA — What is a Solitaire Setting? — Gemological Institute of America (GIA 4Cs, What is a Solitaire Setting? (6 June 2012))
- GIA — Popular Setting Styles — Gemological Institute of America (GIA 4Cs, Popular Setting Styles (8 March 2011))