The Modern Solitaire is Back and Better Than Ever
The modern solitaire is breaking free from the shackles of the bridal ring category and ready to be the protagonist in all your jewellery pieces.
Reinventing the Solitaire: A Modern Jewellery Icon
In the ever-evolving world of jewellery, trends come and go, but some remain eternally en vogue. The timeless solitaire– a symbol of elegance, grace, and eternal love– is taking on a new persona. From the Koh-i-noor to the Cullinan diamond, natural diamonds have played an important role in our history and lore. Whether they represented wealth, courage, love, protection, or a gift from the Gods, the symbolism and power they carry still holds true today.
“A solitaire diamond engagement ring has historically carried a lot of weight and meaning for its wearer. While I believe they still hold this importance, wearers are becoming more experimental with design, with the solitaire diamond ring representing, not only love, but their freedom of expression,” says designer Ananya Malhotra of Ananya Fine Jewellery.
Ring: Her Story, Necklace: Al Anwaar, Earrings: H. Ajoomal Fine Jewellery
Grace Lee
Ritique Fine Jewelry
Marina B
Jawahara
House of Rose
And it’s this same sentiment that has allowed for the solitaire to break out of the “rules of engagement” (no pun intended). Want a giant solitaire in a bangle? Sure! In a pendant? Why not! Kite diamonds for studs? Yes, please! Consumers are putting their design needs first and designers are responding. Deviating from minimalism and making bolder design choices, sizable diamond solitaires are becoming a popular choice across all jewellery categories. Whether it’s pairing natural diamonds with non-conventional materials like wood or brightly coloured enamel, or using irregular cuts or colours, one thing is clear– the rules of how to pair or wear a diamond solitaire no longer exist.
Contemporary designers deserve credit for the solitaire’s new allure. London-based Lebanese designer, Dina Kamal, states, “we refer to our jewellery as ‘tools of empowerment,’ the idea is for the piece to provide the edge or feeling you need.”
And there’s nothing better than a healthy-sized diamond solitaire to provide all the feels.
“Our clients are predominantly women buying for themselves,” says designer Jessica McCormack. “The same can be said for the solitaire pieces within my collections. I think solitaire jewellery has really lost that bridal stigma, and now single stone pieces, like our Forget Me Knot bangles, resonate and sell well to women buying for their own jewellery wardrobe.”
Bracelet: Anita Ko, Ring: Mouawad, Earrings: Cece Jewellery
Dusoul By Dhamani
Entice by KGK
Dina Kamal
Diamondtree
Dezso by Sara Beltran
Beyond Bridal: The Evolution of
Solitaires for Modern Women
Over the recent years, we’ve seen a shift in new social codes, delayed engagements, and an overall casualisation in the fashion industry, forcing the jewellery industry to cater to a new group of powerful spenders– women. And while the solitaire is still a popular choice for engagement rings, the solitaire is breaking free from the shackles of the bridal category, with designers incorporating sizable solitaires across all jewellery categories.
“Our clients are predominantly women buying for themselves,” says designer Jessica McCormack. “The same can be said for the solitaire pieces within my collections. I think solitaire jewellery has really lost that bridal stigma, and now single stone pieces, like our Forget Me Knot bangles, resonate and sell well to women buying for their own jewellery wardrobe.”
And size doesn’t seem to deter clients from wanting to wear solitaire pieces on a daily basis and with designers being more resourceful and playful in how they’re incorporating them into designs, larger diamonds can be worked into clients’ everyday wardrobes.
Natural diamonds occur in a variety of colours, and while some diamonds can cost you a pretty penny, there is a whole spectrum of colour that designers are playing with. It’s not always the most expensive diamond that is the best for the design. You might find yourself gravitating towards a beautiful champagne diamond, an irregular cut, or a beautiful setting– all of which can help compliment and amplify a stone’s attributes.
Bracelet: Anita Ko, Ring: Mouawad, Earrings: Cece Jewellery
Devi Jewels
Chiraag Duhlani Fine Jewels
Brent Neale
Araya Fine Jewellery
Ana Khouri
Solitaire Cuts and Trends
in Everyday Jewellery
Like McCormack, many contemporary designers are playing with an array of solitaire cuts including heart shapes, half moons, hexagons, marquises across not only rings, but earrings, necklaces, and bracelets too. New cuts add an informalness to design that allows for everyday wear.
“There seems to be a trend right now of wanting to stand out from the crowd and be original. Larger stones are a popular choice at the moment, something that shows character and personality,” says Lucy Crowther of Minka Jewels.
So, do you need to break the bank to buy into this trend? Certainly not. Jewellery editor and aficionado, Katerina Perez, shares, “It’s not only about what the certificate says; consumers have also started to understand that their style plays a large role in their purchase, and they have to love what they wear. It’s about the design, how the piece makes one feel. You don’t necessarily need to have a top cut or quality to have a beautiful piece of jewellery.”
Natural diamonds occur in a variety of colours, and while some diamonds can cost you a pretty penny, there is a whole spectrum of colour that designers are playing with. It’s not always the most expensive diamond that is the best for the design. You might find yourself gravitating towards a beautiful champagne diamond, an irregular cut, or a beautiful setting– all of which can help compliment and amplify a stone’s attributes.
Necklace: Amarante, Ring: VAK Jewels
Thelma West
The One I Love NYC
Tejori
Navrattan Bracelet
Moksh Ring
Contrasting the social importance of the past, self-expression is more important to today’s consumers than status. The game has changed. Solitaires are taking centre stage, and we’re here for it.
