Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings
The Solitaire, Considered
Solitaire is not a trend. It is a structural decision. When a single diamond is placed at the centre of a ring, the stone carries everything: the quality of the cut, the precision of the setting, the integrity of the craft. Nothing else competes with it.
Creative Director Erica Bianchini approaches the solitaire through the lens of proportion. Setting height, prong geometry, and band width are not afterthoughts; they are the design. Each solitaire in Ecksand's collection is shaped by those decisions, made in the Montreal atelier where every ring moves from initial engineering through to final polish under one roof.
Settings are handcrafted in 14k or 18k solid gold of recycled origin or platinum 950. Centre stones, available in both natural and lab-grown options, are GIA or IGI certified. The solitaire here is a considered choice, not a default one.
Browse Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings
Filter by metal, including 14k and 18k yellow, white, and rose gold as well as platinum. Filter by diamond shape across round brilliant, oval, cushion, and emerald cut among many others. Select by carat range to narrow the field before booking a consultation.
For those focused on the stone rather than the setting, the Diamond Ring Builder offers a parallel path to the same result.
Setting and Stone — What Shapes a Solitaire
A diamond solitaire engagement ring reads differently depending on four variables: prong configuration, setting height, stone shape, and carat weight. Understanding each one makes the selection process considerably less abstract.
Four-prong vs. six-prong. A four-prong setting exposes more of the diamond's girdle, allowing additional light entry from the sides and giving the stone a slightly larger visual presence. Six prongs distribute holding pressure across more contact points, a common preference for round brilliant diamonds worn daily.
Setting height. A standard-height solitaire positions the stone above the finger and pairs with both straight and contoured wedding bands. An elevated setting draws more visual attention to the stone while keeping space for a wedding ring to sit flush with the engagement ring. Lower settings keep the diamond close to the hand but require a curved or contoured band for a close wedding band fit.
Stone shape and perceived scale. Oval and elongated shapes visually extend the finger and tend to read larger than a round brilliant of equal carat weight. Cushion cuts offer a softer profile but tend to appear smaller than some other shapes at the same carat weight. Round brilliant diamonds remain the most requested shape for proportion and light return. A 1 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring and a 2 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring will each read distinctly differently depending on the shape selected.
Natural and Lab-Grown Diamonds
Both options are available across Ecksand's solitaire collection. Natural diamonds are GIA certified and ethically sourced beyond the Kimberley Process standard. Lab-grown diamonds carry IGI certification. Regardless of stone origin, every setting is produced in 100% recycled gold or sustainable platinum at the Montreal atelier.
Pairing Your Solitaire with a Wedding Band
Band compatibility is one of the most practical questions in the solitaire selection process, and the answer depends directly on setting height and style.
Standard or high-set solitaires generally accommodate both straight and curved bands allowing most wedding rings to sit flush against the engagement ring. Lower-set solitaires with baskets set closer to the finger often require a curved wedding ring for a flush wedding set.
Ecksand's wedding ring collection includes straight and curved band options designed to complement the solitaire styles offered at the Maison. The team assesses each pairing individually, either at the Montreal or Toronto boutique or through a virtual appointment, to ensure the final bridal set sits correctly.
Crafted in Montreal
Every solitaire engagement ring is handcrafted entirely within Ecksand's Montreal atelier, from design and engineering through to finishing and final polish. The vertical integration is complete. No production is outsourced.
The Maison holds the Canadian National Mark, one of fewer than 108 certifications awarded in the programme's 40-year history. This independently verifies full Canadian origin across all production stages. Settings are produced using 100% recycled gold or sustainable platinum, and the atelier operates on renewable energy.
For a gold solitaire diamond engagement ring or a platinum setting crafted with verified Canadian provenance, the National Mark is the confirmation.
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