Traditional Solitaire Black Diamond Engagement Rings or Stylish Three Stone Black and White Diamond Engagement Ring

If you are looking for an engagement ring that is unique and beautiful a black diamond is a perfect choice. Black Diamond Engagement Rings are the modern, edgy alternative to white or fancy diamonds that make up the vast majority of engagement rings.

Large Selection of Black Diamond Rings - Use this link to find a large selection of engagement rings in every style, size and price range -- you'll be able to compare prices from different retailers and see the beautiful styles available.

Engagement Ring Symbolism

Wedding rings, including the engagement ring, have significant symbolic meaning to many people. The circle is the ideal expression of infinity, connection and continuity. It has no beginning and no end, with no turns or corners in between. This flawless geometric shape symbolizes the center and perfection of the self in its wholeness.

Where to Start – What Style Engagement Ring

A good starting point for selecting a diamond engagement ring is deciding on the basic style that best suits the person receiving the ring. This includes the style of setting, the shapes and sizes of the gemstones and finally what type of metals. Listed below are a few examples of what is available.

The single round cut diamond with a four or three prong setting is by far the most popular and traditional style of engagement ring. The Black Diamond Engagement Ring in this style is definitely a classic beauty that will blend flawlessly with many different styles of wedding bands. The prong setting, or claw setting, is the most commonly used gemstone setting. The diamond is held securely by three or four metal prongs that form a basket-like base. The prongs are bent over the crown of the diamond and rest snugly on its surface.

(Photo Right) Round cut natural black diamond in a sterling silver four prong setting. This black diamond engagement ring was designed by Stephanie Satow for Gemvara

A bezel setting has a band of metal containing a groove and flange rim that encircles the sides of the diamond gemstone and extends slightly above it.

This sleek streamlined ring design has timeless elegance. The Bezel Setting Diamond Engagement Ring is the perfect choice for a woman with an active lifestyle and a refined sense of style.

Round black diamond sterling silver ring set in a bezel setting – Designer: Tony Rodrigues for Gemvara

Black Diamonds and Engagement Rings are a fairly new pairing and for future brides that appreciate the uniqueness and beauty of black diamond’s it’s a elegant combination.

Photo: For active brides the channel setting is a practical and elegant choice. Solitaire Channel Ring. Princess Black Diamond Platinum Ring with Diamond. This modern, sleek solitaire ring by Carl Ansley features a round brilliant gem center flanked by eight princess cut gems channel set in a European style band. The styling is fresh, the impact radiant.

What is Channel Setting?

The channel setting is a popular style for many wedding and engagement rings. The setting itself is a very clean and simple design that is often used in combination with other setting methods. So what is a channel setting? It is technique whereby gemstones are held side-by-side by their girdles between two long tracks of grooved precious metal. Unlike many other setting methods, the stones are not secured individually, so there is no metal visible between the stones. The channel setting will incorporate gemstones cut in numerous styles including round, princess, emerald and baguette cuts. The stones can be all the same size or taper from large too small.

The Pave Setting 

The Pave Setting is continuing to increase in popularity as the setting of choice for many women. The setting technique involves taking smaller sized gemstones and laying them right up against one another like paving stones. The gems are separated and held in place by little beads of the setting metal. This design results in radiant ring that looks like a continuous surface of diamonds. The pave setting is often combined with other setting styles to give the engagement ring a unique look. 

Hercules Knot

The Hercules Knot or marriage-knot is a knot created by two intertwined ropes. This ancient symbol of strength and love it is believed that in ancient Rome, brides wore a belt tied in a Hercules knot to their weddings to signify the strength of the marriage vows to bind a couple together. This custom is the likely origin of the phrase “tying the knot.” Find this ring at Gemvara

One of the most interesting styles of engagement ring is the three stone Black and White Diamond Engagement Ring.

The three stone diamond ring setting is stylish and enduring. This design highlights the brilliant center gem by flanking it by two smaller stones. This design embodies a past-present-future message. Black and White Diamond Rings are stunning in brilliance and contrast. Women that appreciate the mysterious and unusual love this extraordinary gemstone combination.

This example is the merging of a stunning black diamond combined with the brilliance of white diamonds. Ring by Bijoux & Bijoux highlights a round brilliant center gem flanked by two smaller pear-shaped side stones on a sleek, contemporary band.

Eternity Band

The circle must never be broken. The eternity ring is a symbol of everlasting love.

The eternity ring is often given to celebrate an anniversary or other special event such as the birth of a child but is gaining in popularity as an engagement ring.

The eternity ring can have gemstones completely encircling the ring or only have stones across the face of the band.

This elegant design has sleek bezel set gems all the way around the finger. Each gem has a sculpted round profile that makes this eternity band beautiful from every angle.

If you need to find a Cheap Black Diamond Engagement Rings (less expensive or more affordable engagement ring) one option is to find a stackable ring style. The concept of stackable rings is simple, design thinner band rings that can be mix and matched and stacked beside each other on one finger.

This is an example of how cheap engagement rings (lower priced or affordable) can be of high quality and purchased from highly respected jewelry retailers and designers. Button Band. 14K White Gold Ring with Red Garnet & Black Diamond. A row of seven brilliant gemstones dot the metal of this sleek band like a row of buttons on a shirt.

Diamond Anatomy 

Diameter - Width of a polished stone, measured from edge to edge.

Crown -The top part of a diamond extending from the table to the girdle.

Table - Largest polished facet located on the top of the diamond.

Pavilion - The bottom part of a diamond extending from the girdle down to the culet.

Girdle - The very edge of the diamond where the crown and pavilion meet.

Depth -The total height of a diamond measured from the table to the culet.

Culet - The small or pointed facet at the very bottom of a polished stone.

What are Black Diamonds?

Black diamonds are a unique and rare form of diamond that gets its color from mineral inclusions, usually iron oxides such as hematite, magnetite, or sulfide compounds. Normally, regular diamonds form under the high temperatures and pressure deep within the surface of the Earth. With sufficient heat and pressure mineral metamorphosis occurs changing carbon into diamond.

The brilliant hues of Colored diamonds are created when during this process chemical impurities grow within the crystal lattice as the diamond forms. A blue diamond is formed when boron is introduced into the process and yellow is created with a bit of nitrogen.

However, a black diamond's color is not related to trace elements, its color is dependent on mineral inclusions, usually iron oxides such as magnetite, hematite, or sulfide compounds.

Why Are Most Black Diamonds Enhanced?

To meet the ever increasing demand for these beautiful and rare gems methods have been developed to meet the growing demand. Because of their rarity, most black diamonds used in contemporary jewelry have been enhanced by one process or another. The most common method is the process of exposing genuine diamonds to intense heat and radiation. This process darkens the diamond and gives it that other worldly beauty.