Post # 1

Member
38 posts
Newbee
I see so many posts on here where people talk about their “solitaires” or post their ring on a board asking for solitaires and they post rings with side stones or pave bands. I had always thought a solitaire was called that because it is a solitary stone, meaning a plain band with one stone sitting alone. Am I wrong?
Sorry it just bothers me…but if I’m wrong and a solitaire can be more than just a single stone I’d like to know so I can stop being bothered by it haha.
Post # 2

Member
1939 posts
Buzzing bee
- Wedding: May 2018 - City, State
I’m trying to find a clear way to answer and not coming up with much, haha. But solitaires can be plain band or pave or channel set or whatever.
Post # 3

Member
1576 posts
Bumble bee
missmargo: I agree with you.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by
koi424.
Post # 4

Member
98 posts
Worker bee
I’ve always thought of a solitaire as just the center stone, plain band, not side stones/accents/paves/etc. . Like mine…

But you’re right, I do see a lot of people (those who have paves, in particular) refer to their ring as a solitaire, so I could be completely wrong in my definition.
Post # 5

Member
9232 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
What exactly does solitaire mean?
Within a jewellery context, the word Solitaire is used to describe a single diamond or gemstone set into piece of jewellery. We apply the generic word to any item of jewellery holding a single stone—a solitaire diamond ring displays a single diamond.
So yeah I agree with you that it means a single stone ring. It can’t be a solitare if it has friends.
Post # 6

Member
277 posts
Helper bee
I always think of solitaire as either a plan band or a pave/channel/whatever band, and when I hear “side stones” i think of a 3 or 5 stone ring :p maybe it just depends on where you’re from, thats how my fam/friends say it too 🙂
Post # 7

Member
80 posts
Worker bee
Whitetoes: Yeah I agree with your definition, although I didn’t know anything about jewelry until I started researching for my ring. I realize a solitaire is a single stone, but I feel like a pave/channel band should count bc these accents still give the limelight to the center stone.
Post # 8

Member
493 posts
Helper bee
missmargo: I consider a solitaire to be one single stone on a plain metal band. If it has diamonds on the band, I think of it as a “solitaire with side stones” or accent stones
Post # 9

Member
47424 posts
Honey Beekeeper
dimefinger: That’s like saying that a girl with two brothers is still an only child because the brothers bring more attention to the fact that she is a girl.
A soiltaire is a ring with only one stone.
Post # 10

Member
4640 posts
Honey bee
missmargo: I completely agree with your definition of the term solitaire. A solitaire is a single stone on a plain band – no side stones. The misuse of the word Solitaire bothers me a little too.
Post # 11

Member
1978 posts
Buzzing bee
I can think of a solitaire loosely as in the general silhouette of a ring, a solitaire vs. a three stone vs. a cluster.
But when someone says solitaire I do think a plain band with one stone.
Post # 12

Member
576 posts
Busy bee
missmargo: I agree with your definition. I think the problem lies in the lack of another setting style to define their ring. Halo, three stone, and cluster don’t fit either. Solitaire is simply the closest term to describe the ring.
Post # 13

Member
741 posts
Busy bee
This bothered me last week too when I saw someone describe there ring.
Solitaire – a diamond or other gem set in a piece of jewellery by itself.
“a diamond solitaire”
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This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by
MrsKKtoBee.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by
MrsKKtoBee.
Post # 14

Member
80 posts
Worker bee
julies1949: Your analogy is a little strange, but I understand what you’re saying. I’m no jewelry expert, so still learning here.
Post # 15

Member
1285 posts
Bumble bee
Maybe people just don’t know better? I THINK it’s a plain band as well. But in any case, to each their own. It’s no big deal if one person thinks solitaire is defined as a plain band or a pave band. No need to get hot and bothered by it. Let people call it what they want.