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A solitaire engagement ring usually features a single diamond mounted in a simple setting. The diamond itself becomes the main focus. The success of a solitaire ring lies in proportion, cut quality, and the skill of the jeweller. When it comes to engagement rings, few designs are as simple or technically pure as the solitaire diamond engagement ring.
"A solitaire engagement ring remains the benchmark of skilled craftsmanship."
Selecting a solitaire ring begins with understanding proportion, cut, and style. The simplicity of this design means that every detail matters — from the diamond’s cut grade to the profile of the band.
In a diamond, brilliance comes from light performance, not size. A diamond with an ideal or excellent cut will appear brighter and larger than a poorly cut stone of higher carat weight. McGuire Diamonds inspects every diamond individually for symmetry, polish, and fire, ensuring only top-performing stones are selected.
The setting determines both the look and security of the diamond.
Classic four-claw settings offer maximum light exposure and an elegant, minimal profile.
Six-claw settings provide additional security and a rounder aesthetic.
Bezel settings encircle the diamond in metal for a contemporary, durable design.
McGuire Diamonds creates each setting to order, allowing clients to adjust details such as height, width, and taper to suit their hand and personal style.
Yellow gold remains the traditional favourite in Ireland, offering a warmth and contrast against the white brilliance of a diamond. White gold and platinum provide a sharper, more modern appearance. Each metal type has different wear characteristics; our specialists can explain these clearly during consultation so that you can make an informed choice.
Round brilliant diamonds still dominate solitaire designs, hailed for their symmetry and intense sparkle. However, shapes like oval, emerald, and pear are increasingly popular among clients seeking individuality without complexity. McGuire Diamonds guides each client through visual comparisons to identify the shape and proportion that best suits their hand.
In Ireland, demand for lab-grown diamond engagement rings has increased dramatically — and with good reason.
Lab-grown diamonds possess the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as mined diamonds. They are certified to the same international grading standards (e.g., GIA ,HRD or IGI) and are indistinguishable without specialist laboratory equipment. The difference lies in their origin and efficiency of production.
For clients, this translates into greater transparency and value. This allows McGuire Diamonds clients to prioritise the features that matter most — cut precision, carat size, and visual performance — without compromise.
McGuire Diamonds was one of the first jewellers in Ireland to specialise in lab-grown diamonds. Each stone is hand-selected and certified, ensuring that the finished solitaire ring delivers outstanding brilliance, proportion, and long-term stability.
Our clients often tell us they chose lab-grown diamonds not only for ethical reasons but also because they recognised the superior value they could achieve within their budget.
One of the most common questions we receive is, “What carat size should I choose for my engagement ring?”
There’s no universal answer — the ideal size depends on budget, hand shape, and design preference.
When determining the carat weight of the diamond, we also encourage clients to consider proportion as much as size. A well-cut 1.2-carat diamond with excellent symmetry and polish will often look better — and brighter — than a poorly cut 1.5-carat stone. Cut quality directly affects how large a diamond appears to the eye.
Our specialists assess not just carat weight but also table size, depth percentage, and spread of the diamond. These technical factors influence how light interacts with it. This expertise ensures every solitaire ring delivers optimum visual performance.
Every McGuire Diamonds solitaire ring is made to order. Once the design and diamond are confirmed, the production process takes approximately four to five weeks. This period covers digital design, casting, hand-setting, finishing, and final inspection.
All manufacturing and quality control are handled in-house. This approach eliminates inconsistencies common in outsourced production and ensures every ring meets the company’s strict technical standards. The result is a solitaire ring with precise alignment, secure setting, and a flawless polish — the kind of quality that can only come from experience and discipline.
McGuire Diamonds provides full aftercare on all engagement rings, including professional cleaning, inspection, and resizing. Regular maintenance helps preserve the diamond’s brilliance and the ring’s mechanical integrity over time.
Clients receive independent diamond certification, insurance documentation, and lifetime service support. It’s a complete, transparent process designed around longevity and confidence.
A lab grown diamond is a diamond that is created in a controlled laboratory environment using advanced technological processes. Unlike natural diamonds, which are formed over billions of years deep within the Earth’s mantle, lab grown diamonds are produced in a matter of weeks through methods such as Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT).
These laboratory-grown diamonds possess the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, making them virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye. They exhibit the same brilliance and fire, ensuring that your engagement ring sparkles with unmatched beauty.
One of the significant advantages of lab grown diamonds is their ethical and environmentally-friendly origin. Since they are created in a lab, they avoid the ethical concerns associated with traditional diamond mining, such as human rights abuses and environmental degradation. This makes lab grown diamonds a popular choice for those who prioritise sustainability and ethical sourcing.
Additionally, lab grown diamonds offer exceptional value. They are typically priced 80-90% lower than their natural counterparts, allowing you to invest in a larger, higher-quality stone without exceeding your budget. Each lab grown diamond at McGuire Diamonds is meticulously graded and certified by leading gemological laboratories, ensuring the highest standards of quality and authenticity.
Explore our stunning collection of lab grown diamond engagement rings and discover the perfect symbol of your love that combines beauty, value, and ethical integrity.
Lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds share many similarities, but they also have distinct differences. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision when choosing the perfect diamond for your engagement ring.
These diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes such as Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). The process takes weeks to months, resulting in diamonds that are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds.
Formed over billions of years under extreme pressure and temperature deep within the Earth’s mantle, natural diamonds are mined from various locations around the world. Each natural diamond is a unique product of geological processes.
Because they are produced in a lab, these diamonds avoid the ethical and environmental issues associated with diamond mining, such as habitat destruction, water pollution, and human rights abuses. This makes them an excellent choice for consumers who prioritise sustainability and ethical sourcing.
The mining of natural diamonds can have significant environmental and social impacts. However, many natural diamond companies are now adopting more sustainable practices and supporting local communities.
Typically, lab grown diamonds are 80-90% more affordable than natural diamonds of similar quality. This price difference allows you to choose a larger or higher-quality diamond without exceeding your budget.
Due to their rarity and the extensive process required to extract them from the earth, natural diamonds tend to be more expensive.
These diamonds offer a wider selection of high-quality stones at various price points, making it easier to find the perfect diamond that meets your specifications.
While there is a broad range of natural diamonds available, finding a specific combination of carat, cut, colour, and clarity may be more challenging and expensive.
Both lab grown and natural diamonds are graded by reputable gemological laboratories based on the four Cs: carat, cut, colour, and clarity. At McGuire Diamonds, all our diamonds, whether lab grown or natural, come with certification from leading gemological institutes, ensuring their quality and authenticity.
Choosing between a lab grown and a natural diamond ultimately depends on your personal values, budget, and preferences. Explore our extensive collection at McGuire Diamonds to find the perfect diamond for your engagement ring.