Side Stone Rings

A side stone ring places accent stones along the shoulders of the band, framing the centre stone and extending its presence across the finger. The category covers a wide range of expressions — from a slim pair of tapered baguettes flanking a round brilliant, to a full shoulder set running pavé or gemstone accents deep into the band. This collection of 76 rings serves two distinct uses: as an engagement ring where the side stones are chosen to amplify the centre diamond or gemstone, and as a wedding or anniversary ring where the shoulder detail adds complexity to a stack. Both uses are in scope here, and the right choice depends on how the ring will be worn.

The range opens at £650 with settings such as the The Celestial Cluster Setting, where cluster accents sit either side of the centre stone in a compact arrangement, and rises through designs like the The Baguette Channel Solitaire at £1,340, where step-cut baguettes are channel-set flush with the shoulders for a more architectural result. For those drawn to colour, the Willow Ring With Sapphire Accents and the Willow Ring With Lab Emerald Accents both sit at £1,221 and demonstrate how coloured gemstone shoulders read against a white diamond centre.

Every ring is made to order in our Hatton Garden workshop. Centre stones are available as certified diamonds, coloured diamonds or gemstones — each diamond certified by GIA, IGI or HRD. All precious metalwork is hallmarked at the London Assay Office before delivery, and every order includes complimentary insured UK delivery, free resizing for life, and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

What is a side stone engagement ring?

A side stone engagement ring is defined by the placement of additional stones along the shoulders of the band, set to either side of the centre stone. These accent stones may be diamonds, coloured gemstones, or a combination; they may run the full length of the visible shoulder or occupy just a small section immediately beside the centre setting. The effect is to widen the visual footprint of the ring and to draw the eye towards the centre stone rather than away from it.

The term covers several distinct construction types. Tapered baguettes sit in angled channels either side of the centre stone — a classic arrangement associated with Art Deco and mid-century design. Pavé shoulders use micro-set round brilliants to produce a continuous glitter along the band. Three-stone arrangements position two defined accent stones beside the centre — formally structured and traditionally worn as a past, present and future symbol. Cluster shoulders, as seen in the The Stellar Setting, group smaller stones into floral or geometric motifs at the base of the centre stone. Each construction changes the ring's character significantly.

Side stone ring as an engagement ring

As an engagement ring, the side stones serve the centre stone by providing contrast, scale reference, and additional light return around the principal diamond or gemstone. A centre stone of 0.50ct reads larger beside a pair of tapered baguettes than it does in a plain solitaire setting, because the eye calibrates scale against the accents. This is one of the main practical reasons the style is chosen — it allows the centre stone budget to be balanced against the overall visual impact of the ring.

The style works across most centre stone shapes, though the best combinations depend on proportion. Round brilliants are the most forgiving and suit every shoulder configuration. Oval and elongated shapes — pear, marquise, emerald cut — are often paired with tapered or step-cut baguette shoulders to echo the geometry of the centre stone. Where coloured gemstone accents are preferred, designs such as the Arden Diamond Ring with Lab Emerald Accents show how a green or blue accent stone can frame a white diamond centre without competing with it.

What are the side stones on an engagement ring called?

The accent stones set along the shoulders of an engagement ring have several names depending on their arrangement. Side stones is the broadest term and applies to any accent stone flanking the centre. Where two defined stones sit immediately beside the centre — formally sized and often in matching shape — they are known as accent stones or, in a three-stone configuration, the flanking stones or shoulder stones. Where the stones are very small and set in a continuous bed of metal, the style is called pavé (from the French for paving). Where they sit in a recessed channel cut into the metal, the term is channel set.

The distinction matters when specifying a bespoke commission because each setting type has different durability, maintenance, and cost implications. Pavé settings expose more of each stone's surface and return more light but require more precise metalwork to hold stones securely over decades of wear. Channel settings protect the girdle of each stone inside a continuous metal wall and require little maintenance, but offer less brilliance per stone. Claw-set accent stones — where each side stone sits in its own miniature claw setting — are less common on the shoulder but offer maximum light return. The The Floral Accent Solitaire uses a distinct floral shoulder arrangement that illustrates how sculptural accent work differs from a standard pavé run.

Best centre stone shapes for a side stone setting

The centre stone's shape determines which shoulder configuration will read most naturally. Round brilliants are the most versatile and are well served by every accent style in this collection — their symmetry allows any shoulder geometry without visual tension. Oval, cushion and pear shapes carry length along the finger and tend to suit tapered shoulders that mirror that elongation. Princess cut stones, with their square geometry, pair well with straight baguette shoulders or clean channel-set lines; the right angles reinforce each other rather than competing.

Emerald and Asscher cuts have a rectangular or square step-cut face and suit baguette or half-moon accent stones that echo the step geometry. Marquise centres benefit from pointed baguettes or tapered accents that carry the visual line beyond the tips of the stone. Whatever the shape, the proportional relationship between centre stone width and shoulder width is the primary design variable — shoulders that are too wide for the centre stone overwhelm it; shoulders that are too narrow do not provide the framing effect the style is built around. Our CAD process, which produces a to-scale rendering before any metalwork begins, is the best tool for evaluating this balance on your specific combination.

Can side stones be added to an existing engagement ring?

It is possible to add side stones to a plain solitaire engagement ring in some cases, but the outcome depends on the original setting's construction. A ring cast with plain parallel shoulders has limited metal width to accommodate new stone settings; the metalwork required to create a secure setting channel or pavé run may exceed what the existing band can support. In most cases, rebuilding the ring from a new casting — keeping only the centre stone — is more structurally sound and more economical than retrofitting stones into an existing shoulder.

Where a client comes to us wanting to upgrade a plain ring with shoulder stones, our standard process applies: CAD design, a silver or wax sample for try-on at the Hatton Garden workshop, then casting in the chosen metal. If the centre stone is already set and certified, it is assessed before being transferred. This route is also common when a client wants to commission a bespoke ring that matches or improves on an existing design. The The Eternal Embrace Setting and the The Graduated Accent Setting are both useful references for how shoulder detail can be scaled to different widths of centre stone.

How much does a side stone engagement ring cost in the UK?

Prices in this collection begin at £650 for a side stone setting without a centre stone, rising to above £1,700 for designs with significant diamond shoulder coverage and a centre stone included. The main cost drivers are the total carat weight of the accent stones, the setting complexity, and the metal. Shoulder pavé in 18ct gold or platinum will cost more than the same design in 9ct gold, because the labour involved in setting dozens of small stones precisely is fixed regardless of metal choice, and the metal content difference compounds that base cost.

For the centre stone itself, a 0.50ct round brilliant in G colour, VS2 clarity, certified by GIA, IGI or HRD, adds broadly £800–£1,400 to the setting price depending on cut grade and laboratory. The UK average engagement ring spend is £2,247 (Bridebook 2026), and most clients choosing a side stone design in this collection — setting plus centre stone in 18ct white gold or platinum — land between £1,800 and £3,500. Gold in 9ct or 14ct reduces the total meaningfully. The Versailles Half Coverage Diamond Engagement Ring at £1,443 and the Sienna Half Coverage Hidden Accents Diamond Engagement Ring at £1,771 give a practical sense of where mid-range shoulder coverage sits with a centre diamond included.

Made to order at President Jewellers

Every ring in this collection is made to order in our Hatton Garden workshop. Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation — simple tapered baguette settings at the faster end, intricate full-shoulder pavé commissions closer to fourteen days. The process begins with a CAD rendering; a silver or wax sample is produced for try-on at the workshop before casting begins, allowing proportions, shoulder width and stone spacing to be reviewed and adjusted at scale. Hallmarking at the London Assay Office, stone setting and final polishing all happen before insured UK delivery.

Metal options are 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold — in white, yellow or rose — plus 950 platinum. Where a loose diamond or gemstone is ordered separately, it is dispatched within 5–7 working days; setting that stone into a ring moves the timeline to the 7–14 working day schedule. Every ring includes free resizing for life and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Returns are accepted within 30 days on unengaged and unengraved orders; bespoke and engraved pieces are not returnable.

Frequently asked questions

What are the side stones on an engagement ring called?

The generic term is side stones or accent stones. More specifically: when two defined stones flank the centre in a formal arrangement, they are called shoulder stones or flanking stones. When multiple small stones are set in a continuous bed of raised metal prongs, the style is called pavé. When stones sit inside a recessed metal groove along the shoulder, the style is channel set. The naming matters when specifying a bespoke design, as each has different cost, maintenance and durability characteristics.

Can I add side stones to my engagement ring?

In some cases, yes — but it depends on the original band's construction and metal width. Retrofitting pavé or channel-set stones into a plain solitaire shoulder requires sufficient metal depth to hold secure settings, and many plain solitaires do not have this. Recasting from a new wax model — carrying only the centre stone forward — usually produces a better structural result and is often the same cost or less. We assess existing rings at the Hatton Garden workshop before advising on the most practical route. Book a consultation through our made-to-order page.

What is the difference between a three-stone ring and a side stone ring?

A three-stone ring is a specific type of side stone ring where two defined accent stones, usually of similar shape or a complementary cut, sit formally on either side of the centre stone. The three stones are typically each individually set and visible as distinct stones. A side stone ring is a broader category: it includes three-stone arrangements but also pavé shoulders, channel-set baguettes, cluster accents and graduated accent runs. All three-stone rings are side stone rings; not all side stone rings are three-stone rings.

How long does a side stone engagement ring take to make?

Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation. Simple tapered baguette and three-stone settings are generally at the faster end of that window. Full-shoulder pavé and bespoke commissions with custom stone combinations sit closer to fourteen days. The schedule includes CAD design, a silver or wax sample for review at our Hatton Garden workshop, casting, stone setting, polishing and hallmarking at the London Assay Office. Insured UK delivery is included and tracked through to receipt.

What metals are available for side stone rings?

All rings are available in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold — white, yellow or rose — and 950 platinum. Metal choice affects both aesthetics and durability. White metals such as 18ct white gold and platinum make colourless diamonds appear whiter; yellow and rose gold complement warmer diamond colour grades and suit coloured gemstone accents particularly well. Platinum is the most secure choice for pavé-set side stones over decades of wear; 18ct white gold is lighter and achieves a similar colour through rhodium plating, which can be renewed as a routine workshop service every two to three years.

Are the diamonds in these rings certified?

Centre diamonds above 0.10ct are independently certified by GIA, IGI or HRD before being set. The grading certificate accompanies the ring on delivery. Side stones — pavé and smaller accent diamonds — are generally below the threshold at which individual certification is practical; these are selected to a consistent cut, colour and clarity specification and graded as a lot. Where a coloured gemstone is chosen as the centre stone or as shoulder accents, a description of origin and treatment is provided alongside the piece. Natural and lab-grown diamonds are both available across this collection.