Engagement Ring Settings vs. Complete Engagement Rings

Many of our engagement rings are available as settings, which let you choose the center stone separately from the ring itself. We also offer a selection of complete (or preset) engagement rings, where we have already chosen a center diamond to complement the design. Both are wonderful ways to find a ring you love, and neither one is more “correct” than the other.

The right answer really comes down to how you like to shop. If you want to customize the ring and hand-pick the exact stone, start with a setting and then select a center diamond for it. That route also gives you more flexible pricing, since you decide which diamond qualities matter most within your budget, though lead times can run a little longer. If you would rather take the ring home the same day, or you love the ease of a preselected center diamond, a complete engagement ring is the way to go.

Engagement Ring Settings, Waiting for Your Diamond

A setting is the finished ring without its center stone: the metal, the profile, the accent diamonds, and the head that will eventually hold your diamond. You choose the stone afterward, which means you control the trade-off between size, color, clarity, and cut rather than accepting a decision someone else made. Browse everything available as a setting only and bring your shortlist to us.

Settings are also where personality tends to show up first, since the metal color and the detailing on the band read from across a table long before anyone can judge a carat weight. Here is a range from our collection.

RB Signature 14k White Gold Natural Diamond Engagement Ring Setting 3/8 ct. tw.

• 14k white gold from our own RB Signature line
• Natural diamond accents totaling 3/8 ct. tw.
• Head shaped for a princess cut center diamond

RB Signature 14k Yellow Gold Natural Diamond Engagement Ring Setting 1/4 ct. tw.

• Warm 14k yellow gold, currently the metal our guests reach for most
• A lighter hand with the accent diamonds, at 1/4 ct. tw.
• Built to hold a marquise center stone

Michael M. 18k Yellow Gold Natural Diamond Engagement Ring Setting 1/3 ct. tw.

• Designer piece from Michael M., in richer 18k yellow gold
• Natural diamond detailing at 1/3 ct. tw.
• Made for a round center diamond you select yourself

Complete Engagement Rings, Ready to Wear

A complete engagement ring arrives with its center diamond already set and matched to the design, so what you see is what you take home. The matching is the quiet advantage here: the proportion between the center stone and the band has been resolved by someone who does it every day, which is harder to judge than it looks when you are holding a loose diamond in one hand and an empty setting in the other.

Browse the full assortment of complete engagement rings, or start with these.

Eternalle 14k Yellow Gold Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring 3 1/2 ct. tw.

• 14k yellow gold with a lab-grown pear center, already set
• 3 1/2 ct. tw., a statement scale without a natural-diamond budget
• Pear shape elongates the finger, which is why it wears larger than the number suggests

Verragio 14k White Gold and 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Engagement Ring 3/4 ct. tw.

• Two-tone 14k white and yellow gold, a Verragio signature
• Cushion cut center diamond included, at 3/4 ct. tw. total
• Designer detailing you can see best from the side profile

Eternalle 14k White Gold Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring 3 ct. tw.

• Bright 14k white gold with a lab-grown cushion cut center
• 3 ct. tw. and ready to wear out of the showroom
• Cushion corners soften the outline, a gentler read than a square cut

Eternalle complete rings in white gold

Eternalle Complete Engagement Rings

• Skus: 0456646 · 0461434
• 14k white gold throughout
• Oval and pear lab-grown center diamonds, already set
• 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 ct. tw., showing how the same idea reads in different cuts

Complete Halo Engagement Rings

A halo wraps the center diamond in a ring of smaller stones, adding sparkle and making the center read larger than its carat weight. Halos pair beautifully with every diamond shape, and the complete versions come with the center stone already chosen for you. To see more, browse all of our complete halo settings and side stone designs.

Henri Daussi cushion cut halos

Henri Daussi Halo Engagement Rings

• Skus: 0412525 · 0447294 · 0441795
• 18k white gold and 14k rose gold
• Cushion cut center diamonds framed by a diamond halo
• Natural diamonds, 7/8 to 1 ct. tw., center stone included

Complete Rings and Wedding Sets

Prefer a coordinated look from the start? A wedding set pairs the engagement ring with a band designed to sit flush against it, so there is no gap to squint at later. Multi-diamond center designs take a different route to presence, clustering several small stones into a center that reads brilliant and generous.

Cherish complete rings and sets in white gold

Cherish Complete Rings and Wedding Sets

• Skus: 0427071 · 0448220 · 0448160
• 10k white gold, our most everyday-durable white metal
• Round and multi-diamond centers, plus a matching wedding set
• Natural diamonds, 1/2 to 3/4 ct. tw., center included

Complete Three Stone and Side Stone Rings

A three stone ring frames the center diamond with a stone on each side, a design many couples read as past, present, and future.

Side stone rings work the same territory with a lighter touch, letting the accents trail down the shoulders instead of standing beside the center as equals. The effect is sparkle that follows the finger rather than sitting in a row.

The Eternalle below is a complete ring with an oval lab-grown center already in place.

Eternalle 14k White Gold Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring 3 1/4 ct. tw.

• 14k white gold
• Oval lab-grown center diamond, already set
• 3 1/4 ct. tw. across the whole ring

Love a different shape? These complete rings pair a lab-grown center with graceful side stones in emerald cut, round, and pear.

Eternalle Side Stone Engagement Rings

• Skus: 0457001 · 0456999 · 0457144
• 14k white gold across the group
• Emerald cut, round, and pear lab-grown centers with side stones
• Lab-grown diamonds, 3 1/4 to 5 ct. tw., center stone included

The Robbins Brothers Difference

For more than 100 years we have guided couples through one of life’s most meaningful purchases, and deciding between a setting and a complete ring is exactly the kind of choice we love to help you make. Only 1 in 10 diamonds meets our standards, so every stone we set is hand-selected for its cut, clarity, color, and carat weight, natural or lab-grown alike. Prefer to start from a blank page? Our in-house master jeweler can design a one-of-a-kind ring with you, and every purchase is backed by our product protection plan. Stop into any of our showrooms across California, Arizona, Texas, and Washington to try styles on and see the two approaches next to each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an engagement ring setting and a complete engagement ring?

A setting is sold without its center stone; a complete ring arrives with one already set. The practical difference shows up in how you shop. Choosing a setting means you also examine a loose diamond, which you can turn over and view from every angle under magnification before it is secured. With a complete ring that judgment has been made for you, and what you are assessing is the finished piece on your hand.

Should I choose a setting or a complete engagement ring?

Ask yourself which half of the ring you hold the stronger opinion about. If you can already describe the diamond you want in detail, a setting lets you go looking for that specific stone, and it is also the route for reusing an heirloom diamond you already own. If your opinions are all about the ring itself, the band, the profile, the way it photographs, a preset design gets you there without a second decision to make.

How long does it take to set my diamond into an engagement ring setting?

Plan on a wait measured in weeks rather than days, since the head may need adjusting to your exact stone before the diamond is set and the ring is finished and polished. Tell your consultant the date you are working toward and we will tell you honestly whether a setting or a complete ring is the safer bet for it.

Can I choose my own diamond shape and setting style either way?

Yes. A full range of setting styles and diamond shapes is available in both formats, so you never have to compromise on the look to get the buying experience you want. Solitaire, halo, or three stone; oval, pear, emerald cut, or round; a pavé band or a milgrain edge. All of it is on the table either way.

Do complete engagement rings come with lab-grown or natural diamonds?

We carry complete engagement rings with both, and we present the differences without judgment. Our jewelry consultants can walk you through how each option looks, wears, and fits your budget so you can make a confident, informed choice.

How do you select the diamonds in your complete engagement rings?

Every center stone goes through the same hand-selection our loose diamonds do, which is why a preset ring is not a compromise on quality. You are welcome to take a complete ring into our VIP diamond viewing rooms and inspect the center under ideal lighting, exactly as you would a stone you were buying on its own.

Can I customize a setting or design a completely custom engagement ring?

Absolutely. Our in-house design studio and master jeweler can modify an existing setting, reimagine an heirloom, or build a one-of-a-kind ring with you from the very first sketch. Book a consultation any time at robbinsbrothers.com/appointment.

Can I see engagement ring settings and complete rings in person?

We encourage it, and this is the decision that benefits most from being made in a showroom. Seeing an empty setting beside a finished ring makes the trade-off obvious in a way no photograph manages, and our consultants can slot a loose diamond into a setting so you can picture the result before committing to either path.

Or find a Robbins Brothers near you to explore settings and complete engagement rings in person. You can also browse our Pinterest board for inspiration.