Do you want a pendant for a necklace, a beautiful ring, or perhaps a broche? Once you decide that part of the equation, then you have to decide on the style you like. Does a modern look suit your fancy or would you prefer a more antique look?

When you have decided what piece of jewelry and the style you want to make with your diamond, then you can consider if it needs embellishment of any kind. Surrounding a solitaire diamond with smaller ones can add a lot of glamour to a piece. Smaller diamonds can be inexpensive, depending on their quality.

Gemstones with striking color, such as rubies or sapphires can give a piece of jewelry even more flare. Using smaller stones can play up a good solitaire diamond, or it can help detract attention from the flaws of a lesser quality diamond. Just remember that if you are going to embellish a solitaire with smaller surrounding diamonds, the color of the stones need to match.

If your solitaire has a tinge of yellow for example, you do not want to use smaller diamonds that are whiter in color. It would make the lesser quality of the large diamond stand out in such close proximity.

If you do have a good quality diamond and think it would be great in a setting alone, there are still a couple of choices to make. How do want the piece to be set in your metal?

The most common setting for a solitaire diamond is with four or six prongs. This is most commonly used for engagement rings. If your diamond is not for an engagement, you may wish to choose to have in done in a bezel setting. This is where the stone is less exposed and is surrounded by a solid outline of metal. This type of setting does give the diamond more protection.

When choosing the metal for your diamond, you may consider the other jewelry you will be wearing along with your diamond piece. If you wear a lot of silver, a 10k or 14k white gold, or platinum setting will blend well with other silver pieces. If you normally wear gold tone jewelry, then 10k or 14k yellow gold will serve you best.

Whichever you decide, give all your choices careful consideration and then you will end up with a piece of jewelry that you will love and enjoy wearing for years to come.