How to Choose Side Stones for Your Engagement Ring

The centre stone may be the first thing you notice, but the side stones can completely change the character of an engagement ring.

They can soften the silhouette, add structure, create more sparkle or make the centre stone feel even more prominent. Two rings can begin with the same oval or emerald-cut centre stone and feel entirely different simply because of the shapes chosen to sit beside it.

At Sophia Perez Jewellery, we often use side stones to create balance around the centre stone rather than compete with it. The right choice comes down to the overall feeling you want the ring to have.

Pear-Shaped Side Stones: Soft and Elegant

Pear-shaped side stones create one of the softest trilogy silhouettes.

Their tapered shape naturally draws the eye towards the centre stone while adding width and brilliance without making the design feel heavy. They work particularly beautifully with oval, pear and other elongated centre stones.

Our Luna setting is a perfect example. Pear-shaped side diamonds frame the centre stone while maintaining a graceful, balanced profile.

If you are drawn to a romantic trilogy ring with softness rather than sharp geometry, pear-shaped side stones are an effortless choice.

Round Side Stones: Classic Sparkle

Round diamonds bring light without dramatically changing the shape of the ring.

Because they are compact and brilliant, they can sit delicately beside a centre stone or be used in a graduating arrangement to create more texture and sparkle across the band.

They are especially versatile. A pair of round diamonds can give a trilogy ring a timeless feel, while several smaller stones can make the setting feel more detailed and contemporary.

The Aphrodite setting uses matching round side diamonds for a clean, balanced take on the classic trilogy, while designs such as Thalia use several smaller round stones to create a softer frame around the centre.

Baguette Side Stones: Clean and Architectural

Baguette diamonds bring structure.

Their long, straight facets create a very different kind of light from brilliant-cut stones. Instead of intense sparkle, they offer clean flashes that emphasise the lines of the centre stone.

Tapered baguettes work particularly well beside emerald, cushion and other geometric cuts because they continue the shape of the centre stone outwards.

A cushion-cut diamond paired with tapered baguette side stones, for example, feels understated and contemporary while still referencing classic Art Deco design.

If you love clean lines and a more architectural engagement ring, baguettes are one of the strongest options.

Trilliant Side Stones: Modern and Distinctive

Trilliant diamonds bring sharper geometry and a little more edge to a trilogy ring.

Their triangular shape points towards the centre stone, creating definition while making the centre feel visually larger and more pronounced.

They pair beautifully with both angular and softer centre stones. Our Freya designs often use trilliant side diamonds with oval, pear and emerald-cut centres, creating a contrast between softness and structure that gives the ring a distinctive character.

For someone who wants a trilogy ring that still feels modern and slightly unexpected, trilliants are an excellent choice.

Matching Shapes: A Softer Kind of Symmetry

Side stones do not always need to contrast with the centre.

Using the same shape throughout can create a beautifully cohesive design. Three oval diamonds, for example, create a softer, flowing trilogy silhouette, while three round stones feel traditional and exceptionally balanced.

Matching shapes place more emphasis on proportion. The size of the side stones becomes especially important because they need to frame the centre without competing with it.

This approach works particularly well for someone who already knows they love one specific diamond shape and wants the whole ring to revolve around it.

Should Your Side Stones Match the Centre Stone?

Not necessarily.

Some of the most interesting engagement rings come from contrast.

An oval centre with trilliant sides feels modern and sculptural. An emerald cut with tapered baguettes feels clean and architectural. A pear centre with pear sides creates a softer, more fluid silhouette.

The question is less about whether the stones technically “match” and more about how they work together visually.

The best combinations feel intentional.

Think About Proportion, Not Just Shape

The shape is only part of the decision.

Side stones that are too large can overwhelm the centre stone, while stones that are too small may disappear into the design. Their width, length and positioning all affect how the finished ring sits on the hand.

At SPJ, we consider the centre stone and side stones together, looking at how their proportions interact rather than choosing each element separately.

This is particularly important with unusual centre stones, where standard proportions may not create the most balanced result.

Diamonds Aren’t the Only Option

Side stones can also introduce colour.

Small sapphires, emeralds or other coloured gemstones can completely transform a diamond engagement ring, while diamond side stones can bring light and contrast to a coloured centre stone.

A vivid blue sapphire, for example, can feel even richer when surrounded by small white diamonds, while coloured side stones can give a classic diamond centre a more unexpected personality. SPJ designs use both approaches across bespoke and one-of-a-kind rings.