Would you buy yourself a solitaire ring?

When Beyoncé said “If you like it, then you should have put a ring on it” in her track Single Ladies (2008), she might have been talking to your boyfriend or girlfriend to lock the deal down—but it doesn’t have to be that limiting.

All too often, this straight-jacketed notion of receiving a solitaire ring from the ‘special someone’ in your life leaves most women devoid of indulging in jewels that may look like an engagement ring. As someone in her late twenties with no romantic prospects, my Pinterest boards brim with iterations of rings, from emeralds to diamonds, princess cuts with sharp curves to pavé set bands. But why must I wait for a partner to buy it for me?

Time and again, I’ve caught myself desiring material things often at the expense of being labelled ‘high-maintenance’. Moulding desires, ambitions, and even self-sustained materiality to fit into others’ narratives is perhaps synonymous with the female experience. But, a woman can have requirements and desires beyond a bridal future, too. In the traditional sense, yes, a solitaire ring signifies an external relationship, but beyond this cookie-cutter ideology, you can buy yourself that perfect cushion-cut rock set on a gold band to mark a new phase of life, too.

Among the few brands that focus on jewellery as more than just a symbol of romantic relationships, Zoya stands out with inviting and refined pieces. The brand’s most recent collection, ‘Reborn’ focuses on “women embracing their true selves” with the beauty of the solitaire at its heart. One particular ring in their ‘Eterna Cut’ with a star-shaped facet sitting on a gold band, can make for the perfect gift “from me to me”.

You can collect these baubles over years of milestones ranging from attaining a master’s degree to finally settling into a new city or mending a lost friendship. This is how you can add tangibility to moments—that might have otherwise been emotional wins—commemorated through objects of holding. “A solitaire is far more than a symbol, it is a personal treasure, a reflection of a woman’s journey”, agrees Ajoy Chawla, CEO of Titan’s jewellery division.

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