Split Shank Engagement Rings

When you shop with Ben Garelick, we treat you like family, giving you our honest and knowledgeable help to choose the ring that will showcase your true love for a lifetime. Our customers from the Buffalo, NY area and around the world often inquire about our collection of popular split shank or split band engagement ring bridal sets.

What Makes A Split Shank Style?

A split shank engagement ring features open spaces along the sides of the ring. This frames the center stone in an elegant and unique way. Vintage and antique look engagement rings often feature floral or organic motifs set off with engraving and milgrain. Clean, straight lines accented with rows of diamonds are the hallmark of classic split shank diamond engagement rings. Twists, criss-cross details and asymmetrical designs lend a contemporary flair to split shank engagement rings. Select a diamond solitaire, a moissanite or a colored gem center stone; your split shank engagement ring from Ben Garelick will be a unique and beautiful symbol of your love.

Split Shank Designers

Besides the exclusive designs of Ben Garelick, the Buffalo, New York jewelry store is proud to offer the designs of the many other exceptional diamond jewelry designers who craft the finest engagement rings, wedding rings and other fine jewelry. Kirk Kara, Simon G., Gabriel, Amavida and Barkev's all offer beautiful split shank designs that will suit your style and budget. You’ll find sparkling cushion halo sets, large center diamond sets and more all set in a variety of metals including white and yellow gold.

Find Your Perfect Split Shank At Ben Garelick Jewelers

If you don't see the perfect ring in our online store or in our Buffalo, NY showcase, please contact us about what customization we can offer you. The staff at Ben Garelick’s is ready and waiting to answer all of your questions about the split shank or all styles of our engagement rings, from vintage diamond ring styles to more contemporary styles with other beautiful gemstones. You can reach our diamond experts by calling (716) 631-1584 or reaching out on our online chat. We also offer 0% financing and layaway to help you get what you want, when you want it. We look forward to your call or visit!

Buy now, pay later.

Financing Options

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are split shank engagement rings a popular choice for modern brides?

Because a split shank does two useful things at once. Where the band divides as it approaches the center stone, it frames the diamond and draws the eye inward, and the open space between the strands makes the whole ring look larger and more architectural than a solid band of the same weight. It reads as a design decision rather than a default. Pave along the split strands is our most requested version, and oval and cushion centers suit the style particularly well. If you find solitaires too plain but halos too expected, a split shank is usually the ring that lands.

What is the meaning and symbolism behind a split shank ring design?

Two paths separating and coming back together around something shared, which most couples read as the obvious parallel to a marriage. There is no old tradition attached to it, since the split shank is a relatively modern design idea rather than an inherited symbol. Some people describe it as open arms around the center stone. Others just like the shape and have no interest in assigning a meaning at all, which is completely fine. If the symbolism matters to you, the nice thing about a newer design is that nobody can tell you you have got it wrong.

How much more do split shank engagement rings cost compared to solitaires?

Meaningfully more, though less than people assume. Split shank settings here mostly run between about $2,340 and $4,840, with the middle near $3,375, while our plain solitaire settings mostly sit between about $1,500 and $3,680. So you are typically looking at several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars more, depending on how much pave the split strands carry. The extra cost is metal and labor: two strands take more material to cast, and the accent diamonds along them take time to set individually. Buying the setting separately from the center stone keeps you in control of the total.

Are split shank engagement rings durable enough for daily wear?

Yes, and the split itself is not the weak point people expect, since two strands distribute stress rather than concentrating it. What needs attention is the pave along the strands, where small diamonds sit in individual drilled seats and can work loose over years, and the outer edges of the split, which are the first part of the ring to catch a doorframe. An annual prong check under magnification handles both. Platinum is the most forgiving metal here because it holds small stones by bending rather than wearing thin. Take the ring off for the gym and heavy work and it will give you very little trouble.

Can you resize a split shank engagement ring if it does not fit?

Usually, but the margin is narrower than with a plain band. Our jewelers work at the bottom of the shank where the two strands have rejoined into solid metal, and if that section is plain, there is room to move the ring a size or so in either direction. If the pave continues all the way around, the options shrink considerably and sometimes disappear. Sizing up substantially can also change the angle at which the strands separate, subtly altering the look. Get measured properly before ordering. We size in-house in Williamsville, so bring it to us rather than a mall counter.

What is the best way to clean dirt out of a split band ring setting?

The gap between the strands is a genuine dirt trap, and it is the reason split shanks look dull faster than plain bands. Soak the ring twenty to thirty minutes in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap, then run a soft toothbrush along the inside faces of both strands and through the opening between them, plus underneath the center stone. Those are the three places grime hides. Rinse with the drain closed and dry with a lint free cloth. Avoid bleach and chlorine. Twice a year bring it in for an ultrasonic clean, which flushes the split properly in a way brushing never quite does.

Can I customize the metal or diamond shapes on a split band setting?

Yes. Metal is your choice in ten, fourteen, and eighteen karat white, yellow, and rose gold, or platinum, and two-tone works especially well here because the split gives you two distinct surfaces to play with. You can also decide whether the strands carry pave or stay polished, how wide the split opens, and whether it splits on both sides or asymmetrically. Swapping the center for an oval, radiant, or pear is routine, and elongated shapes tend to sit beautifully inside the frame the split creates. Most of these are made to order, so send us a photo and our jewelers will tell you what is realistic.

Will a standard wedding band sit flush against a split shank ring?

Often not, and this is the question we most wish people asked before buying. Because the shank divides as it rises toward the center stone, a straight band frequently leaves a visible gap or bumps against the split. There are three good solutions. A contoured or notched band curves to nest against the shape. A wedding band designed as a matched set with the engagement ring, which many of our designers offer, fits perfectly by design. Or you wear the bands on separate fingers, which more people do than you would guess. Bring the engagement ring in and we will fit bands against it in person.