Round Shank vs. Euro Shank Engagement Rings

We are excited to announce the release of our new Round Shank Valina Bridal Line!

An engagement ring’s shank refers to the lower half of the band. Originally, every Valina engagement ring and matching wedding band came with a Euro shank. Euro shank engagement rings are admired for how sturdy and glamorous they are, but many people prefer a traditional round shank. Both shank designs complement various ring settings and are tailored towards different types of people. Whichever shank you choose will depend on your style and engagement ring preferences. To discover which shank is right for you, let’s explore the differences between the Euro shank and round shank!

Euro Shank Engagement Rings

Euro shanks, otherwise known as European shanks, are distinguished by their wide, square-looking base along the outer edge of the ring. The inner shank is unaffected and still round, allowing the engagement ring to perfectly fit your finger. Only the outer edge of the shank is extended, filling the gaps between your fingers. This extra metal also increases the weight of the ring’s shank, balancing out the heavy shoulders, head, and center stone on top of the ring.

By acting as a bumper and a balance, a Euro shank will keep your engagement ring from shifting around your finger. This is very beneficial because engagement rings can twist and turn, causing the prongs and diamonds to scratch the sensitive skin along the sides of your fingers. By adding just a little extra metal to a ring’s base, the Euro shank solves this age-old problem!

R1110W

Top-heavy engagement rings are notorious for twisting because gravity pulls their heads down. An engagement ring is likely top-heavy if it has a center stone greater than 1-carat, a tall cathedral, or more than one halo. This is why our stunning 2-carat engagement ring, R1110W, was designed with a Euro shank. Not only is the center stone very large, but the shoulders also taper, becoming thicker towards the base of the head. Without a wide and sturdy band to balance out the stunning and substantial design, this engagement ring relies on the squared-off Euro shank to keep it upright.

Engagement rings can also shift if your finger size frequently changes. We are not talking about changes influenced by gaining or losing weight. Instead, we are referencing people whose fingers change size depending on temperature, diet, or daily activities. These highly sensitive fingers can expand or shrink up to ½ a size during the day. As your fingers shrink, a round shank engagement ring will loosen and likely tip over. If this sounds like you, a Euro shank engagement ring is your best option.

Euro shanks are also slightly sturdier than traditional round shanks. When we add metal to the base of a ring, the rest of the band gets reinforced with additional metal. This might make a Euro shank engagement ring slightly more expensive, but the ring is also harder to bend and break. Also, since the bottom of a ring experiences the most wear and tear, a thicker Euro shank is the best options for people who use their hands a lot and who want to always wear their bridal set.

R1168W

Besides being structurally sound, people often think Euro shanks look more glamorous, making them a perfect match for rings with dramatic cathedral shoulders. A ring’s shoulders refer to the upper half of the band. This is the part of an engagement ring typically adorned with diamonds and intricate details. If the shoulders angle upwards and connect to the top of an engagement ring’s head, that ring has cathedral shoulders. Whereas, if the shoulders maintain a round silhouette and merge below the head, that engagement ring has traditional shoulders or flat shoulders.

As an engagement ring’s cathedral becomes taller, a Euro shank becomes increasingly important. As a cathedral becomes taller, it often features more heavy diamonds and gold, off-balancing the ring. So, if you want to keep a statement engagement ring like R1168W standing upright, you need a Euro shank to help stabilize the design.

Round Shank Engagement Rings

R1121W-SR

Round shank engagement rings look exactly like they sound – the lower half of the band is perfectly rounded on the inner and outer edge. Most people gravitate towards a round shank engagement ring because virtually all fine jewelry rings are round. So, before getting engaged, round rings are all we are exposed to. Consequently, it is no surprise when a bride requests the familiar round shank.

Similarly, since most fashion bands are round, you can wear them with your round shank engagement ring and wedding band! This is a major advantage for those who adore the stackable band trend. If you wish to sport this layered bridal and fashion hybrid look, remember to get an engagement ring that not only has a round shank but also a straight band. Most stackable bands are perfectly straight, so unless your engagement ring is also straight, the bands will not stack very well.

R1138W-SR

Luckily, there is an easy trick to tell if a ring’s band is straight when shopping online – just look at its matching wedding band. If there are no curves or minor divots in the wedding band, then the engagement ring is likely straight. For example, our three-stone ring R1121W-SR looks like it could curve under the halos, but its wedding band is perfectly straight, indicating no excess metal in the under gallery. But, if you are still worried your ring will not accent specific stackable bands you own, simply request a free preview of the engagement ring(s) you are interested in at your local Valina jewelry store. This useful feature is displayed on every individual product page you view at valina.com.

Combining stackable bands with an engagement ring creates an elaborate statement look, but many brides prefer round shank rings because they are more minimalistic. Round shanks have less metal, making them look delicate as well as lighter and more affordable. Just looks at how simple and elegant our solitaire halo engagement ring R1138W-SR looks. With this ring, you get a perfectly circular polished gold band with no excessive detailing besides its petite yet stunning round halo on top.

RQ9626W

With such a streamlined look, round shanks pair well with most classic solitaire and straight engagement rings. These ring settings utilize simplicity just like the round shank, making them the ideal choice for our minimalistic brides. And even if you do not like any of our new round shank Valina styles, any Euro shank engagement ring can be ordered with a round shank, typically at no extra cost. For example, RQ9626W currently has a Euro shank, but with its 1/2-carat center stone and shoulders accented with a single row of diamonds, this design would look brilliant with a round shank.

R9517W

Additionally, since rings require balance to avoid spinning around, wide engagement rings also pair well with round shanks. If a ring has a consistently wide band, the design will have significantly more surface area touching your finger, creating friction and stability. So, even if a wide engagement ring has a large center stone, like our bold engagement ring R9517W, you can confidently order it with a round shank. The wide band firmly grasps onto your finger, making it resilient to twisting and turning.

Round Shank vs. Euro Shank

There is no right answer as to whether one shank is better than the other. Both round shanks and Euro shanks have appealing characteristics and minor drawbacks. So, when deciding which shank style you want on your engagement ring, determine which of these pros and cons are most important to you.

Euro Shank Engagement Ring Characteristics:

• Euro shanks prevent engagement rings from spinning around your finger
• Euro shanks make engagement rings more resistant to damage
• Euro shanks enhance glamorous cathedral shoulders
• Euro shanks are good for people whose fingers regularly change size
• Euro shanks compliment halo engagement rings, vintage engagement rings, and statement rings with center stones larger than 1-carat best
• Con: Euro shanks can feel unfamiliar and bulky

Round Shank Engagement Ring Characteristics:

• Round shanks easily pair with stackable bands and fashion rings
• Round shanks enhance traditional flat and round shoulders
• Round shanks look more minimalistic and modern
• Round shank engagement rings often cost less since they require less metal
• Round shanks complement solitaire engagement rings, straight engagement rings, and wide shank engagement rings best
• Con: Round shanks make it easier for rings to spin around your finger

"New Valina" features R1148W-SR & "Classic Valina" features R9541W

An important note: The image above is displaying common differences between the two Valina bridal collections. These comparisons are not true for all New and Classic Valina designs. For example, some “New Valina” engagement rings are designed with cathedral shoulders. Similarly, some “Classic Valina” engagement rings are designed with traditional flat shoulders. Additionally, every Valina engagement ring is fully customizable. So, you can order a round shank engagement ring with a Euro shank or add cathedral shoulders to the design, just like you can make our Euro shank rings round! Whichever direction you go, make sure the shank and general engagement ring design you choose feels comfortable to you, because this ring will be with you for the rest of your lives together.