Bespoke Custom Jewellery, Designed One‑on‑One by Artist Alex Armen.
Private commissions. By appointment only.
Engagement Ring & Jewellery Commissions
- For those who value intention over repetition, each commission begins from a blank page.
- Our studio works by appointment only and accepts a limited number of commissions at a time.
- If our approach resonates, we invite you to request a private consultation.
- Each piece is personally designed by artist Alex Armen, whose work is known for its balance of engineering, symbolism, and longevity.
Each piece is constructed through a disciplined balance of traditional goldsmithing and modern precision, with proportion, structural integrity, and longevity guiding every technical decision.
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
Solitaire x Alex Armen
DEDICATED TIME
Each commission begins with focused, one‑on‑one time with artist Alex Armen. We take the time to understand your vision, lifestyle, and intent before a single line is drawn.
Clarity at the
Outset
Once a design direction is agreed upon, your investment is clearly defined. This allows you to move through the process with confidence and without distraction.
EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP
Every piece is crafted using time‑honoured techniques and exceptional materials. Diamonds and gemstones are selected for rarity, beauty, and integrity, ensuring heirloom quality and longevity.
A Deliberate
Timeline
Each commission is carefully scheduled to allow proper focus and attention. Our process is efficient, considered, and never rushed — balancing momentum with precision.
A Private,
Guided Process
From initial consultation to final delivery, your experience is discreet, personal, and fully guided. We accept a limited number of commissions at a time to ensure every piece receives the attention it deserves.
How we create
Every commission begins with a conversation. We take time to understand your intentions, preferences, and how the piece will be worn, allowing the design to grow naturally from dialogue rather than templates or assumptions.
Design
Our designs start with intention and are guided by balance, proportion, and wearability. We believe true elegance comes from simplicity—where every line and curve is considered, and nothing competes with the natural presence of the stone. The result is jewellery that feels calm, refined, and quietly confident.
Gemstones and setting
Each gemstone is chosen for its clarity, colour, durability, and distinct character. Settings are designed to enhance brilliance while providing lasting strength and comfort. Stone and setting are developed together so the final piece feels beautifully resolved, secure, and effortless to wear.
Gold
We work exclusively with high‑quality gold selected for its richness, purity, and long‑term performance. Available in classic yellow, soft rose, or refined white, each finish is applied with care and restraint, allowing the design and gemstone to remain the focal point.
Design
Our designs start with intention and are guided by balance, proportion, and wearability. We believe true elegance comes from simplicity—where every line and curve is considered, and nothing competes with the natural presence of the stone. The result is jewellery that feels calm, refined, and quietly confident.
Gemstones and setting
Each gemstone is chosen for its clarity, colour, durability, and distinct character. Settings are designed to enhance brilliance while providing lasting strength and comfort. Stone and setting are developed together so the final piece feels beautifully resolved, secure, and effortless to wear.
Gold
We work exclusively with high‑quality gold selected for its richness, purity, and long‑term performance. Available in classic yellow, soft rose, or refined white, each finish is applied with care and restraint, allowing the design and gemstone to remain the focal point.
Understanding Bespoke Jewellery
Solitaire x Alex Armen: Toronto’s Sanctuary for Creative Jewellery
Create a unique bond that is remembered for life.
Explore a selection of past engagement commissions, each designed as a singular expression of its wearer.
01 / Engagement Rings
Reflect your charm with earrings that tell a tale of elegance. Offering something for every occasion, our earrings radiate individuality, making you feel stylish and effortlessly chic.
02 / Earrings
03 / necklaces
Commission Your Jewellery Designed One‑on‑One with Alex Armen
Bring your dream jewellery to life, work directly with skilled artist Alex Armen. From initial idea to final polish, we meticulously craft custom jewellery in Toronto that resonates with your style, vision, and story.
A DESIGN STUDIO
Solitaire is a sanctuary for creativity, a space where ideas come to life and dreams are realized. Discover the artistry, passion, and elegance that define our design studio to create fineartist‑led commissions with soul and substance. Discover our story featured on The Jewellery Editor.
Custom Jewelry
Experience timeless treasures tailored to be as unique as you are.
Offering a refined union between design and metalsmithing, your custom jewellery ideas are transformed into bespoke masterpieces, handcrafted to reflect your personal style.
AUTHENTIC
Blending the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship, Solitaire, the best private design studio , creates pieces you can wear with pride. Handcrafted and deep-rooted in tradition, our designs reflect authenticity as the cornerstone of our values.
AI‑to‑Commission Craftsmanship
Have a design concept generated digitally? We work with clients who arrive with AI‑generated visuals, sketches, or custom 3D files and translate them into refined, wearable jewellery. At Solitaire x Alex Armen, digital concepts are treated as starting points—interpreted, refined, and re‑engineered through a disciplined design and making process.
From engagement rings to personal pendants and singular statement pieces, our Toronto workshop is equipped to transform digital ideas into enduring works of jewellery. Each piece is crafted with precision, restraint, and the finest materials, ensuring the final result carries clarity, balance, and long‑term integrity.
Share Your Design with Us
Send us your AI-generated image or 3D model.
Consultation
We’ll set up a design consultation to go over materials, assess what’s possible, and make any necessary adjustments.
Creation
Craftsmanship is at the heart of what we do. Our team will execute your vision, blending time-honored methods with the latest technological advancements.
Delivery
Get a unique creation, a fusion of your vision and our skill.
Our Work
At Solitaire, each piece tells a story of artistry, passion, and style. From wedding bands to engagement rings, our work reflects converting vision into unique masterpieces.
Victoria Street Jewellery
Wedding Bands
Handmade Engagement Rings
Custom Engagement Rings
Our Timeline
Solitaire’s journey is one of innovation and passion. Established in Toronto since 1983, Solitaire, a premium jeweller in Toronto, crafts exclusive designs carefully curated by skilled artisans that manifest your panache.
A NEW BEGINNING
The founder of Solitaire moved to Canada for a new beginning. Three years later, he established Solitaire with a vision as clear as a diamond and a determination as strong as gold.
SOLITAIRE
Solitaire opened its doors in 1983 in downtown Toronto. It is committed to quality and has a passion for creativity.
MANUFACTURING
As some retail areas dwindled, Solitaire's growing niche produced jewellery for Consumers Distributing, Maison Birks, and other Canadian retailers.
CUSTOM ENGAGEMENT RINGS
Noticing a shift in client attitudes – an increased demand for uniquely designed engagement rings of higher quality at a fair cost – Solitaire pivoted to solely making custom jewellery in Toronto.
A NEW BEGINNING
The founder of Solitaire moved to Canada for a new beginning. Three years later, he established Solitaire with a vision as clear as a diamond and a determination as strong as gold.
SOLITAIRE
Solitaire opened its doors in 1983 in downtown Toronto. It is committed to quality and has a passion for creativity.
MANUFACTURING
As some retail areas dwindled, Solitaire's growing niche produced jewellery for Consumers Distributing, Maison Birks, and other Canadian retailers.
CUSTOM ENGAGEMENT RINGS
Noticing a shift in client attitudes – an increased demand for uniquely designed engagement rings of higher quality at a fair cost – Solitaire pivoted to solely making custom jewellery in Toronto.
HOLLYWOOD NORTH
In the late nineties, movie and television filming was heating up downtown. Solitaire was frequently commissioned for movie props. Complex requirements included: Stephen King's Storm of the Century, Grey Gardens, Down to Earth, 54, Four Brothers, Relic Hunter, Nikita, and Driven.
NATURAL DIAMONDS
Before the advancement of the internet, visits to Europe and USA were necessary to secure exquisite diamonds for clients. Solitaire's natural diamonds are graded by the GIA.
ALEX ARMEN
Toronto artist and jewelry designer Alex Armen introduced both digital jewellery designs and 3D printing to the Canadian market. Alex exclusively designs for Solitaire's clients.
NATURAL GEMSTONES
Many of Solitaire's fine gemstones are skilfully cut in Germany's gemstone cutting town of Idar-Oberstein. Break away from the indistinctive by exploring fresh combinations of natural gemstones.
HOLLYWOOD NORTH
In the late nineties, movie and television filming was heating downtown. Solitaire was frequently commissioned for movie props. Complex requirements included Stephen King's Storm of the Century, Grey Gardens, Down to Earth, 54, Four Brothers, Relic Hunter, Nikita, and Driven.
NATURAL DIAMONDS
Before the advancement of the internet, clients needed to visit Europe and the USA to secure exquisite diamonds. The GIA grades solitaire's natural diamonds.
ALEX ARMEN
Toronto artist and jewellery designer Alex Armen introduced digital jewellery designs and 3D printing to the Canadian market. Alex exclusively designs for Solitaire's clients.
NATURAL GEMSTONES
Many of Solitaire's fine gemstones are skillfully cut in Germany's gemstone-cutting town of Idar-Oberstein. Break away from the indistinctive by exploring fresh combinations of natural gemstones.
40 Years
It is a time of gratitude for our clients and community. Our simple belief that quality matters more than quantity continues to personalize each client's experience.
A Warm Visit
Live on CP24 Breakfast on Valentine's Day.
Shining Through Generations
Live with QuickBooksCA – Celebrating National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day!
made-to-order online shop
Years in the making, our online boutique showcasing the artistry of Alex Armen'
40 Years
It is a time of gratitude for our clients and community. Our simple belief that quality matters more than quantity continues to personalize each client's experience.
A Warm Visit
Live on CP24 Breakfast on Valentine's Day.
Shining Through Generations
Live with QuickBooksCA – Celebrating National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day!
made-to-order online shop
Years in the making, our online boutique showcasing the artistry of Alex Armen'
Transparent Costing
At Solitaire x Alex Armen, we believe that integrity begins with pricing. Each piece is carefully priced to reflect the true value of its craftsmanship and quality—no hidden fees, no unexpected costs. Just clear, honest pricing that builds trust from the very first glance.
What Our Clients Say About Us
Our client reviews are a testament to our expert craftsmanship, personalized design, and ethical, high-quality gemstones
FAQS
Among the most popular custom diamond ring designs include: Solitaire, hidden halo, cluster, vintage, and organic designs.
Although natural and lab-grown diamonds look alike and are graded equally by the GIA and IGI, their production process is the main differentiating factor. Natural diamonds have been formed naturally for millions of years, while lab-grown diamonds are manufactured from diamond seedlings.The cutting and polishing process for both are the same. However, natural diamonds cost more and may better retain value compared to lab-grown ones.
- Carat
- Scientific Elaboration:
- Mass: The carat directly correlates with the size of the diamond; larger diamonds are typically rarer and hence more valuable.
- Density: Diamonds have a specific gravity of around 3.52, meaning that for every carat, the volume of the diamond can be calculated using density (mass/volume).
- Impact on Value: While carat impacts perceived size, it doesn’t directly correlate with value per carat — larger diamonds often have a higher price per carat due to rarity.
- Layman’s Explanation:
- Carat is like the weight of the diamond. One carat equals 200 milligrams, so the bigger the diamond, the more carats it has. But just because a diamond is big doesn’t mean it’s automatically more valuable; it’s all about how rare that size is.
- Cut
- Scientific Elaboration:
- Light Performance: A well-cut diamond reflects light internally from one facet to another, maximizing brilliance, fire, and scintillation.
- Proportions and Symmetry: The cut affects how light exits the diamond. Ideal proportions ensure light is returned to the observer’s eye rather than leaking out the bottom or sides.
- Grades: Cut grades like Excellent, Very Good, Good, etc., are based on proportions, symmetry, and polish, which are determined using precise measurements and optical analyses.
- Layman’s Explanation:
- Cut is about how the diamond is shaped and polished. A good cut makes the diamond sparkle a lot because it reflects light in the best way. If it’s cut poorly, the diamond might look dull because light escapes instead of bouncing back to your eye.
- Color
- Scientific Elaboration:
- Color Scale: Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
- Molecular Structure: Diamond’s color comes from nitrogen atoms that can replace carbon atoms in the crystal lattice, absorbing certain wavelengths of light.
- Spectroscopy: Advanced techniques like UV-Vis spectroscopy can measure color by analyzing how light is absorbed or transmitted through the diamond.
- Layman’s Explanation:
- Color looks at how clear or colored the diamond is. The best diamonds are almost completely colorless. Any color you see reduces the grade because ideally, diamonds should look like they’re made of light.
- Clarity
- Scientific Elaboration:
- Inclusions and Blemishes: Inclusions are internal flaws (like crystals or feathers), whereas blemishes are external (like scratches or nicks).
- Microscopy: A gemologist uses a 10x magnification loupe or microscope to grade clarity. The size, number, position, nature, and relief of inclusions are considered.
- Impact on Light: While inclusions can affect the diamond’s transparency and brilliance, they can also add to its uniqueness or, in some cases, enhance its value if they create special effects like asterism.
- Layman’s Explanation:
- Clarity checks for any tiny imperfections inside or marks on the surface of the diamond. Most of these can’t be seen with the naked eye, but they’re there. A diamond with fewer or smaller flaws will be clearer and usually more valuable, though sometimes these flaws can make a diamond special or even more desirable.
This dual explanation should give you a comprehensive understanding of how each ‘C’ affects the quality, value, and appeal of a diamond.
- Unmatched Personalization: At Solitaire x Alex Armen, your jewelry isn’t just an accessory; it’s a piece of your story. Every piece is tailored to your taste, ensuring that your jewelry is as unique as you are.
- Artisan Excellence: Alex Armen brings a legacy of meticulous craftsmanship to the table, combined with Solitaire’s expertise in selecting and setting the finest gems. This collaboration means your custom jewelry will not only be beautiful but also of the highest quality.
- Toronto’s Unique Touch: Working with Solitaire x Alex Armen gives you access to designs that are exclusive to their Toronto studio. You’re not just buying jewelry; you’re investing in a piece that reflects the city’s vibrant, diverse art scene, crafted just for you.
When buying diamonds, one must consider the following:
- 4 Cs: Carat, Cut, Color, Clarity.
- Certification: GIA, IGI for authenticity.
- Budget: Balance cost with quality.
- Shape: Round, princess, or fancy cuts.
- Ethical Sourcing: Conflict-free diamonds.
- Setting: Enhances diamond’s appearance.
- Fluorescence: Effect on color under UV light.
- The seller’s experience and reputation.
When buying gemstones, one must consider the following:
- Type: Ruby, sapphire, emerald, etc.
- Color: Hue, saturation, tone.
- Clarity: Inclusions affect value and appearance. Some gems look beautiful with natural inclusions.
- Cut: Quality of craftsmanship.
- Carat: Size and weight.
- Treatment: Heat, irradiation, or none.
- Origin: Some locales add value.
- Durability: Hardness for everyday wear.
- Price: Reflects rarity and quality.
- Symbolism: Birthstone, cultural significance, healing properties, color symbolism.
