Start Your Love Story With Engagement Ring
When I was shopping for my Diamond Engagement Ring, I found the process much easier once I’d made a choice between the different types of Engagement Ring Settings. ‘Setting’ refers to how the center stone is held in place. At first, I felt overwhelmed by all the different styles of settings available out there, but after doing some research I realized there are only a few basic styles and the rest are just variations of those. An Antique Style Engagement Ring is one of the most important pieces of jewelry you’ll ever own, so it’s well worth taking the time to get to grips with engagement ring settings. Hopefully, after reading my guide to engagement ring settings you will find shopping for your engagement ring much easier!
Prong Engagement Ring Settings
The Prong Engagement Ring setting has been considered the gold standard for many years and is still the most popular setting style. It is used both in solitaire (single stone) styles, e.g. the Tiffany style setting, and in combinations with other decorative additions. This setting works to hold the diamond in place by using thin metal prongs that come out from the base of the ring and rest on the diamond’s top edge.
The appearance is of a raised profile which is very popular. You can choose from many styles and variations in the prong setting, for example, Tiffany-style, cathedral, and petal settings. The look of the ring can differ a lot depending on how many prongs are used. Most people choose four and six prong settings, and also eight prong settings for extra security.
Three-prong styles are not recommended for engagement rings.
Advantages: Usually one of the less expensive diamond settings – so you can focus most of your attention on getting the best quality stone. You can see a lot of the diamond from both the top and side angles. More than any other diamond setting, the prong setting exposes a lot of the stone to the light, while still holding it securely in place. The most popular diamond setting for solitaires is the Tiffany-style variation of the prong setting, which makes the center stone the entire focal point of the ring. These types of Best Engagement Ring settings can create the effect of making the stone look larger because they usually raise the stone slightly above the rest of the ring. You can also get low-profile prong settings if this is not your style.
Disadvantages: If you have an active lifestyle, or have small children, the prong setting – particularly one with a high profile – is prone to snagging too easily on clothing or other materials, which can make it one of the less practical engagement ring settings. It can also be more easily damaged than the bezel setting (see below), so if you are a dancer or like to go rock-climbing, you may need to look further. However, you can minimize the risks of damage by wearing the ring under normal conditions. If you choose a prong engagement ring setting, examine the prongs inspected regularly to ensure they’re lying securely against the stone and are undamaged.T he Bezel Setting This is the second most Popular Engagement Ring setting, and there are lots of creative ways to use this setting, so you’re likely to find something that suits you. In this setting, a metal rim or collar encircles the center stone.
You can get full or partial bezel styles. Full means that the metal completely encircles the stone, and in a partial style, the collar cuts away and reveals part of the stone’s side profile. Also have a look at the flush setting, a variation on the bezel setting, in which the stone is placed directly into an opening in the ring band, and the top of the diamond extends only a small amount from the base. The flush setting is not often used for the center stone setting, instead, it is usually used for the decorative diamond(s) on the ring shank.
Advantages Security: Because the bezel setting is custom-made for the stone that it will hold, it is always exactly the right size. It is one of the safest, most protected environments for your diamond, making it perfect for someone with an active lifestyle who for example works with their hands. It creates a low, well-protected profile for the stoneThis engagement ring setting gives a modern, sleek and subtle look to the ring. With Vintage-Inspired Engagement Rings, you may be using a family heirloom stone with some flaws in it, so the bezel setting is a good idea because it helps to cover flaws by reflecting white light onto the stone. It also adds protection to a gemstone that may be too fragile to use in a solitaire ring, e.g. an opal.
Disadvantages: In comparison to the prong setting, the Bezel Set Engagement Ring setting allows a slightly lower level of light to penetrate the stone. However, a lot depends on the design of the setting, as in some instances it can still reflect enough light to create some sparkle. If sparkle is important to you, you may want to go for a partial bezel setting or intricate halo variation of this setting. A vintage engagement ring with diamond halos going around the center not only gives more sparkle but also protects the center stone better. Tension Setting
Make a big statement with a tension engagement ring setting: this is the most creative, innovative style of diamond setting. Instead of prongs or bars, the diamond, which is set in small grooves cut into the sides of the ring shank, is held in place by the pressure of the spring-loaded metal band. This gives the diamond the appearance of being suspended in air, between the sides of the ring shank.
As a lower-priced alternative, have a look at the new tension-style settings, which have gained recognition for emulating the alluring look of the tension setting but using a more straightforward creation process: a hidden bridge. The tension-style setting is just as secure as the prong and tension engagement ring settings.
Advantages: A very secure setting – each tension setting is tailor-made to the particular diamond it will be used with, using lasers. This prevents shattering. However, a blunt impact will still lead to damage. Has a unique, unusual appearance.
Disadvantages: Because the band of a tension setting is created only for a specific diamond, once you have purchased the ring it cannot be changed or resized. You can only use this setting with relatively hard stones, e.g. diamonds and sapphires – so gemstones are not an option.M elée Settings‘Melée’ is derived from the French word for a mixture. You can have many styles of small stones embellishing your engagement ring. You will find engagement rings that have anywhere from three or four melée stones to up to a hundred.
There are three different ways these small diamonds appear: decorating only the head of the ring, where the center stone sits; extending down the shoulders of the ring; or completely encircling the ring band – a dramatic effect. You may find it referred to as a ‘diamond setting’ – don’t be confused, though, as this just refers to a more embellished setting rather than simple solitaire settings or three-stone settings. In these Vintage-Inspired Engagement Ring settings, the center stone is usually secured with either a prong, bezel or tension setting, but different setting styles are used for the small stones of the melée. This can create a very different look in the ring.
There are four types of melée settings: Pave, Channel, Shared Prong and Flushed Setting.
Pave or Bead Setting:
The most common type of Melée Engagement Ring setting. You will find many small stones set closely together, with the appearance of a beautiful sparkling diamond surface, because the metal beads that hold the stones in place is nearly invisible. If the stones are particularly small and closely set, it’s called a micro-pavé setting. Whether you want a dramatic effect or a subtle one, the pave setting gives you the choice.
Channel Setting: Useful for a round or princess-cut diamonds, in this engagement ring setting a metal channel holds a row of small gems in place, giving the appearance of an uninterrupted line of the diamond
Shared Prong Setting: With this engagement ring melée style, linked prong settings hold a row of diamonds in place, so that each stone is clearly seen. This is popular with engagement rings inspired by eternity rings. The melée stones tend to be larger, so this setting is one of the more valuable ones
Flush Setting: Related to the bezel setting, but differing in that it lacks the decorative lip of the bezel, this setting has the small stones placed directly into the metal band of the ring, fitting them into a groove in the metal. This creates a subtle and sophisticated look but still displaying the elegance of a Diamond-Embellished Band. A creative variation of the flush setting is a champagne setting, where small diamonds are set randomly throughout the band.
