Different Type Of Diamond Ring Settings

By Author: Karina Boyd
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The ring setting is as important as the diamond because it will showcase the stone. Prong settings are common and they allow the diamond to stand out.

The ring setting is as important as the diamond because it will showcase the stone. Prong settings are common and they allow the diamond to stand out. A solid portion of metal wrapped around a diamond is called a bezel. Channel set diamonds are usually several small, round diamonds sandwiched between metal bars. The diamonds are set in the "channel" the metal creates. Settings can be made from gold, platinum or titanium. Use this ring setting guide to learn more about the available options.

Prong/Claw

The prong/claw setting is the simplest diamond setting. It consists of three or more metal prongs molded around the diamond. The tops of the prongs are visible and slightly curved over the diamond to hold it in place. Prong settings are often further classified by the number of metal prongs holding the diamond in place (e.g., three prong). This setting allows for maximum visibility of the diamond, as very little of the diamond is obscured by the setting.

A ...
... prong or claw diamond ring setting is slightly less safe than a Bexel diamond ring setting as it is possible to catch the claws or prongs on items such as woolly clothing which can cause the diamond to become loose in the setting, which can ultimately lead to loss of the diamond.

Bezel

A thin rim of metal completely encircles the stone, affording a very high degree of security and protection. More of the surface area of the stone is covered using this method, and to some degree the stone is harder to clean by non-professional means. A bezel creates a very "clean" look and tends to be more wearable in the sense that there no prongs to catch on things.This type of diamond ring setting is good for protecting the girdle and often makes the stone look larger. This is also known as rub-over diamond ring setting.

Channel

In a channel setting, diamond(s) or gemstone(s) are set flush between two strips of metal that holds them in place side by side with no additional prongs between the stones. This type of setting protects the edge, or girdle, of the gemstone, and is a very secure setting. Channel-set gemstones provide a smooth setting making them less likely to get snagged on hair or clothing. Channel setting diamond rings are also called diamond eternity rings.

Pave

When a large part of the surface of a diamond ring is covered with very small diamonds. Pavé diamond ring settings often have a very stunning visual appearance as not much metal is visible and there is a massive sparkle from the large number of tiny diamonds set all over the surface of the metal in the diamond ring setting.

Invisible

A modern technique that utilizes specially grooved princess cuts that are capable of being secured from underneath. Invisibly set gemstones sit very close together with their metal settings hidden underneath. So you see a continuous, uninterrupted surface of diamonds or gemstones.

Cluster

When diamonds or gemstones are set close together in a group, the result is known as a cluster setting. Sometimes the stones can be arranged in the form of a stylized flower, or just in an abstract arrangement. Cluster rings are usually multi-level, with considerable height above the hand. The arrangement of the stones can be open and airy looking, or they may be more tightly arranged.

Tension

A relatively new type of setting for engagement rings where "springing", metal's physical characteristic, is used to hold faceted stones in place. The gems must have a hardness of 9 or up .
Resource: http://www.boodles.com/rings/rings-engagement.html