What is an Engagement Ring Setting?
When we talk about engagement rings, the diamond is often the highlight of the conversation. But the setting of that stone is the crucial element that affects both the form and function of the ring. Not only does the setting hold the diamond in place, it also contributes to how the ring looks.
Engagement Ring Setting Types
Picking a diamond ring setting depends on the center stone, and also the style you desire. While most traditional settings use four claws to hold the stone, a larger, fancier stone may need additional safety in the form of more claws, or a half-bezel setting.
Another aspect that affects the setting is the everyday habits of the wearer. For those with an active lifestyle, a raised setting is more likely to cause chipping, loosening or falling out of the stone. A lower setting in this case would make much more sense, and the same applies for a very large diamond.
Customisation is also an avenue to explore with your jeweller. Most ready-to-go engagement rings only enable the changing of the centre stone. Such catalogued pieces are usually only resized, not customised towards a particular lifestyle. By working on a custom setting, you can control many other elements, like the design, number of prongs, metal options, centre stones and engravings.
Engagement Ring Setting Styles
With all the options available for different ring settings, it can be overwhelming to pick just one. Here are the most common diamond engagement ring settings -
Prong Engagement Ring Setting
A prong setting features four to six prongs that hold a diamond in place, and is designed for single-stone or solitaire rings. This setting has a basket at its base, so the pavilion fits firmly within it.
When deciding between four or six prongs, it may be noted that a four prong setting will leave more space on the diamond for the light to catch, while a 6 prong setting will keep the stone more secure, but the added metal will affect the amount of surface area available for the light to enter the diamond.
Six Prong Engagement Ring featuring a 3 Carat solitaire, available at Frontenac Jewellers
Similarly, a heart-shaped, pear, or marquise stone will need to be cradled around the edges with a V-prong or half-bezel setting. Flat prongs work well for emerald-cut stones. The prongs are built with gold, so the number and thickness of prongs affects the overall cost of the ring as well.
Custom Design Image via Frontenac Jewellers
Halo Engagement Ring Setting
A halo setting is famously used in engagement rings because it can make a stone look larger than its actual carat weight. This setting features a large center stone encircled by accent stones, which frames the center stone like a halo and creates a large visual circumference.
Custom Design Image via Frontenac Jewellers
The Hidden Halo
A hidden halo is a contemporary design that features a sparkle of diamonds under the head of the ring, capturing light from different angles to add a subtle glow under the main stone. It is also celebrated for its understated ‘something more’ look, where you have something special to admire as you enjoy your ring in everyday life.
Custom Design Image via Frontenac Jewellers
Pavé Engagement Ring Setting
A pavé setting gets its name from the french word for pavement, with small rows of diamonds set to resemble a cobblestone path. Tiny prongs or metal beads are used to set the diamonds close together to create a seamless sparkle around the main stone.
Cathedral Engagement Ring Setting
A cathedral setting reflects the design of a cathedral - sweeping arcs extend from the band and rise up to frame the centre stone. This setting looks architectural and offers more design options under the head of the ring, like hidden halos or bezel-set birthstones.
Custom Design Image via Frontenac Jewellers
The raised setting puts all focus on the centre stone, and creates enough space for a ring stack to be built around the ring.
Basket Engagement Ring Setting
A basket engagement ring setting is a mix of a classic prong setting with the added advantage of horizontal bands that rise from the base. These horizontal bands connect with the vertical ones to create a flush basket for the centre stone to be nestled in. It can be a very secure setting that sits a little low, thus minimizing the risk of chipping or knocking the center stone.
Bezel Engagement Ring Setting
A bezel setting features a rim of precious metal that may fully or partially surround the centre stone, creating a flush, metallic look. This seamless wrap gives the stone a secure, structured look that’s both sleek and sophisticated.
Custom Design Image via Frontenac Jewellers
Unique bezel engagement rings offer different interpretations of this classic silhouette, from full bezels that encase the diamond to partial bezels that leave room for light and dimension. The bezel setting is one of the oldest styles in jewelry history, first seen in Ancient Egyptian and Roman adornments.
Tension Engagement Ring Setting
A tension setting uses a compression pressure of the shank to hold a gemstone in place. The result is a seemingly floating gemstone that is held in place by the metal bands. Diamonds and other hard stones like rubies and sapphires are ideal for such a setting as they can withstand the pressure on the sides to be held securely.
Custom Design Image via Frontenac Jewellers
While a tension setting is a custom fit and resizing it is challenging, it is a unique setting that minimizes the use of metal around the gemstone, adding to its sparkle.
Gypsy Engagement Ring Setting
A gypsy setting, also known as a flush setting, offers a sleek, clean look where the gemstones sit flush into the metal, so there is nothing protruding out of the ring’s surface. The metal is pressed and hammered around the stone, making it a very secure setting. How is a gypsy setting different from a bezel setting? A gypsy versus a bezel setting is different in the sense that the former has a gemstone sunk into the metal, while a bezel setting has a raised rim of metal wrapping around the stone.
Gypsy Ring available at Frontenac Jewellers
Tiffany Engagement Ring Setting
The Tiffany setting was designed by Tiffany & Co. in 1886 and it became the gold standard for a setting where the diamond is lifted above the metal, allowing more light to enter the diamond from the sides. This setting features six prongs, usually paired with a plain band in a knife-edge shank to bring all focus to the diamond.
Furthermore, the prongs holding the gemstones can be set in different styles to create unique details. For example, tulip engagement ring settings feature a lovely petal setting to mimic the shape of a tulip, while a low profile engagement ring setting can have a criss-cross design to bring the prongs together. The presence of a hidden halo can add more details to the prong setting, while classic straight profile is revered for its structured simplicity.
Talk to us about finding the ideal engagement ring setting for your preferences and lifestyle!