Ring Styles
The way a stone is set is important for many reasons. Settings are a big part of the design, and they are also in charge of protecting your precious stones. Function is a huge part of a setting's importance. The right setting for your stone will depend on your lifestyle as well as how often you will (realistically) be able to bring it in for maintenance. Finding this balance between form and function for each customer is something we take great pride in.
Ring Types
There are a plethora of desgins and approaches for making your ring as unique as you are. From unique stones, creative combinations, and innovative designs, we love to work with our clients to make something special.
Solitaire
3 Stone
Side Stone
Halo
Bypass
Cluster
Split Shank
Moi et toi
Eternity / Anniversary
Antique Inspired
Sculptural
Nature Inspired
Setting Types
How you set your stone is all about finding the perfect balance form and function. We have found that our happiest customers take out input in relation to ergonomics and durability in consideration alongside considerations of style and aesthetis. Below we outline a few setting types and the aspects of each that are worth thinking about.
PRONGS: Prongs are the most commonly used setting for faceted stones. They allow large amounts of light to interact with the stone, and come in numerous styles. Normal wear and tear on prongs can cause them to move slightly and occasionally snag. This requires prongs to be checked periodically by a jeweler to ensure the stone remains secure.
Bead Prong
A rounded prong shape. This is the most common profile for prongs.
Talon Prong
A claw or talon shaped prong, lends a unique edge to a prong setting.
V Prong
V-shaped prongs work well for stones with sharp points to provide extra protection.
Multi-Prong
Unique stones sometimes call for unique mixes of prong styles.
OTHER SETTING STYLES
Bezel
Bezels encase the outside edge of the stone with a thin metal rim, and require very little maintenance. This may be a good choice for someone with a very active lifestyle since the edges of the ring are protected from chipping and the setting will not snag.
Semi-Bezel
Half-Bezel and Semi-Bezel settings hold the edges of the stone on opposing sides with bands of metal. This setting has the advantage of letting more light into the stone than a complete bezel, with the security and low maintenance advantages of a bezel setting
Flush
For flush setting, holes are drilled into the metal to hold the stones and a narrow rim of metal is burnished over the stones for a minimal aesthetic. This style is great for harder stones like sapphires and diamonds but can be risky for softer colored stones as the tops of the stones are not protected by a bezel or prongs.
Bar/Channel
Bar and Channel Set styles can be done with large centers or smaller accent stones. In both applications, two rows of metal are undercut to hold stones in place. Stones can be set extremely securely in a bar or channel set style depending on the size and orientation of the stone. Center stones set in these methods may require more maintenance because they can more easily be knocked than smaller accent stones.
Pavé
Pavé setting is traditionally a style of setting used for accent or smaller stones. Metal is carved out to create space for each stone and leave small beads behind for setting. The result is that the piece looks to be literally "paved in diamonds" with very little metal to distract from the overall design. Pavé setting is a secure and elegant way of setting smaller stones but isn't recommended for locations of rings that receive lots of wear and tear.
Shared Prong
Shared Prong styles of settings are most often used in multi-stone rings and for smaller accent stones. In shared prong set rings, each prong is responsible for holding in two gemstones--one on either side of the prong. The affect is that the stones are the star of the show with small amounts of metal being visible from a top view. Shared prong settings can wear quite quickly without correct care. Frequent checks are recommended to locate loose stones and low prongs.
Inlay
Inlay is where the stone is set inside a section that is cut out of the metal. These rings can be more fragile for everyday wear so we have approaches on how to do the inlay and which stones to use to make these rings a bit more durable. If you are interested in this style, we suggest a robust conversation about this approach and durability.
Tension
We don't reccomend tension set rings as the stone is only held in place by tension in the metal, but that can weaken over time, putting your stone at risk. Additionally, tension sets are not sizeable. However, we can make a bar/channel setting that looks like a tension set ring, as we did in the ring above.