Tips for Choosing Your Engagement Ring Setting
Our Beverly Hills staff at Gems Are Forever are Graduate Gemologists (G.G.) from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) who thoroughly consult with soon-to-be brides on choosing each important engagement ring detail.
This is the one piece of jewelry that is going to take center stage during each congratulatory conversation and event that leads up to your nuptials. After, it is going to be complemented by your wedding band, which also must be considered when searching for the perfect match.
From the mounting and metal to the prong style and stone itself, the details matter.
Here is the best way to get started.
What Do You Do With Your Hands All Day?
When considering which type of engagement ring setting is right for you, your lifestyle is going to play a critical role in that decision.
Consider what your hands go through each day, and how your ring will be impacted by your movements. Do you physically work with your hands? Does your profession require you to put on and take off medical gloves? Do you work in the service industry, where you serve food or drinks to others? Do you work in an office, or from home?
The industry and the position you work in will impact your ability to comfortably wear your engagement ring. Think about what you do with your hands all day, and how your movements will impact the integrity (and safety) of your ring.
Choose a Metal That Represents Your Personality
The go-to metals are typically white gold or platinum, with the latter being the sturdiest option for intricate designs and heavier stones. Platinum will maintain its lustrous white hue naturally, so you do not have to worry about the fading effect that will eventually come from the rhodium-plated white gold. Keep in mind, a platinum band will cost more than its white gold counterpart because of its durability.
Other options include traditional yellow gold, which is regaining popularity because of its rich hue, and rose gold, which is entering the engagement ring space and providing a unique option for those who love its pinkish tone.
No matter what type of metal you choose for your engagement ring’s band, the stone should be set in prongs of white gold or platinum. This help will ensure it is stable and provides the look of a whiter and brighter diamond.
Choose Your Band
Right now, slender bands are all the rage, and a great way to allow your diamond to stand out.
Blade-thin engagement ring bands — also called shanks — are very modern, and set themselves apart from the chunkier, heavy metal options. In addition, thinner bands allow for a higher setting, which also allows the diamond to stand out. This option should be weighed against your lifestyle, and whether a sophisticated setting will snag or become damaged with your movements.
Another consideration is your stone size and cut. Anything over three carats may dictate your band width to ensure its safety.
Popular Engagement Ring Settings
While often overlooked, the prong setting of your engagement ring can be the detail that sets your stone apart.
The Four-Prong Setting can appear in a claw-, V-, talon- or square shape to hold the diamond in place with the minimum amount of metal, so the stone is the star of the show.
The Bezel Setting is a metal rim that surrounds the diamond, protecting it from damage, and holding it in place. This setting is perfect for those who work with their hands.
The Cathedral Setting allows two metal arches to extend from the shank to form a basket for the diamond, lifting the gem above the finger, which is further secured by prongs or a bezel.
The Flush Setting allows the stone to sit directly inside the metal, providing a smooth and level surface. The wider design is perfect for one stone or a cluster.
The Tension Setting gives the appearance of a diamond floating within the setting, as it is held in place by the pressure of the band pushing against its sides, creating an edgy and modern look.
The Channel Setting allows the stones on the shank of the ring to set along a track between two walls of metal, producing a tailored look.
The Pavé Setting is a single or multiple rows of stones with no visible prongs, for a seamless “paved” look.
The Solitaire Setting is the most popular engagement ring style, featuring a single stone in any shape.
The Halo Setting is a solitaire stone surrounded by a single or multiple rows of diamonds, giving a “halo” effect that increases the sparkle and the appearance of a larger center stone.
Unsure Which Setting is Right for You? Get Professional Help
Contact our Beverly Hills jewelry store via email, by phone at (310) 279-5229, or leave your contact information online to schedule a virtual appointment or in-person visit to discuss all the important details of your engagement ring, including the setting, stone(s), and wedding band today.