Engagement Ring Settings (Part 1)  

An ideal engagement ring is composed of two parts, a diamond and a setting. Choosing the right diamond ring setting is as important as choosing the right diamond.

The choice of setting depends much on the choice of your partner because setting is entirely a matter of personal preference. The metal chosen is also an important consideration.

I have presented several of the most popular setting styles, along with brief descriptions.

Prong Setting

The Prong Setting is the most popular setting for a solitaire diamond ring. Prongs are often made of platinum. Generally, four or six prongs are used to hold the diamond. The basic design parameter is to focus on the diamond and not the ring.

There are two things of major importance in any setting. The diamond must be securely held and at the same time, enough light must be able to pass through the diamond. There is a very good balance between the two in this setting.

The prongs extend upward and outward bending over the diamond to form a secure setting. The ideal prong always tapers to a rounded point. 

Channel Setting

This type of setting has a channel running around the ring. This channel is filled with round diamonds. The stones are set right next to each other with no metal separating them. Generally, there is a center stone but it is also used when there is no center stone at all.

Channel setting provides very good protection for the diamonds. The edges are not exposed and so there is less wear and tear.

Channel setting is most often used for wedding and anniversary bands.

Bar Setting 

The Bar setting is similar to channel setting. It uses circular bands of thin metal to hold the stones in place. Each bar has a stone on either side of it.

It is preferred for men's rings because it can be modified to accommodate a wide range of diamonds.

There is a drawback of this setting. The bar-set diamonds can get loose or chipped.

Bezel Setting

Bezel Setting is also very popular. A bezel is a collar of precious metal that wraps around the diamond.  The bezel is attached to the top of the ring and stands up above it. This adds height to the setting. Bezels can have straight edges or scalloped edges.

This is a very traditional setting but minor adjustments can be made to look totally modern. The Half Bezel setting is an example of this. The bezel is split into two sections, covering around just part of the diamond.

The major drawback is that a reasonable part of diamond is covered in the gold.

     PART TWO: Engagement Ring Settings