ENGAGEMENT RING SETTINGS

Tension Settings
The Tension setting is not suitable for all types of stone – only hard gems such as diamonds or rubies can cope with the extreme pressure placed upon them by such a setting. Effectively, the stone is held in place by the pressure of the metal, allowing a lot of light into the stone but making resizing difficult. Not practical for all due to the lack of protection for the stone, and complex to repair, this is one of the more modern engagement ring settings which has only been around since about the middle of the last century. This setting has a contemporary, almost trendy, feel to it.

Pave Settings
From the French word for ‘paved’, the name originates from the cobblestone appearance that the setting possesses. Multiple stones are used but the appearance is of a ring that houses many more gems. The stones are initially set into holes in the band with the surrounding metal (often platinum or white gold to enhance the look) raised to form beads which secure the diamonds in place.

Stunning in appearance, the setting is not recommended for more fragile gems and the beads are not as effective as other methods for securing the stones.

Channel Settings

The Channel setting is characterised by multiple diamonds sitting alongside each other with no metal between them. Two horizontal channels sit at either end of the diamonds and sometimes a larger centre stone is present.

Offering good protection for the stones, with no edges exposed, the perfectly smooth surface helps for ring longevity.

Not suitable for more fragile gemstones, unless a significant proportion of the band is metal as opposed to stone. It can also be difficult to resize in the future. Channel settings are not only a very popular engagement ring setting, but they are also a common choice for eternity and wedding rings.