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| An engagement ring must not only fit
the finger; it must fit the woman. It should be a reflection
of who she is as well as an embodiment of her feelings
toward the commitment she is about to make. Because
the diamond is the symbol of everlasting love, it is,
of course, the most important decision to make. But
then there’s the matter of the setting. And while
some settings may be more appropriate than others for
specific diamond shapes, ultimately the decision comes
down to personal taste. |
Engagement
Ring Styles
Engagement
Ring Settings
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Solitaire - Refers to a ring with one diamond or other
single gemstone. It will often be extended to mean a
piece of jewelry with one important diamond or gemstone
in the center and accent stones on each side. |
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Rings with Side Stones - Most
of the popular diamond cuts are used as side stones
on bridal rings. Included in this group are baguettes,
tapered baguette, round, trillion and oval. These are
used to enhance the center stone and not detract from
it.
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Cathedral Mounting - Ring setting that arches when seen
from the side. Cathedral rings have projections on each
side of the stone and these design elements are what
gives this ring it's name. They are inspired by the
arches that supported the walls of early cathedrals.
Just as these arches were a distinctive and important
design element in architecture, the graceful projections
on our cathedral rings add support and protection to
the setting. They also give the ring its classic and
unique look.
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Three Stone - Three stone rings are popular for both
engagement rings and anniversaries. A general rule is
that the side diamonds must be at least 25% as large
as the center.
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The
Prong or Claw setting |
This is the most popular for a variety of reasons. It
consists of four or six claws that cradle the diamond
it allows the maximum amount of light to enter a stone
from all angles. This makes the diamond appear larger
and more brilliant. And it can hold large diamonds more
securely. This is probably why it is so popular for women's
solitaire diamond rings. Your choices of variations with
the prong setting traditionally range from: pointed, rounded,
flat and V-shaped.
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The
Channel setting |
Used most frequently for wedding and anniversary bands,
a channel setting will set the stones right next to each
other with no metal separating them. The outer ridge of
metal is then worked over the edges of the stones. This
protects the girdle area of the diamonds better than a
bead or prong setting and provides a smooth exterior surface.
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The Bar setting |
Similar to the channel setting, it is a circular band
of diamonds that holds each stone in by a long thin bar,
shared between two stones. The bar setting combines a
contemporary and classic look. |
The Gypsy setting |
You may know the gypsy setting from men's jewelry you've
seen. The band is one continuous piece that gets thicker
at the top. The top is shaped like a dome and the stone
is inserted in the middle. There are no prongs, therefore
the look is smooth and clean. |
The Tension setting |
A tension-set diamond is held in place by the pressure
of the band's metal, which is designed to "squeeze"
the stone. The result is a highly contemporary, fashionable
look. |
The Illusion Setting |
This setting is more intricate than others in that it
surrounds the stone to make it appear larger. The metal
that surrounds the stone usually has an interesting design. |
The Flat-top setting |
Like the gypsy setting, this setting has a band that grows
broader at the top so that a faceted stone can be inserted
into the ring. The stone is held in place by metal chips
attached at the stone's girdle. The flat-top setting tends
to have a more modern/contemporary look. |
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