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Prong Settings: 2-prong, 3-prong, 4-prong, 6-prong. Also called semi-mount.
A prong is a bar with a notch at the top. The stone fits into the notch. The idea is to hold the stone above the ring so that light can enter from all directions and make the stone sparkle. |
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Bead-Set
The setting is a dish with a tiny screw in the center. We drill into the bead, put glue in the hole and set it atop the tiny screw in the dish. These types of settings are susceptible to being knocked off when force is applied to the bead, or when the bead is soaked in liquid and the glue dissolves. |
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Bezel Settings
Bezels are round frames to hold the edge of the stone. Usually the stone is glued between the stone and the metal before it is pressed into place. Be careful not to put this type of setting into liquid, as the glue underneath the stone can be dissolved, making the stone loose in the setting. Another disadvantage is that this type of setting stops reduces the light entering the stone, and thus, its sparkle. A major advantage, though, is that the bezel protects the stone and keeps it locked in place. |
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Bypass Settings
A bypass setting is one in which one arm goes on the top of the stone, and the other, beneath. The stone is channel set between the two arms, and usually is reinforced on the underside. This creates the illusion that the stone is sitting between the two arms, magically staying in one position. |
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Channel Settings
A trough, or channel, is created in the jewelry, and stones are pushed into the channel from the side. |
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Classic Solitaire
A classic solitaire setting is a medium band with one stone, set with prongs. |
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Cluster Setting
Many stones set close together with prongs. |
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Eternity Band Setting
Eternity Bands have stones all the way around the ring. They can be channel set, pave set, or prong set. The circle is the symbol for eternity, so having diamonds set all the way around a ring means “I’ll love you forever.” |
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Flush Setting
In a flush setting, the top of the stone is flush with the band. In other words, the stone is recessed into the band, like the Peridot (green) stone in the ring at left. The Amethyst (purple) stone is bezel-set. |
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Half-Bezel Setting
A full bezel setting is one in which there is a frame all the way around the stone. A half bezel setting means that the frame only goes halfway around the stone. |
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Illusion Setting, or Tension Mount
This stone setting has arms which press into the stone from each side, and the stone is held in place with notches in the arms. The effect is that the stone looks like it is magically floating in the ring, unsupported. |
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Pave Setting
A group of stones set very close together with no space in between, as though they were part of a pavement, usually prong-set. |
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Shared-Prong Setting
This setting is where the prongs are notched on two sides to hold two stones simultaneously. |
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Wrap Setting
In a wrap setting, one or more arms extend across the stone on the top and bottom. |
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V-Prong Setting
In this setting, the V has grooves cut into the inner sides of the V, and the stone is placed in the grooves. |
