Diamond Settings 101: 8 Ways to Secure Your Sparkle

The central focus of your diamond jewelry is, of course, the diamonds. Brilliant and sparkling diamonds draw your eyes with mesmerizing flashes of light. And lab grown diamonds, with their impressive size and quality are carefully crafted to be even more dazzling. But every work of art deserves the right frame. The metal that surrounds your diamond and holds it in place is its setting. Choosing the right setting for you and your diamond will keep it safe and express your style. There are more ways to set a diamond that you might think. Some are used to highlight large center diamonds and others are designed to hold the small accent stones that give your piece extra sparkle. All of them give your diamond jewelry its distinctive design. Here’s everything you need to know about the eight most common ways to set a diamond so you can shop like a jewelry pro.

 

Prong Diamond Settings: Chic Claws

If you're dreaming of eye-catching sparkle, prong settings deliver. No other setting allows light to enter a diamond from as many angles as prongs. The result? Captivating brilliance and fire that dazzles from every direction. Prong settings are composed of three, four, or six tiny metal claws that grip the diamond to hold it in place. Typically made of white or yellow gold, the prongs wrap partway around the top of the gem. This allows major diamond exposure while still keeping it secure. Prong diamond settings are designed to let ample light filter through the sides of the stone. This sets off the mesmerizing flashes of color and rainbow reflections that diamonds are prized for.

Don't let the "metal claws" part of that description scare you off. When properly designed, prongs are gentle on your diamond. The tips curve inward to avoid scratching or chipping the gem. And with proper maintenance, you shouldn't have issues with prongs loosening over time. While we're on the topic, make sure the prongs on your setting are nice and snug against the diamond. Your diamond shouldn’t move in its prong setting: it should be held firmly in place. Don't settle for prongs that don't fully do their job! A reputable jeweler can re-tip prongs that aren't flush with the girdle to keep your diamond safe. The bottom line is this: if eye-catching sparkle is your top priority, you can't go wrong with a prong setting. You'll love prong set lab grown diamond stud earrings with dazzling brilliance. And a prong-set solitaire lab grown engagement ring is a classic for a reason. Let those diamond-grabbing claws work their brilliance-boosting magic. You’re sure to have a smile that sparkles as much as your ring.

 

V-Shaped Prongs: Square Deals

You might think prongs are only for round diamonds. Settings for square diamonds like the regal princess cut have an additional job: protecting those four sharp corners. Skilled goldsmiths can place the prongs precisely on the tip of the corner of the square, making sure to center the prong precisely to protect that corner from both sides and keep your precious princess safe and secure, like the setting of the Sirius Princess Engagement Ring. Another option is the clever V-shaped prong. This is a prong cut into a V-shape, like the brackets that hold photos in an old-timely album. The two sides of the corner formed by the V-shape prong help protect the pointy part of your diamond. V-prongs also emphasize the geometry of your diamond's shape. You might see V-shaped prongs on the point of a pear shape, the two points of a marquis shape or the point of a heart shape. They can also be used for the square corners of princess cuts like in this lab grown diamond princess cut necklace. Their sleek, architectural angles exude contemporary style. V-prongs say modern and minimalist. V-shaped prongs are very protective of your diamond because if you ever were to hit your jewelry against something, the metal would guard the point with walls of gold.

 

Bezel Diamond Settings: Solid Shine

Chic, modern, and protective, bezel settings are the sleekest way to set a diamond. What exactly is a bezel setting? Picture a thin metal rim that completely surrounds the diamond. Unlike prong or halo settings that hold the stone in place with minimal coverage, a bezel setting encircles the diamond with a solid band of precious metal, usually yellow or white gold. This ultra-secure setting has a smooth, streamlined look that really lets your diamond take center stage. A bezel setting has no exposed points, making it not only comfy to wear but also less likely to snag on clothing or get banged around. It's an ideal choice for an active person who's always on the go. We especially love the sleek style of a bezel-set diamond solitaire necklace. You'll probably wear yours every single day. It's that good.

Bezel diamond settings are durable and protective. That metal band acts like a suit of armor, shielding the diamond from chips and scratches. The protection also makes bezels ideal for the accident-prone among us. No prongs catching on things and bending out of shape. With sleek minimalist style, a bezel setting practically pulls you in to stare deep into the diamond. It's like the metal frame becomes invisible, and all you see is that mesmerizing stone. There's no metal obstructing the sides like with prongs. Just pure dazzle! Bezels also can make the diamond appear larger than it is. That encircling frame gives the illusion of a bigger rock, especially if it’s crafted in white gold that matches the color of the diamond. You really can't go wrong with a style that's protective, brilliant, and totally customizable.

 

Halo Diamond Settings: Brilliant Orbits

If making a jaw-dropping statement is your jewelry goal, halos are guaranteed to bring the drama. Imagine your center diamond surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds, like Beyonce surrounded by back-up dancers. The surrounding gems act like mini spotlights, directing all attention to that dazzling center stone. It appears so much larger and brighter when it’s the star of a big dazzling show. But don’t think halos are only about maxing out apparent size. They also amp up sparkle. Just imagine how light bounces around between all those diamonds. Halos amplify your diamond with 360° brilliance. And with so many diamonds, the flash is going strong no matter which way your hand tilts. Any angle delivers mesmerizing fireworks. Be prepared for constant compliments. For a subtle extra halo, try a single pave or micro pave ring around your center stone. This is perfect to add extra sparkle to lab grown diamond stud earrings or a lab grown diamond necklace. The look is inspired by vintage jewelry: dainty yet impactful. Or make a statement with a double halo if you really want to pack a punch. You can also switch up your halo’s shape. Round is classic, but oval and pear halos have a romantic vibe. The shape of your halo shape can contrast with your center stone. For example, a cushion shape halo makes a round diamond look like a vintage-style cushion cut like in our Rigel Drop Earrings and Rigel Stud Earrings. No matter what halo you choose, brilliance is sure to wow.

 

Illusion Diamond Settings: Magnify the Brilliance

Illusion settings are such a fun way to magnify sparkle! Let’s walk through why this setting is magic. Picture this: while shopping for a solitaire, your eye catches a big beautiful center diamond that seems to be twice as big as you’d expect for the price. But as you move in for a closer look, you realize it's actually seven smaller diamonds set together with minimal metal into one single statement. That, my friends, is the illusion setting in all its ingenious glory. This setting uses crafty craftsmanship to make many diamonds into one. And here’s the secret to its carat-magnifying magic. Not only do smaller diamonds cost less per carat, smaller diamonds are much shallower than larger diamonds. So when you combine seven small diamonds into one, you get a diamond that looks like it’s more than twice as many carats. That's why this clever illusion solitaire ring looks like it has a digit missing from its price tag. Illusion settings maximize surface area to reflect more light. The bottom line is this: illusion settings let you have your minimal budget and enjoy a big statement style too. Maximize carat size, sparkle, and style all in one setting? Yes please! Your friends will do a triple take when your jewelry catches the light.

 

Pave Diamond Settings: Cover Bands

Pave setting is the most popular way to add small diamond accents to any jewelry design. When it comes to jewelry that dazzles, pave takes the cake. What exactly is a pave setting, you ask? Picture teeny-tiny diamonds covering metal of your jewelry. This uber sparkly style became popular in the 1980s and has never gone out of fashion. With pave, it’s all about illusion. From a distance, a pave ring appears to be all diamonds. But in reality, each diamond is individually set in a tiny hole drilled into the band metal. The metal from the hole is bent over the stone to become a prong. Light bounces and reflects off all those gems from every angle imaginable. No matter which way you tilt your hand, pave delivers hypnotizing flashes of color and brilliance. You can customize the look simply by adjusting the diamond size. Tiny diamonds have a delicate feel. Slightly larger stones amp up the glam factor. There’s a pave setting that’s just your style.

 

 

Channel Diamond Settings: Groove Thing

While pave setting is used on all kinds of jewelry, there’s another way to set accent diamonds on bands. Channel setting holds small accent diamonds between two walls of metal. Diamonds sit between the two walls in a channel. Imagine gorgeous diamonds nestled cozily into their own little grooves. We're talking diamonds lined up all snug like a glittery little row of soldiers. The channel metal completely surrounds the edges of the diamonds, making the band appear to be holding the stones. This gives it a smooth, sleek aesthetic that highlights the diamonds in a clean, modern way. The diamonds are placed close together inside those parallel channels, which makes the stones really play off each other's sparkling facets. The look is even more sleek with straight sided diamond cuts like princess or emerald cuts which fit in the channel like puzzle pieces with no space showing in between. An added benefit of channels versus prongs is that they keep the small diamonds nestled inside, safe and secure.

 

Cluster Diamond Settings: Flower Power

You want eye-catching jewelry with incredible sparkle, right? Cluster settings deliver. Picture multiple diamonds grouped elegantly together to form a centerpiece. It’s like arranging smaller flowers into a bouquet Instead of buying one large bloom. More diamonds = more sparkle. With a cluster setting, each individual diamond complements the others and adds to the overall brilliance. Clusters are usually a community of prong settings but often the diamonds share prongs so the overall impact is more sparkle than shine. A cluster can be any size or shape and the diamonds in the setting can also be a combination of sizes and shapes. Designers can play around with the number of stones, their shape, their size and arrangement. Make it modern with a geometric layout, or vintage feeling with alternating shapes and sizes. Clusters in flower shapes like the Brilliant Bloom Necklace are particularly popular right now but the possibilities are endless. And let's be real, who doesn't love more diamonds? With a cluster, you get quantity and quality.