Guide to Engagement Ring
Styles & Settings

The solitaire engagement ring dates back roughly 130 years (for context… it’s older than the modern telephone!), and since that time has been celebrated for its clean and sophisticated engineering, which lets a diamond, most traditionally a round brilliant diamond, shine to its fullest capacity. Some have narrower bands which have the effect of making a smaller diamond appear larger, and compliment small fingers. Others have thicker bands which allow for more options in the way the diamond is set. The brain child of Charles Lewis Tiffany himself, the solitaire is a long admired and beloved option.

Often described as “the new classic,” the halo ring features one center stone, usually, though not always round or with rounded edges, framed with round stones to increase the appearance and overall sparkle of the ring. Depending on the size of the center stone, the stones creating the ethereal “halo” around the stone may vary in size and cut. A halo is a wonderful choice for anyone looking for a romantic way to increase the visual impact of the ring’s central stone, particularly its shape!

A three stone ring features one larger stone flanked by two usually slightly smaller stones of complimentary shape. In a three stone ring, the center stone will usually be set so as to be raised, giving the composition of the ring a lovely visual focus and some architectural interest. The shape of the center stone generally determines the shape of the flanking stones… for instance, an emerald cut’s stark elegance and geometry would most likely be flanked by similarly step cut Asscher or Emerald, just as an Oval shape may be flanked by soft, rounded half moons.

While most traditional engagement rings feature a single band supporting either a solitary stone or a lovely composition of sparkles, there are rings with more elaborate designs in which the shank of the ring, from its nexus at the base of the finger, splits into two branches that frame the diamond or composition of stones, these are known as “split shank” designs. A split shank design is loved both for their versatility and their durability. While the double shank means that the overall architecture of the ring is more secure, it can also make it far more unique, as the shanks themselves can intertwine, feature stones or texturing of their own, etc. They also significantly increase the visual impact of the ring as a whole, giving you a strong overall composition on the finger.

A bezel setting is a setting in which, instead of prongs, a ring of metal wraps around the stone, holding it in place and adhering it to the shank. The bezel setting is by far the most secure and protective setting available, as the metal reaches above the girdle of the diamond, elegantly framing the stone in a manner that is at once old fashioned and entirely modern and sleek.

Pavé is the French word for “paved” which makes perfect sense when considering what we mean when we say “pavé diamonds.” A pavé diamond setting is a setting that is paved with melee (1 to 2 mm) brilliant cut diamonds set that are bead set, or set with four small prongs that reach ever so slightly over the top of the diamond. Pavé can be thought of as a delicate carpet of unrelenting shine that adds significantly to the brilliance of any setting.

If you’re in love with the extra brilliance offered by the pavé setting but looking for an option that is more robust, more secure and sure to be snag free, a channel setting is a wonderful option. A channel setting is a setting in which diamonds (or other gemstones) are set into a specially cut groove, or channel, that has a small lip that extends over the stones on either side keeping them safe and secure. Although the design involves more metal around the edge of the stones, the lack of prongs offers more security and more architectural appeal.