If you are about to buy your very first diamond jewelry or you want to experiment with a new design, questions like what is the best setting will always arise.
You might be confused by what setting suits your lifestyle, or you probably have no idea about diamond settings at all.
In this post, we are going to explore the different types of diamond jewelry settings to make it as easy for your next diamond shopping as possible. Keep up to learn all about them.
5 Diamond Earring Setting Types
If it’s your first time buying diamonds, you have probably heard about various types of diamond settings or you might have not and you are wondering what we are going on about.
A diamond setting is when there are two or more diamonds or gemstones are set closely together in a band. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at the different types of diamond settings.
Prong
This setting is also known as the claw setting. It is not only popular but also very traditional. People prefer this type of setting as it refracts much light leading to a beautiful bright display. The diamond gemstones are secured with a metallic piece which allows more visibility to the diamond.
It is not unusual to find eight prongs in this setting, but most range from three-four. This is because the earrings that have diamonds are designed to minimize contact, making them suitable for daily use.
This setting allows a large amount of light to enter: The prong covers very little of the gemstone making it easily visible in the light. This makes it sparkle to its maximum capacity.
Prongs hold the gemstones in place in a secure way. It is also easy to make as compared to other settings. This design can be used to set any type or size of diamond gemstones and also displays the diamond better than in any other setting.
On the other hand, Prongs can catch on hair and clothes if loose. This setting requires regular checks as prongs wear out and loosen with time.
The uncovered girdles are prone to chipping and damage as the design leaves them bare without a metal covering. This setting is prone to debris and build-up dirt due to its minimal cover.
Halo Setting
This spectacular display involves one large piece at the center surrounded by tiny gemstones. The little decorations that surround the main diamond are called pave’ diamonds.
We have single and duo halos and we are going to illustrate each. A solitary halo setting is achieved when only one round of pave’ diamonds surrounds the centerpiece.
The duo on the other hand has two rings of paves surrounding the centerpiece. The latter gives a greater surface area of diamonds compared to the former.
Sometimes, jewelers make the side diamonds in different hues from the centerpiece. This results in a spectacular display and a great highlight of the centerpiece.
Your earrings will appear larger and shinier with this setting. This setting also uses prongs but in a very small size. It requires top craftsmanship to achieve the perfect display. Let’s look at the good and the not-so-good about this setting.
It adds extra glimmer to your earrings due to the tiny pave diamonds that contrast with the large piece. Your diamond appears bigger than its actual size.
This makes it a popular option for many. A contrast of colors will enhance its visual appeal. If the side diamonds are made in different hues, they will highlight the main diamond in a lovely way.
As lovely as it is, it has some downsides to it. It is more expensive than other settings as more metal and diamonds are used.
This setting also requires great craftsmanship as it is easy to mess up in the case of poor craftsmanship. Pave’ diamonds surrounding the main diamond can easily slip out.
The Bezel Setting
This setting is used for round diamond cuttings only. The bezel has two types of settings which include the fully covered and half-covered designs. As the name suggests, the diamond is fully covered in metal.
The part cover on the other hand leaves the sides exposed. The results are tight security to your diamond and more flexibility and practicability.
As you are probably thinking, the more they cover, the less the visibility. The metal frame conceals most of the stone, but not in an ugly distasteful manner.
The bezel setting keeps the diamonds secure and holds them in their place. This makes it a suitable setting for daily earring wear.
The metal frame protects your diamond from scratches and chippings, especially the full cover bezel. This design is likely to hide any visible flaws such as incusions on the diamond.
On the flip side, the diamond is hidden, making it less sparkly than other settings such as the prong. The thin metal overlap reduces the glimmer of the gemstone.
In the same way, the diamond appears smaller than it is. This one will more than likely break your bank. The extravagant prices result from the amount of metal required to make this setting and also the level of expertise required here.
Illusion Setting
As the name suggests, this setting is designed to make small diamonds appear larger by the use of special techniques.
The technique requires the diamonds to be held side by side and then held underneath to give an illusion of a bigger carat diamond. This design is common in princess cuts.
This setting involves a small diamond surrounded by a precious metal frame. It could be a gold metal frame. White gold is commonly used as it does not become overbearing in such a way as to hide the diamond.
The sparkle in the centerpiece is reflected in the precious metal. What’s great about the illusion setting?
This setting creates an illusion of a larger diamond. When you are using small pieces, the illusion design will accentuate your sparkling gem. The creativity and imagination of an illusion results in a unique piece.
You will stand out with this one. The illusion uses less diamond and more metal, making it a less expensive option. Let’s see the bad side of this setting.
The fact always remains that the jewelry is made of smaller diamonds. There is no way around this fact. This is not such good news to those concerned about the diamond size.
While some people might be intrigued by the detail and brilliance of this setting, the minimalists will frown at the idea of being overly detailed.
Martini Setting
This is the minimalist’s best friend. It involves the use of prongs and funnel-shaped wires that you won’t see as they are hidden under the diamond.
The stones in this setting sit lower. If you look at the funnel shape formed, it gives the shape of a martini glass hence the name. This style covers very little of the rock.
One of the greatest advantages of the martini is that your diamond will be displayed in all its glory. The exposure to maximum light enhances the sparkle and glimmer of the diamond. Your stone is held closer to the earlobe in the martini making it sturdier when worn.
On the downside, the sharp end of the martini is said to expose the earhole to tear and stretching. Although most people have worn them without this risk, you should consider them when buying your earrings.
Tips for choosing the perfect Diamond Earring Settings for Yourself
It can get overwhelming to choose the perfect diamond earrings setting for yourself with so many settings to choose from.
The first thing you must keep in mind is the shape of your diamond. Diamonds come into round, oval, and princess cuttings. Each of the cuttings go well with a certain type of setting as we have seen above.
The next thing to consider is if you would rather have a secure diamond without much visibility or you would rather go with the visibility and work with minimal security.
Whatever decision you make will lead you to the perfect setting. For example, the prong setting guarantees you maximum visibility while the bezel offers a higher security level.
Conclusion
All the above-mentioned studding styles are great for your earrings. They can differ in design and pricing, but they still look good, not forgetting that they are all diamonds.
The next time you go shopping for your diamond-studded earrings, you can use our guide above on the best setting for your lifestyle.
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.