Goldfinger Rings

What's the best ring setting

Claw Set

What It Is: This is the most common type of setting for Engagement Rings and Eternity Rings having 2, 4,6 or 8 claws that hold a single stone firmly in a metal. These days many ladies are choosing to have claw setting as a wedding ring. When deciding between two and four claws for a wedding band, know that two claws show more of the diamonds, while four claws are more secure, but can sometimes overwhelm a small stone so showing a lot of metal which can mean you will see more metal then stone.

Advantages of Claw setting:

• Allows the most light through from all angles and help’s the diamond sparkle.
• Allows easy cleaning of the stone.
• Holds even the most fragile gems securely.

Disadvantages of Claw setting:

• Offers less protection to the stone than other styles as a lot of the stone is exposed.
• Can get caught in hair or snag clothing.
• High-set prong settings can scratch and hurt other people if brushed against.

Tension Set

What It Is: A design in which the stone is pressure set in the shank/band to hold the stone firmly in place. The minimal amount of metal touching the stone can give the impression that the stone is "floating". Only extremely hard stones such as diamonds can withstand the required pressure.

Advantages of Tension setting:

• Allows a lot of light into the stone.

Disadvantages of Tension setting:

• Ring is built to fit and difficult to resize at a later date not good for lifetime wear.
• Repair options are limited, only the manufacturer can fix your ring.
• Less metal means less protection to the sides of the stone, recommended for less active people or for special occasions only.
• Not recommended for gems stones. 

Bezel Set

What It Is: This setting is normally used for Engagement or dress rings, using an almost flush rim or ring of metal with edges fully or partially surrounding the whole of the stone, also known as Rubover set.

Advantages of Bezel setting:

• Protects the sides of the stone from being nicked or chipped.
• Conceals existing chips in any stone you are having set.
• Very secure setting for any shaped diamond or Gem stone.
• The ring surface is completely smooth so not catching or snagging on clothing.
• A white metal encircling a white stone can make the stone appear larger.

Disadvantages of Bezel setting:

• A yellow gold bezel setting can make a "white" stone such as a diamond appear less white because the yellow tint of the setting is reflected in the stone but would look fantastic with a yellow diamond.

Channel Set

What It Is: Popular for wedding bands, this timeless setting has metal running parallel down each side of the stones with no metal separating them, the stones are then set down in to a cut channel and the metal then securing the stones all the way down both sides of the stones. Round stones are the most popular shape to set in a channel but you can also have square or rectangular cut stones which set into a channel setting stops almost all of the dirt getting between the stones.

Advantages of Channel setting:

• Protects the sides of the stones.
• Provides better security for small stones than a claw or pave setting.
• The surface is completely smooth and unobtrusive.
• Square or Rectangle stones set in a channel setting are very hygienic. 

Disadvantages of Channel setting:

• A ring set with stones all the way around can be difficult to resize as stones would need to be taken out to re-size but it can be done.

Bar Set

What It Is: This setting would normally be a popular setting for an Eternity ring. Bar setting is thin vertical bars of metal between stones to secure them firmly in place, you can have this setting around some or all the ring.

Advantages of Bar setting:

• Protects the sides of each stone's sides but not as much as Bezel setting.
• The surface is relatively smooth as to not catch on clothing.

Disadvantages of Bar setting:

• Leaves the top and bottom of the stone exposed.
• The uneven edges of some designs may not be as comfortable as other settings.

Pave Set

What It Is: This setting is very popular for wedding rings and can give a very vintage look, The French word for "paved", a pavé setting involves one or more rows of several small stones set down into holes that set them level with the surface of the ring, little grains in a 2 pip or 4 pip setting to hold the stone in. This setting is good for people on a tight budget as you will need less stone to go further around the ring.

Advantages of Pave setting:

• Gives the illusion of more and bigger diamonds than they really are.
• Gives a very vintage and sparkly feel.

Disadvantages of Pave setting:

• Not recommended for fragile gems, although the proximity of the stones offers good protection for the girdle of each stone.
• Setting can be scratchier than channel or invisible set.
• Pips are not quite as reliable as other settings for securing stones.
• 
  

Invisible set

What It Is: Very popular for wedding rings for men and women, this setting sets the stone "flush" into a hole in the band so that it does not protrude at all. The ring's metal is then pressed and smoothed around the stone's surface to secure it.

Advantages of Invisible setting:

• Protects a stone's sides from being nicked or chipped.
• Conceals existing nicks or chips on a stone's girdle.
• Secures a stone well.
• The ring surface is completely smooth.

Disadvantages of Invisible setting:

• As this is such a safe setting it can restrict the light from getting to the stone.