Diamonds symbolize purity, love, and wealth, all of them are elements that reflect the essence of the relationship between two partners that culminates in marriage, but are never – ending qualities as everlasting as diamonds.
Since the early moment when a man makes a marriage proposal to his girlfriend, the engagement is usually sealed with a diamond ring. Engagement rings are more commonly found in a prong setting holding a solitaire diamond.
If you are planning to buy an engagement ring, the prong setting puts emphasis on the diamond regardless of its carats or size, being securely mounted in a way that allows the diamond to reflect light.
Depending on the value of the diamond, more metal can secure the gem, but maximum brilliance is only obtained using less metal. There is a variation called the V-prong setting, used mostly for diamonds with the Princess or pear cuts.
There is another variation to the prong setting that is used for engagement and wedding anniversary rings called the common prong. The metal wire in this setting is grooved at the top, usually holding two diamonds by their side. This girdle is used to give a close side-by-side diamond relationship avoiding the metallic interference or numerous prongs.
The diamond of an engagement ring always encloses a message of love, and the bezel setting is often used as a symbol of those treasured feelings that a couple shares. The bezel is a collar of precious metal wrapping a diamond. This embracing-like setting is attached to the top of the ring adding height and a different dimension to an engagement ring.
You should buy a diamond mounted in a bezel setting if you are looking for a traditional looking gem, although you can also find half-bezels. A half-bezel is more commonly associated to fancy cut diamonds and usually include an arc of precious metal around the wide curve embracing the diamond at its narrow end.
There are also other diamond rings settings that are not common to engagement rings, but preferred by people who like originality. The Channel Setting is used to set various round diamonds with an elegant, sleek appearance with greater brilliance.
The Pave setting literally means a ring paved with diamonds. This setting is more commonly found in rings with very tiny diamonds placed into small holes whether in a row or a fancy design. This setting is not common for an engagement ring but a matter of personal preferences or originality.
Other techniques used by jeweler’s in both diamond engagement rings and common jewelry include the bead setting, the cluster setting, the flush setting, and the ballerina setting, which is one of the most beautiful and traditional settings derived from the placement of tapered baguettes flowing around a center diamond.
Such baguettes are set undulating curve resembling a “tutu”, the flared skirt that is worn by ballet dancers. This setting was more commonly found as the preferred engagement ring during Victorian times. It is up to your personal taste, your budget, and the preferences of your beloved one choosing the right engagement ring for her that will possess the love you both share.
