Introduction
Have you ever carefully observed your favorite pieces of jewelry? Under keen observation, you will find that a lot of different components are used in making your favorite jewelry pieces. It does not matter whether you talk about the precious metals involved in crafting your jewelry piece, the gemstones used in making the jewelry look shiny and sparkling, or the settings on which the gemstones sit to shine – every component adds to the details of the jewelry.
Have you ever thought about how the jewelry setting highlights the intrinsic beauty of your jewelry piece, and how little you know about the jewelry setting (which can be also called gemstone setting or simply, stone setting)? If you want to learn more about the jewelry setting, this blog post by Rananjay Exports will discuss the different jewelry setting types. These gemstone settings are used everywhere – as ring settings, earring settings, and pendant settings. It does not matter whether you are reading this blog to know about the right engagement ring setting for your beloved’s engagement ring, or you are reading this blog as a jewelry enthusiast just to increase your knowledge – this guide will help you make the right, informed choice. So, without further delay, let's start with the meaning of jewelry setting.
What Does Jewelry Setting Mean?
The jewelry setting is simply the metal base in which a gemstone (such as diamond, opal, moonstone, larimar, etc.) sits in. In the early ages of jewelry design, much smaller gemstones were used in crafting the jewelry as compared to the gemstones of today's times which are considerably large. This is why, during those times, the metal band was able to hold those small gemstones, and jewelry settings were not needed. Today, the stones are much bigger, and also, are crafted in various different shapes, which is why, you need different jewelry settings to support these gemstones.
Typically, the jewelry settings are created from the same precious metal from which the rest of the jewelry is created. However, if you are ordering custom jewelry, the jewelry setting can be mixed and matched with the rest of the jewelry. The jewelry setting can be found in various parts that make up the jewelry piece, such as the shank of a ring, a bale on the pendant, a prong head for the stone, etc. Also, you should not limit the jewelry setting to the way in which the main gemstone sits in the metal base – it can also include filigree accents, at times the side stones, any custom designer work, and engravings as well.
Lastly, you need to understand that many people in the gemstone jewelry industry use the terms “jewelry setting” and “jewelry mounting” interchangeably. Some jewelers claim that the term “jewelry mounting” refers just to the part of the jewelry that holds the stone – such as the prong head or the bezel part because the word “mounting” originates from the action of mounting the stone onto the metal. However, to keep things simple for the scope of this blog, we will use both terms interchangeably.
The Most Common Jewelry Settings You Will Find
Micro Pave Setting
The micro pave setting employs the use of multiple tiny diamonds that are mounted very close to each other, under a microscope which leads to the primary stone. The little distance between these stones highlights the beauty of the primary stone, usually a diamond, emerald, sapphire, or ruby. The diamonds used in micro pave settings are typically smaller than 0.01 of a carat, and they are used to create an illusion that the entire band is made up of diamonds. If you talk about this setting in the context of a ring setting, you will find that an average micro pave setting can hold up to 50 diamonds, and sometimes, even more, making the ring a real beauty.
Prong Setting
In general, prong settings are the most common type of jewelry setting employed in the crafting of rings. In a prong setting, typically, four to six prongs support the gemstone by holding it in place. This setting is widely used in tennis bracelets, engagement rings, and earrings since it highlights the stone it holds and allows the audience to zone in on the beauty of the gemstone. As spoken earlier, four to six prongs are used normally in the prong setting, however, additional prongs can be added. The addition of more prongs depends on the size of the gemstone which is being mounted onto the jewelry.
Pave Settings
Pave setting originates from the French word “Pave”, which translates to the pavement. Pave setting generally features an overlay of brightness across the jewelry’s surface, which is paved with closely set gemstones such as diamonds. This look is attained by embedding tiny gemstones in rows onto the metal of the jewelry. First of all, holes are drilled into the metal to create seats where gemstones can sit. Post creating the holes, tiny beads are raised from the metal and then pushed onto the stone to secure the stones in their desired place. Lastly, these little metal beads are rounded off and polished to a high shine, which makes them virtually disappear as the gemstones glitter, giving the appearance of a continuous shining surface.
Channel Settings
In a channel setting the gemstones, such as diamonds, are suspended between two bars which are called channels. There are no prongs holding these gemstones. Instead, the gemstones are precisely fitted into the channel, where the gemstones are held by strips of metal on the side. Most often, this setting is found in women’s tennis bracelets as well as diamond rings.
Bezel Setting
The Bezel setting was the first setting to be invented by ancient Romans. This setting has passed the test of time and is used a lot in making modern jewelry. In the case of the Bezel setting, the gemstone is surrounded by a rim of metal that slightly extends over the top of the stone. It is then when the protruding metal is pushed over onto the top of the stone all over its outline, with very little chance of the stone falling out, thus enclosing the stone in a very secure setting.
However, there is one drawback with the Bezel setting – this setting encases most of the stone in metal, which results in reduced light entering the stone, meaning, the gemstone does not get to shine as brilliantly as it could, compared to other types of settings. Generally, the bezel setting surrounds flat-backed gemstones, such as cameos and cabochons.
Conclusion
Jewelry settings are an integral part of jewelry design. The look of the gemstone setting needs to flow seamlessly along with the aesthetics of the whole jewelry piece to make the jewelry look an absolute stunner. All the above jewelry settings are available from Rananjay Exports – India’s top wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturer and supplier. If you are a jewelry retailer who follows the latest jewelry trend, and you want trending wholesale gemstone jewelry and 925 sterling silver jewelry, you can get your needs met at Rananjay Exports. They also deal in customized jewelry, casting jewelry, designer jewelry, as well as handmade jewelry. Browse various jewelry at Rananjay Exports now and order your favorite jewelry. Thanks for reading this article. Make sure you check back on this website for more blogs regarding jewelry. Goodbye!
