Although solitaires are loved for their minimal and uncluttered look, people have warmed up to accented rings for their aesthetic brilliance and expensive appearance. To make things a touch more interesting, jewelers have done some hands-on experiments and in the process, creating some advanced setting styles for these accent stones. Accent stones being generally smaller than the center stone often demand setting styles that are widely different from the traditional ones used to secure bigger gems. Those that are far smaller are placed using a variety of new setting techniques that are aesthetically promising.
So, let’s take a look at the setting options for accent gems.
Pave or Bead Setting: A very popular style of setting that has made secured placement of really tiny gems possible in dainty ring shanks is the pave set. Not known to many, but this setting also goes by the name of bead setting. In this technique, really small stones are set lose to one another to create a dazzling encrusted look. It is one of the most glamorous stone setting type known.
Channel Setting: In this setting type, stones are pushed into channels between two parallel walls where they lay suspended without the use of any prongs. It creates a very elegant and seamless look.
Bezel Setting: Also used to set bigger stones, bezel is a versatile setting that works for most gem sizes. In this setting, the stones are set inside circular cavities that border the stone from around seating it in its depth.
Flush Setting: Flush setting style is used to embed gems into the bands in a manner so that only the table is visible. It requires no prongs and that creates a smooth and even finish.
Bar Setting: A different kind of channel setting, this technique is used to set stones securely in vertical channels that stand parallel to each other.
Shared Prong Setting: As the name suggests, this setting involves placement of gems using prongs, which the gems share to minimize the resistance in the path of brilliance. A shared prong setting offers a great fit and an uninterrupted band of sparkle.
Scalloped Pave Setting: A kind of pave setting, this technique derives its name from the U-shaped bead cut-outs that creates the effect of a scalloped finish. When viewed from top, it looks like a split prong setting.
French Pave Setting: Identical to the above, except the cutouts here are V in shape.
