Choosing the Right Engagement Ring Setting
The engagement ring setting that you choose for your ring is extremely important. The engagement ring setting that you choose will protect your gemstone and influences the way your ring looks on your finger. The wrong engagement ring setting can overwhelm your fingers look out of proportion on your hand.
Depending on your lifestyle you may also need to choose a certain type of setting. Different settings are also more suitable for different types of stones and cuttings. The best way to find the right setting is to try rings on so that you can tell what looks best on your hand.
The Prong Setting
The prong engagement ring setting is one of the oldest settings available. It was creates in the 1900's and consists of a basket that holds your diamond with several prongs to keep the diamond in place. This is the best setting to allow light to play off your diamond and emphasize the sparkle.
This is a good setting for big diamonds and ideally there should be six prongs. If you have small children then this may not be an ideal setting as the prongs catch on clothes and hair very easily.
The Flush Setting
The flush setting is a modern engagement ring setting. With this setting a tapered hole is made in the band for the diamond to sit in and then the metal covers the sides of the diamond. This is a beautiful setting but there is a danger of diamonds coming loose or falling out if not done properly.
The Cluster Setting
This engagement ring setting is perfect for those who are on a tight budget. With the cluster setting you can take many small stones and make them look like one single large stone. Another option is to use this setting to take several semi precious gemstones and arrange them into a figural setting of a flower, butterfly or shape.
Do Your Homework
You need to test out the engagement rings that you are thinking of buying. Besides trying on the rings you should make sure that the stones are not loose. They should sit level and there should be no gaps between stones. Research the amount of care required of each setting and decide if you can commit to that level of care.
Elaborate settings are not recommended for people who perform heavy work with their hands everyday. You should also make sure that your engagement ring setting is compatible with your wedding band.
