How To Choose The Right Antique Engagement Ring Settings

So you may be about to get married but don't want to buy a new ring; because in fact, all you want is to purchase an antique engagement ring settings for that precious diamond you already have that your grandparents bestowed unto you for your lifelong partner one day. That or you may already have the perfect gem as a gift to someone special (not necessarily someone you are about to marry), but which needs the perfect ring setting to complement it.

Ring settings are a mounting made of a piece of metal and that holds a gem or stone in place. The setting may be made of gold or any other type of metal.

Below is a list of among the most common ring settings available in the market today.

Bezel - A bezel provides a very good protection and is very durable. It is made of very smooth metal surface and does not hook on hair or threads unlike the prong, another type of ring setting. You can also opt for a half bezel, which only partially covers the gem, as well as a full bezel.

Prong - This is the most common type of ring setting in the market today. Its disadvantage is that it gets hooked in hair and threads due to its individual tips. The prongs are like claws that bend at the tip to protect and secure the gem. It's good for larger diamonds but not so for smaller ones.

Chanel - These are mostly used for simple rings or for stones used as accent. Stones of similar shape and size are set along the sides of the ring in a channel inset, which provides a very safe place for the stones, but doesn't accentuate or show off the stones very much.

Pave - This setting covers the entire ring surface with gems. The gems are either set in tiny prongs or little depressions around the band. Due to the minute details and the number of gems involved, this setting is quite expensive.

Tension - Using stronger metals, the band of the ring itself holds the gem in place. It is not among the most secure kind of setting for your gem but it's probably the best setting to show it off fully.

Knowing the different types of setting available enables you to choose the perfect antique engagement ring settings. But again, whether or not you are about to be engaged, choosing the perfect setting is important because it also plays a role in the ring's overall appearance. After all, it isn't a ring without the band.