Here's What You Need to Know Before Buying a Pave Setting

Shopping for an engagement ring on a budget? You're not alone; in fact, it's more the rule than the exception these days. There are beautiful and stylish ways to maximize your ring budget. First, you're in the right place: Shopping online for an engagement ring can save you 40 to 50 percent off brick-and-mortar jewelry stores. Second, consider a setting that incorporates extra-small stones, like a pavé setting.

What is a Pavé Setting?

The pave setting, pronounced “pa-vay,” comes from the French word “to pave,” as in paved with diamonds. By setting small diamonds together the effect is one of a continuous band of sparkle. Uses a variety of diamond sizes, including larger diamonds, and is known for its bold appearance. Pave settings are sturdy enough for daily wear and tear, but require proper care to last. It has more visible prongs and can contain heftier diamonds within it.

Different Styles of Pavé Settings

Micropave

Uses uniform, very small diamonds that are usually between 0.7 and 1.2 millimeters in diameter. Micro-pavé settings are known for their streamlined, subtle, and delicate look. The small diamonds in micro-pavé settings are set so securely that the jewelry is durable enough for everyday wear. However, the tiny diamonds can fall out.

Micro-pavé settings are so small that they can only be set while viewing under a magnifying glass. The tiny prongs holding the diamonds are a fraction of the size of the diamonds themselves.

French Pave

This style, similar to micro pavé, incorporates a small, V-shaped cutout underneath each diamond, which allows for more light to hit the stone and less metal to show on the ring.

U-Cut Pave / Scallop

In a U-cut or scalloped setting, the metal beads holding the accent diamonds have U-shaped cutouts underneath, adding a distinctive design element.

Bright Cut / Channel

The most traditional setting, the bright cut (or channel setting) is so named because the diamonds look like they're held by two walls of metal. This setting has seen a resurgence in popularity recently thanks to a growing interest in vintage and vintage-style engagement rings and jewelry.

Shared Prong

In this style, two accent stones are held together by the same prong, minimizing the metal, enabling a tighter and more uniform look, and enabling light to hit the diamonds and maximize sparkle.

Surface Prong

The most common setting, each diamond is held tightly in place by a tiny metal prong. They can be rounded, flat, pointed, or V-shaped.

Bar

The bar setting holds diamond accents in place with bars of metal on either side. This secure setting style is typically used for baguette-style diamonds in three-stone rings or eternity bands.

Bezel

In this setting, diamonds or gemstones are enclosed by metal. This holds the stone securely in place and adds a pretty design element. Bezel-set rings are popular with both men and women and have long-lasting appeal.

Pros of Getting a Pavé Ring Setting

The biggest benefit to a pavé ring setting: You get more sparkle for less money. Pavé set rings have one continuous shine, giving the wearer the illusion that the diamonds are more plentiful and bigger than they actually are. This setting also allows for the center stone to be highlighted and exemplified through the sparkle of the side stones. Pavé in a halo setting — in which small diamonds encircle a larger stone — can make a center stone look bigger and add shine if the center stone is low set. The pave setting is also extremely flexible and works beautifully within modern or vintage-style engagement rings.

Things to Consider About the Pavé Setting

As with any style of ring, there are also some caveats to the pavé setting. It is recommended for diamonds only, as it doesn't offer protection for more fragile gemstones. Additionally, the close pave setting makes resizing the ring difficult. There's also a low but still present chance of losing the side stones. When caring for the ring, it is important to remember that soaking a paved set engagement ring increases the likelihood of diamonds coming loose — be sure to take extra care in cleaning and maintaining a pavé engagement ring.

How to Clean a Pave Diamond Ring

As with all other precious jewelry, use a cleaning solution that's designed specifically for the metal and the gemstone that you are wearing. If you do not have a cleaning solution that's made for that jewelry, ensure that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and warm soapy water. No chemicals or harsh abrasive materials should be used. Use the brush to ensure you clean in and around prongs and crevices on the ring. Have jeweler steam clean and ultrasonic clean the jewelry to ensure it maintains the best finishing. Following these steps will ensure that your pave ring or pave wedding band is safe to wear every day and is sparkling and clean. Always be sure to remove the ring while cooking, cleaning, exercising to ensure that the ring does not get filmy, dirty, or greasy.