Ring settings, stones and custom design, explained

Plain-English guides for anyone planning an engagement ring, a wedding band or a custom piece: how settings hold a stone, how to read a grading report, how metals wear and what to ask a jeweler.

Featured guide
Engagement Ring Settings Compared: Solitaire, Halo, Pavé and Bezel
How solitaire, halo, pavé, three-stone and bezel settings hold a center stone, how each looks and wears, and the questions that decide between them.
Read the guide: Engagement Ring Settings Compared: Solitaire, Halo, Pavé and Bezel

Latest guides

Diamonds & Gemstones
Diamond Shapes Compared: Round, Oval, Cushion, Emerald, Pear and More
What each diamond shape looks like on the hand, how brilliant and step faceting change the sparkle, and what each shape asks of the setting.
Custom Design
How a Custom Engagement Ring Is Made, From Sketch to Setting
The stages of a custom engagement ring, from brief and CAD model to casting, stone setting and finishing, and what to approve at each step.
Engagement Rings
Prong Settings Explained: Four or Six Prongs, and Which Tip Shape
How the number of prongs, their tip shape and the height of the head affect a ring’s security and look, plus the signs that prongs need repair.
Custom Design
Platinum vs. White Gold for an Engagement Ring
How platinum and white gold differ in weight, color, wear, rhodium plating, skin sensitivity and upkeep, and what the stamps inside a ring mean.
Custom Design
Pairing a Wedding Band With an Engagement Ring
Flush fits, gaps, curved and notched bands, matching metals and setting height: how to choose a wedding band that sits well beside an engagement ring.
Diamonds & Gemstones
How to Read a Diamond Grading Report, Section by Section
What each section of a diamond grading report measures, from measurements and the 4Cs to fluorescence, comments and inscriptions, and which lines matter most.