PAVÉ SETTINGS VS. OTHER ENGAGEMENT RING SETTINGS

Pavé settings are often compared with channel settings, prong settings and other engagement

ring settings that feature small diamonds. We’ve listed four of the most common settings below and explained how they differ from the classic pavé setting.

Pavé vs. Micropavé

Pavé is a general term used to refer to any type of setting with pavé-set diamonds. Micro pavé refers specifically to very small diamonds (typically less than 0.01 carat) that are uniform in size and set using very small prongs.

• Pavé settings usually use larger diamonds than micro pavé settings, with fewer pavé set diamonds in total.

• Micro pavé settings often use more than 100 very small diamonds, typically with a carat weight of less than 0.01ct each.

Pavé vs. Channel

Pavé and channel settings have several key differences. In a pavé setting, the small diamonds line the band and are held in place using small prongs. In a channel setting, a small channel is cut into the ring, with diamonds set in a row inside the channel.

• Pavé settings almost always use round or oval cut diamonds, which are held in place by small prongs.

• Channel settings often use round, princess cut, baguette cut and other diamond shapes, which are set inside a small channel cut into the surface of the ring.

Pavé vs. Shared Prong

Pavé and shared prong settings look similar at first glance, but use a slightly different design to hold their small diamonds in place.

• Pavé settings feature small beads or micro-prongs, which are designed to hold each of the small diamonds securely on the surface of the ring.

• Shared prong settings look similar to pavé settings, but use shared metal prongs to hold adjacent diamonds in place next to each other.

Pavé vs. French Pavé

Pavé and French pavé settings have a slight difference in design, with the French pavé setting featuring a V-shaped cut under each diamond to increase the visibility of the stone.

• Classic pavé settings feature diamonds set on the surface of the ring, without a visible groove under each pavé-set diamond.

• The French pavé setting uses small, V-shaped cuts to make the sides of each pavé-set diamond visible, creating a gorgeous line of pavé diamonds.