How does a bezel hold the stone?

[cjkoethc]

Hi All,

I''''m wondering how a bezel setting keeps the diamond in place? Does it "grip" the diamond? It seems scary!

Are diamonds more likely to fall out of bezel settings than prongs? I just don''''t understand the mechanics of a bezel.

Please let me know if you have some insight Thanks!

 

[strmrdr]

It is one of the most secure settings.

the edge of the diamond sits on a ledge then a ridge of metal is bent over the top so the stone is griped all around the edge.

 

[strmrdr]

pic is worth a 1000 words :}

 

[cjkoethc]

Since the metal is bending over the edge, I guess the diamond will look smaller in a bezel than in a prong setting? Or is the metal so thin that its irrelevant to the size?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 2/12/2006 12:42:38 AM
Author: cjkoethc
Since the metal is bending over the edge, I guess the diamond will look smaller in a bezel than in a prong setting? Or is the metal so thin that its irrelevant to the size?

done right it doesnt make it look much smaller to me.
I love bezel settings and done right they dont hang over the stone much at all.

 

[strmrdr]

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-diamond-whatcha-think.18084/

 

[diamondlil]

Date: 2/12/2006 12:42:38 AM
Author: cjkoethc
Since the metal is bending over the edge, I guess the diamond will look smaller in a bezel than in a prong setting? Or is the metal so thin that its irrelevant to the size?

Not necessarily. IMO, a diamond set in a white-metal bezel actually looks larger than prong set. I''d look at a few of similar size set both ways and see what you think.

 

[belle]

when done properly, a bezel setting is much more secure and protective than simple prongs. just as the girdle is ''seated'' in prongs, it is also done so in the bezel, except that it emcompasses the entire girdle.

 

[valeria101]

There's one thing about those drawings (at Blue Nile?) - they show very clearly how the bezel is made, but not how much of the diamond is covered. In the picture, about half of the upper girdle facets is covered

... while in practice about 1/4 might. Their representation is allot clearer this way, but the bezel ends up looking as if allot of diamond is sunk in it

I've tried to photoshop this down to size, but it isn't getting nowhere: it is clear why they chose to make the drawing as is - with less 'coverage' it isn't clear anymore how that bezel setting works.

I would agree that bezels make stones look larger - because the outline created is slightly larger than the diameter of the diamond. Bezel settings may extend allot away from the edge of the stone, but at the very minimum the walls are quite thin (1mm or so) and they extend about half width away from the edge of the diamond. In this scenario, the set bezel would be about 1mm wider than the diamond in it, and that minute bit means quite allot among diamonds (say, 1 to 1.5 cts for a round diamond).

My 2c

 

[valeria101]