Engagement Rings Tutorial

Basic Engagement Ring Anatomy

An engagement ring is essentially composed of two parts, a head and a shank. The center stone is held in place by prongs or a bezel.

1.55ct Round Brilliant Solitaire Engagement Ring
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Engagement Rings – Basic Vocabulary

Bezel

A piece of metal that completely encircles a diamond or colored gem securing it in place.

Gallery

The undercarriage of the head of a ring, which can be functional or decorative.

Head

The most prominent part of the ring's mounting, which holds the center stone.

A ring can either have an integrated or a peg head. An integrated head is composed of a head and shank that are constructed from a single piece of metal. A peg head is soldered to the shank, so it is constructed from two separate pieces of metal.

.73ct Round Briliant Engagement Ring with Baguettes
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1.4ct Ideal Cut in D'Vatché X-Prong Ring
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Prongs/Claws

The small pieces of metal that cup the center stone, securing it in place.

Ring Mounting

The entire ring—without a center stone or side stones.

Semi Mount

A ring with accent stones already in place, but without a center stone.

Shank

The band that encircles the finger.

Setting

The act of securing diamonds and gemstones into an engagement ring or other jewelry item.

Setting Style

The specific way that stones are secured, i.e., prongs-set or bezel-set.


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