Is there a rule on how high to set a diamond?

[Lola0918]

I love my stone to set high so it''s on display, so to speak. I know lifestyle needs to be taken into consideration but is there such a "rule" on how high it should sit? My first ER was set really high, per my request, in a cathedral setting and it really maximized the size. I loved it. I''ve seen other settings where the diamond gets lost in the setting and it just upsets me that so much of it is hidden in metal. I know to each their own but I wondered if there is some rule?
TIA!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 4/15/2010 11:22:44 PM
Author:Lola0918
I love my stone to set high so it''s on display, so to speak. I know lifestyle needs to be taken into consideration but is there such a ''rule'' on how high it should sit? My first ER was set really high, per my request, in a cathedral setting and it really maximized the size. I loved it. I''ve seen other settings where the diamond gets lost in the setting and it just upsets me that so much of it is hidden in metal. I know to each their own but I wondered if there is some rule?
TIA!!!

No rules on this. To each their own.. I am not a huge fan of high settings... To me the stone can catch on things, and it looks lost sitting high ... But that''s just me.

 

[RaiKai]

No there is no rule. All depends on one''s own preferences.

I don''t like settings that are too high for comfort, lifestyle and just personal style preferences. Somewhere in the middle works fine for me!

 

[Amethyste]

There are no rules... But I know its too high when you cannot slip on gloves or mittens without ease...

 

[missydebby]

Per my lifestyle, too high won''t do. On my first engagement ring, however, I went too far in the other direction and my stone was definitely lost. So this time, I''m going in the middle.

 

[Natylad]

I guess there are no specific rules on that issue, but somebody can tell when something just isn''t right. I had discussed my ER''s setting with my jeweller and he did everything right except of the fact that he set the stone too high. When i saw the ring i was like:

I asked him what was he thinking and he said that a triple ex, E color, VVS2 stone should be set very high in order to...show all its glory...Plus - he said - when your stone is that white, you don''t need and you don''t want to...hide it...You want to show it off...
Well...showing off the stone is one thing but having it get stuck in your pocket, your gloves, etc is another. Plus, i''ve noticed that i''m accidentaly banging the ring on things and i suspect that it has to do with the high setting...In general, i''m very upset about this issue. I gave myself the time to live with it for a few months and see what happens but i know that i can''t "swallow" this problem and i won''t get over it. So, a few days ago i visited him and dicussed the issue. He suggested that he resets the diamond much lower for no additional cost. I''ll meet with him on Sunday morning to leave the ring and after that i''ll have to wait for ten long days...But i think it''s really worth it and i suspect that after this minor alteration the ring will please me much more, both from an aesthetic and from a practical point of view...
On the other hand, i have to note that i also hate extremely low settings that make the diamond and the entire ring look...totally flat or the settings that surround the diamond with so much metal, that it seems as if it''s...suffocating...if you know what i mean...

 

[Lola0918]

Thanks for all the replies! I''m sure there is a happy medium for me. I guess it''s because I just saw a beautiful LARGE stone set in a plain basket setting and there was so much metal surrounding the stone that it looked like it was ''sinking'' in the setting and I was so disappointed. I thought "PUT THAT BABY ON DISPLAY!!".

 

[Hest88]

Yes, definitely go with what you feel comfortable with. I''m one of those who likes settings as low as possible, with the culet as close to touching my finger as I can. I just like the unobtrusive, streamlined look of a low setting, especially if it can hug the curve of my finger, as well the way it minimizes the snag factor. To each her own.

 

[Swirl]

Date: 4/16/2010 4:20:59 AM
Author: Naty H&A
I guess there are no specific rules on that issue, but somebody can tell when something just isn''t right. I had discussed my ER''s setting with my jeweller and he did everything right except of the fact that he set the stone too high. When i saw the ring i was like:

I asked him what was he thinking and he said that a triple ex, E color, VVS2 stone should be set very high in order to...show all its glory...Plus - he said - when your stone is that white, you don''t need and you don''t want to...hide it...You want to show it off...
Well...showing off the stone is one thing but having it get stuck in your pocket, your gloves, etc is another. Plus, i''ve noticed that i''m accidentaly banging the ring on things and i suspect that it has to do with the high setting...In general, i''m very upset about this issue. I gave myself the time to live with it for a few months and see what happens but i know that i can''t ''swallow'' this problem and i won''t get over it. So, a few days ago i visited him and dicussed the issue. He suggested that he resets the diamond much lower for no additional cost. I''ll meet with him on Sunday morning to leave the ring and after that i''ll have to wait for ten long days...But i think it''s really worth it and i suspect that after this minor alteration the ring will please me much more, both from an aesthetic and from a practical point of view...
On the other hand, i have to note that i also hate extremely low settings that make the diamond and the entire ring look...totally flat or the settings that surround the diamond with so much metal, that it seems as if it''s...suffocating...if you know what i mean...

I was wondering about how this would work if you changed your mind. So, if you have it set high and find later you want it lower then that is doable with just a reset with the current prongs?
BUT, what if you had it set medium or low and want it higher? Can that be done with just a reset with the current prongs or would a new head or something be needed? Depending on how the ring was made would you maybe need a whole new setting to raise it?

 

[beezygal]

Date: 4/16/2010 11:32:07 AM
Author: Swirl
I was wondering about how this would work if you changed your mind. So, if you have it set high and find later you want it lower then that is doable with just a reset with the current prongs?
BUT, what if you had it set medium or low and want it higher? Can that be done with just a reset with the current prongs or would a new head or something be needed? Depending on how the ring was made would you maybe need a whole new setting to raise it?

I read somewhere that it is possible to be done. It is actually a very simple task. There''s a term for it but I can''t remember. All they do is just extend the prong and polish it back to make it smooth. I dunno if it''s good for the metal if the prongs are messed around with too much.

 

[PumpkinPie]

there are no rules - I don''t like high settings, but many people do - it''s all about what fits your preferences and lifestyle

 

[spicytuna]

Did I read somewhere that the diamond should be set so that the cutlet is touching the band? I can''t seem to find the original thread.

 

[Natylad]

Date: 4/16/2010 11:32:07 AM
Author: Swirl

Date: 4/16/2010 4:20:59 AM
Author: Naty H&A
I guess there are no specific rules on that issue, but somebody can tell when something just isn''t right. I had discussed my ER''s setting with my jeweller and he did everything right except of the fact that he set the stone too high. When i saw the ring i was like:

I asked him what was he thinking and he said that a triple ex, E color, VVS2 stone should be set very high in order to...show all its glory...Plus - he said - when your stone is that white, you don''t need and you don''t want to...hide it...You want to show it off...
Well...showing off the stone is one thing but having it get stuck in your pocket, your gloves, etc is another. Plus, i''ve noticed that i''m accidentaly banging the ring on things and i suspect that it has to do with the high setting...In general, i''m very upset about this issue. I gave myself the time to live with it for a few months and see what happens but i know that i can''t ''swallow'' this problem and i won''t get over it. So, a few days ago i visited him and dicussed the issue. He suggested that he resets the diamond much lower for no additional cost. I''ll meet with him on Sunday morning to leave the ring and after that i''ll have to wait for ten long days...But i think it''s really worth it and i suspect that after this minor alteration the ring will please me much more, both from an aesthetic and from a practical point of view...
On the other hand, i have to note that i also hate extremely low settings that make the diamond and the entire ring look...totally flat or the settings that surround the diamond with so much metal, that it seems as if it''s...suffocating...if you know what i mean...

I was wondering about how this would work if you changed your mind. So, if you have it set high and find later you want it lower then that is doable with just a reset with the current prongs?
BUT, what if you had it set medium or low and want it higher? Can that be done with just a reset with the current prongs or would a new head or something be needed? Depending on how the ring was made would you maybe need a whole new setting to raise it?

Hi Swirl

My jeweller said that he will only have to make the current prongs smaller and the diamond will be set lower. He said that this will not be a problem and i trust him completely because he is a true perfectionist...He believes that every ring that he creates and...releases to the world, is a witness of the quality of his work...which is absolutely true.
As far as setting the diamond higher is concerned, i can''t express an opinion, because i haven''t discussed this with him. I suspect though that extending the already existing, smaller prongs, will always make them vulnerable and i''d feel more comfortable if i changed the entire crown.
Anyway, since i''m meeting with him tommorow, i can talk about it and get back at you!