What type of setting are these diamonds?

[hmilgrom]

Hello:
Can anyone please tell me how these diamonds (the small ones surrounding the large center stone) are set?
It may be difficult to see, but they are individually prong set atop the metal (not flush with the metal).

I'm trying to get my jeweler to copy this type of setting, but he keeps pushing the stones down into the metal, like a channel.

Any guidance would be much appreciated!

 

[Circe]

Looks like micropave to me ... which is a fairly specialized skill-set. The reason he might be deviating might simply be that he can't replicate it, exactly.

 

[Christina...]

looks like pave.