Diamonds • Precious Gemstones • Jewelry • Gemology

Once you have found your diamond, you need to consider how best to show the stone. The function of a setting.

• Show the diamond or gemstone to maximum beauty. A Tiffany style mounting allows light to reach the pavilion of a gem. In well cut diamonds, light reaching the pavilion will be refracted into the gem and eventually reflected out through the crown.
• Secure the gem or diamond against loss or damage. Bezel setting is probably the most protection a stone can have, especially if the surface of the gem is below the surface of the bezel or metal.
• Function as user friendly on a day to day basis. It shouldn't irritate your hand nor snag too easily.
• Types of settings

Detailing the Factors of Good Settings

Showing Your Gemstone

• A properly proportioned diamond or gemstone will not only return all light entering from the crown and table, it will return all light entering the pavilion.
• So settings that elevate the diamond and allow light to strike the pavilion will make the gemstone look brighter.
• A diamond that is not squarely set will look bad. Demand a reset. Better yet, deal with quality professionals.

Safety and Security

• Losing your diamond because of a cheap setting doesn't make good economic sense .. does it?
• Lightweight jewelery can make your diamond appears larger. That means the setting needs to be well designed and well made to be strong and durable.

Look carefully at the setting

• Any burrs or sharp edges will snag on clothing
• Pockmarks or pits in the setting signals poor casting
• Tip: Really well made jewelry will be finished on the back side.
  
  If the setting is gold, what alloy? Does it have a karatage mark? Is the company trademark stamped next to it?These are often hard things to determine. Deal with quality sellers.

When buying a gift, let the recipient pick out the style. Give that perfect gemstone separately .. let that lucky someone design their own setting.