Wedding Ring Settings

Wedding Ring Settings – A Guide To The Three Most Popular Styles

A wedding ring is an important investment. It is going to be worn every day and has to be practical as well as attractive.

Traditionally a wedding ring was a plain band, but this has now changed. The wedding ring comes in all shapes and sizes. If you are looking at wedding rings with stones it is most likely to be embellished with diamonds.

There are many different types of settings for stones, but some are more commonly used for engagement rings, while others lend themselves more towards wedding bands.

The three most popular wedding ring settings are detailed below.

1. Bead setting. In this setting the diamonds or other chosen stones are imbedded in the metal. This is a great way to add a little extra sparkle to a simple band. Some men also choose this as a way to embellish a plain band. The metal around the stone can also be engraved either to show a flowing, continuous design such as flowers weaving around the band or there can be engraving around each stone individually to create a star or other symbol. The engravings can be as elaborate or simple as you like.

2. Channel setting. This is where the stones are held between two channels. It is usually used for a line of stones all the same size. This is a popular design for eternity rings, but over recent years this is increasingly being chosen as a wedding ring.

3. Bezel setting. This is where the stones are set above the band and each stone is held in place by a collar. This style is also used for engagement rings. Unlike the other wedding ring settings, in this setting the stones are not flush with the band. For this reason some people find that it is not practical for a ring which they will never take off.

There are obviously other settings such as the prong setting, but this is usually used for a solitaire diamond or for a small number of stones in a line. This setting is harder to keep clean and is therefore not always practical for a wedding ring.

As well as choosing the perfect wedding ring setting for the bride, there is still the groom to consider. With most grooms now choosing to wear a ring this too is an increasing market. The choices for men tend to be simpler, however, the man is no longer expected to wear a simple plain gold band.

Since some couples want to have a link between the bride and grooms ring it can be a good idea to decide on the style for both before any purchases are made.

If you are still undecided as to your favourite wedding ring settings then it may also be worth considering the variations available with a band. This can now be purchased or made either with engravings or with a blend of different colour golds to create a stunning and practical wedding band.