Get ready to dazzle her with a stunning wedding ring. Although not the most popular of diamond settings, the channel setting is a beautiful choice with a style of its own.
The most poplar settings for engagement rings are prong and bezel. The channel setting is similar to the bezel setting in one way, the diamond or diamonds are protected on both sides by precious metal. This provides extra protection for the stones. In a channel setting two rails, or channels, of metal are placed on either side of the diamonds to hold them in place. With engagement rings, the channel setting is most often used to hold side diamonds in place.
A channel setting can also be used with a solitaire diamond. This contemporary diamond ring, shown below, features a wide comfort band with an open channel setting. Grooves are made in the metal which holds the diamond in place and then the metal is folded over the top of the diamond to hold it in place.
The channel setting is popular for other types of rings, such as: Eternity Rings, Anniversary Rings and Wedding Bands, as shown in the left image.
From the side view, on the left, you can see the cut away section which reveals the channels. The diamonds are held in place along their girdles with a small amount of the metal pushed over the top to hold them in place.
Properly crafted channel set rings should not prevent light from entering the diamond table.
To learn more about the terms diamond table & diamond girdle, click on: anatomy of a diamond.
Mazal Diamond Creative Director Stefano Nicoletti, and 3rd generation jewelry designer, explains how the channel set engagement ring above is created.
Visit Mazal Diamond’s Engagement Ring Buying Guide.