Picture this - you and your partner decide it’s time to go ring shopping. You scroll through Pinterest, get a few ideas of what you’re looking for, and head on over to the jewelry store (we know a good one!). You go to look at the samples in the cases, and the sales associate asks “are you looking for a solitaire or diamonds on the band? Do you like a halo? Do you prefer a cathedral mounting or peg set? Do you want the band to sit flush?”
Well, that’s a lot of questions that you may not understand! Don’t worry - that sales associate knows exactly what they’re talking about and will use their knowledge to make sure you get the ring that will not only look good but also match your lifestyle. Oh, you’re still wondering what exactly the difference between a peg set ring and a cathedral mounting is? We won’t keep you waiting much longer. But first, let’s get some language straight. When discussing engagement rings, the mounting is the ring itself. Since diamonds and mountings are sold separately, we consider them two separate components. The part of the ring that holds the center stone is the head. The shank, or band, is everything but the head. Prongs refer to the metal that touches that diamond; there can be between 3 to 6 prongs on a traditional engagement ring (but we can always add more if you like!).
Sneaky Solitaires
Solitaires are generally considered the most traditional option for an engagement ring. But, they can hide some details that you may not know about! While solitaires look very similar from the top down, the main differential between them is how the head is attached to the band. A Tiffany band features the head attached to two sides of the band. A peg head (remember from before?) is pretty much exactly as it sounds - a head with a peg on the end is placed into a hole on the top of the band and soldered together. A cathedral mounting features the end of the band swooping upwards to attach to the head, forming a bridge underneath that center stone.
Diamond Dazzlers
So if solitaires look more or less the same from above, diamond bands must follow the same principle- right? Unfortunately, not so much. The way the diamonds are set (how the prongs hold the stones) can significantly affect the appearance of the ring. The most popular style is a 4-prong setting. Allowing the diamonds to shine as well as keeping them secure, 4-prong settings mimic the natural shape of the ring. A shared prong style, meaning two diamonds are being held in place by one prong, creates more of a bubble effect on the band. This style will require more maintenance long term, including higher frequency of clean and checks, stone tightening, and prong re-tips. But don’t let it stop you from choosing your dream ring! Knowledge is key and if a shared prong ring is the one you have your heart set on, mark your calendars for a stone check every 3-6 months.
Wedding Band Ambitions
Now, we know that you’re preoccupied with one major life decision, but we can’t let you forget about the next one - choosing your wedding band. An engagement ring (usually) isn’t designed to stand on its own. Whether it’s a few weeks, months or years, you will one day wear your bands as a pair (or a stack!) and if you don’t give it at least a little thought now, your journey to find the perfect band could be much more difficult! Now, let’s take a step back - we’re not asking you to choose a wedding band when you pick out an engagement ring. However, there are some questions we want you to keep in the back of your mind -
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Do you want your wedding band to sit flush with any standard gold or diamond wedding band? Then a peg set or cathedral mounting would work best for you!
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Do you want to customize your wedding band? Then go ahead with no fear!
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Do you plan to wear your wedding band by itself? If yes, then refer back to question 1! If no, then you don't have to worry about this question.
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Do you even want to wear your wedding band with your engagement ring? In this modern age, sometimes your engagement ring completely steals the show. If you want a ring so spectacular that nothing can match it, then that’s also good to let your jeweler know.
Now, we’re sure you still have questions. But you can’t expect us to reveal all of our secrets, right? You have the basics, and now it’s time to put them to use. Make an appointment and let us put your knowledge to the test. We’re up for a pop quiz whenever you are!
