LIVE EPISODE #11 Over the Top Part I: Non-Halo/Solitaire Rings
Thanks again for taking the time to read our blog and watch another Lauren B Live Episode which will again focus on custom engagement ring design. On the previous one (which can be watched at your leisure on our Youtube playlist) we went into full detail on the many different styles of bands that can be used for your engagement ring. Equally important is the top portion of your ring- the part closest to the center stone – and this combined with your band is going to dictate the overall style and look of your finished ring. At Lauren B we specialize in custom design from A to Z, meaning you can mix and match any band and top from all rings in our collection to come up with your ideal design. Attention all lovers of Non- halo rings! On today’s post, we are going to explore all the different non-halo options you have for the top of your engagement ring and break them down into different categories so you can really see the differences for yourself. For our purposes, we are going to refer to these as any rings that do not have a halo/perimeter of pave diamonds going around the top surface center-stone. While at first you might think, this is simple and there is only a couple of styles to choose from, if you browse our website or Instagram you will see there are many details you can incorporate here. To watch the YouTube video click here and read along below
CLASSIC FOUR OR SIX PRONG:
These styles refer to rings that have only the prongs holding the center-stone and no other metal in between them. In terms of style these would be our most simple style and will give you the most open space for your center-stone to work with.
- Open 4-Prong:This is perhaps the simplest and “least intrusive” ty
pe of head you can have for an engagement ring. At the same time, it will do the best job of putting the emphasis squarely on your center-stone and let it shine from all angles; as you can see the profile view is completely open which is the major draw of this type of setting. Check out this RS-46 style pave band and open 4 prong top design. We recommend this type of setting mostly for round or squared/cut corner center-stones because those types of center-stones have very sharp, even edges making them easy to grasp. This design does work nicely with radiant cut diamonds because the corner is squared off such as this 2 carat radiant cut in open 4 prong setting. On the other hand, for a rounded corner stone we can still make this type of open four prong top but would recommend using heavier prongs to ensure stability. Keep in mind this type of top can be used for any style of band from plain, to three row pave (such as this emerald cut center three row pave option) or prong set diamonds if you prefer.
- 6-Prong: This is only relevant to round diamonds. Many people ask what the reason for a 6 prong would be against the more common 4 prong. While this can be a discussion for another day, the extra two prongs can’t hurt for durability, however it is more for aesthetics and many people like how it gives the round center-stone a perfectly circular appearance in the setting. As you can see in this round cut center diamond with six prongs, the prongs are razor thin which will give you the same effect of showcasing your center-stone beautifully without any excess metal getting in the way. This is important to keep in mind because many other 6-prong settings you see out there are machine casted and much bulkier which will end up detracting from your center-stone. When you compare the 6 prong next to a 4 prong, the 4 prong can look slightly more square vs the 6 prong giving a more round effect.
WIRE BASKET
Wire Basket Plain: Quite like the previously mentioned settings in terms of their simplicity, this design has a small wire connecting each prong running parallel to the girdle of the center-stone. For this reason, we refer to it as a basket setting because this is how the center-stone is held in from the prongs and the support wire. This is more for durability than anything else and adds an extra layer of support beneath the center-stone. At Lauren B we try to keep it as delicate as possible as to not take away from the center-stone. We feel these are necessary for certain diamond shapes like this oval center moissanite ring since the shape can be somewhat irregular. Additionally, for a larger diamond such as this 4 carat radiant cut solitaire ring the extra wire on the basket adds more support.
Wire Basket Pave:
A lot of our clients love the details we include on our rings and many opt to add to some pave detailing along the basket area as shown in this beautiful 2.19 carat round cut center diamond ring with micropave diamonds on the wire basket. This model features a prong to prong wrap where the diamonds stop at each prongs. This is very subtle and only something that can be viewed from the profile- in these styles the pave diamonds stop at each prong and continue along each section of the wire. While more typical on the first two examples of resting on single band, we can incorporate it into a three-stone ring as well such as this triple oval invisible gallery diamond ring to give it a modern touch.
Wire Basket Pave and Stems/Prongs Pave:
Adding to the previous examples we also craft rings that have diamonds running up the stems and prongs to give it a fully detailed appearance leaving no metal whatsoever. The predecessor of these designs is oval cut diamond model RS-275 on our website and here are just a few examples we have in stock that we have created for different center-stone shapes. See this cushion cut model with diamond stems and basket . As you can see it works very well with any type of center-stone and with a thin pave band in any color metal. This has become one of our signature looks at Lauren B as clients love the dainty, airy appearance from the profile that is filled with details.
FULL PAVE WRAP:
Full Pave Wrap Four Stems:This is perhaps our most notable of non-halo top options and has become our calling card for our custom designs and originally based on model RS-63 from our website. We have made it in every single center-stone shape and band combination you can think of. In this style, the stems come from a single point on the band and act as the prongs as well. Wrapping over these stems is a full circle of pave diamonds which some people also refer to as an “under-halo” or scarf. This has become a great alternative for those opposed to a halo design but still want that extra sparkle to show. Also take a quick look at how even the full pave wrap can vary based on how the stones are set within it; traditional French pave VS. bright cut pave. Here is a list of rings you can look at with the full pave wrap design in varying center diamond shapes. These can be customized to any size/shape diamond you pick as well as any metal color combination!
Oval full pave wrap basket model RS-217
Radiant full pave wrap basket model RS-119
Round full pave wrap basket model RS-122
Pear full pave wrap basket model RS-233
Full Pave Wrap Six Stems/Prongs: A quick addition here and again only for round center-stones; has the same effect of rounding out the appearance and achieving a completely circular appearance. Check out this ring model featuring a full pave wrap on the basket and 6 prongs holding the center round brilliant moissanite. The basket is done in rose gold for a fun pop of color!
Full Wrap Cathedral: In terms of the actual top of the ring these are nearly identical to the previous set of rings. The prongs come from the band/stems themselves and have a full wrap of pave going over it. A cathedral is when the band attached directly to the basket or halo instead of being two separate floating parts. The cathedral band does add a different effect here which you can see on this rose gold cushion cut ring with a full pave wrap and cathedral design.
Full Wrap Invisible Gallery: . While strikingly like the previous ring example for its full wrap of diamonds underneath the girdle of the center-stone, there are no stems coming from the band putting this into our Invisible gallery collection. These invisible gallery rings sit flat on the hand for a low profile feel. The prongs come from the wrap itself to hold the stones thus leaving the underside completely open which is why we coined these rings “Invisible Gallery”.
***Insert image: https://www.laurenbjewelry.com/lepozzi-1-71ct-emerald-cut-platinum-engagement-ring.html
SEMI-FULL PAVE WRAP
Wrap from Band to Band: Look closely here and although these look like a full wrap, the diamonds on the basket holding the center-stone stop at the point where the band meets the basket at both points. This is only possible for a cathedral design because the band attaches directly to the basket and here are some great examples. Check out this beautiful solitaire round where the cathedral meets the basket for a semi- full pave wrap look. The detailing here is just as impressive as the previous designs and looks amazing in all different combinations of center-stone shapes and metal colors. We love this version featuring diamonds on the cathedral band and a wrap of rose gold on the basket. The elegance of the sloping band combined with the pave detailing is a great combination and in some cases we add diamonds up the stems as well to finish out the look.
Comparison:
Take a side by side photo and insert to ------> compare RS-46, RS-235, Wire basket plain, Wire Basket Pave, RS-275 style, RS-63 style and VNR-13877 style side by side, Twist band ring). At first glance, some may say these all look the same and nobody will ever see these details but a slight tilt of your hand will reveal all. Keep in mind you are the one wearing your ring and you will always look at it from all sides and too see some great craftsmanship and detailing makes your ring more unique and truly yours. The differences are very evident and all these fine points will add up to the finished looked of your ring. If you see them in order you will notice the progression from simplified to more detailed and of course your choice comes down to your preference alone.
Thanks again for tuning in everyone, don't forget that custom ring designs are our speciality so we can craft any ring to suit your needs perfectly!