How to choose a setting style

RingsDeals makes six style categories of engagement ring setting, made to order in the metal, stone type, shape and carat you choose. Here is what actually differs between them.

Solitaire

A solitaire setting holds one center stone with no side stones, usually with either a 4-prong or 6-prong head. A 4-prong head shows more of the stone and lets in more light; a 6-prong head holds the stone more securely and shows a bit more metal. Solitaire is typically the least expensive setting style, since it uses the least metal and no accent diamonds, and it's the easiest to inspect since there's nothing around the center stone to catch on.

Side Stone

A side-stone setting adds smaller diamonds along the band beside the center stone, for extra sparkle without surrounding it in a full halo. It typically costs a bit more than a plain solitaire because of the added accent stones, but less than a pave or halo setting that uses more of them.

Pave

A pave setting lines the band with small diamonds set close together, either in a single row or, on a few styles, triple rows for more sparkle. More rows of pave diamonds add sparkle and cost. Pave jewelry generally benefits from periodic inspection over the years, to make sure none of the tiny prongs holding the small stones have loosened.

Halo

A halo setting circles the center stone with a ring of small diamonds, which makes the center stone look larger and adds overall sparkle. A floating halo sets that ring of diamonds slightly below the center stone with a visible gap, so the halo appears to float rather than sit flush against it. Halo settings use more metal and more accent stones than a solitaire, which is reflected in the price.

Hidden Halo

A hidden halo tucks a ring of small diamonds underneath the center stone instead of around it, so the sparkle shows from the side and at an angle while the top view stays as clean as a solitaire. A double hidden halo adds a second ring of diamonds beneath the first for more of that side sparkle.

Three-Stone

A three-stone setting places the center stone between two smaller side stones, for a fuller look across the whole ring rather than sparkle concentrated in the center. Three-stone settings are often chosen for the past-present-future meaning associated with the three stones, a tradition rather than anything specific to any one ring.

Every style is available with a natural or lab-grown center diamond, or a colored gem on request, in the shape and carat you choose. See our diamond shapes and sizes guide and our lab-grown vs natural diamonds guide, or browse ring styles directly.