Anatomy of an Engagement Ring
When you’re shopping for or designing an engagement ring, you’ll hear a lot of anatomy terms thrown your way. To get a better idea of exactly what you want in a ring, it’s important to understand the different components that make up a ring’s anatomy. You’ll be able to put your dream ring into the right terms and help us at Lauren B turn it into a reality.
More than that, understanding the anatomy of an engagement ring helps you know your ring from the inside out. After all, it’s likely going to be a piece you treasure for a lifetime, so spending some time understanding its components helps forge a real connection!
In basic terms, an engagement ring consists of the center stone, head or setting, and the band. Below, we’ll discuss all the different parts that go into a ring and some of the commonly used terms.
Anatomy of the Head
The head of an engagement ring is essentially all the pieces that hold the diamond in place. There are various design options available, and you may already recognize some of the terms below. Different styles change the appearance of the ring, but the main goal of the head is always the same—keep the stone in place and make it look beautiful.
Prongs
Prongs are one of the most common and recognizable ways to hold a diamond. They’re metal tips or hook-shaped pieces that grip your stone and keep it from moving. Traditionally, prong settings feature either four or six prongs, but some rings go as high as eight.
A higher number of prongs means your stone is held more securely. If you have a larger stone (bigger than one carat, but certainly three carats or larger), it’s best to go with a six-prong design for security. While four-prong designs leave more of the stone visible and help make it appear larger, if even one of the prongs gets bent, you risk losing your stone.
Basket
Certain shapes need a bit more support. That’s where the basket comes in. A basket is a type of prong setting, but it does a little something more than the standard prong settings mentioned above. A basket has the standard prong settings extending up but also includes horizontal metal bands that connect to each of the prongs. This gives your stone a base, making it more secure than the standard prong setting.
Halo
There are a few halo styles out there, but they all harken back to the same core idea. A halo is a frame of pave-set diamonds that encases the top-facing part of the center stone. A halo increases the surface area of the diamond when viewed from the top or aerial view.
In addition to the standard halo design, we have our Hidden Halo™. This style of engagement ring features two rows of pave diamonds concealed beneath the center stone with the top row peaking out every so slightly.
Traditional halo designs are a great way to pull attention to your ring, as the added sparkle effortlessly accents your chosen center stone.
Cathedral
If you are looking for a setting to proudly prop your center stone up on your finger, look no further than a cathedral setting. Cathedral rings slope gracefully towards the halo or basket holding the diamond. A cathedral ring will also give a more structured look and can feel more secure on the hand.
Signature Wrap
Our most popular signature style: the Signature Wrap. Often confused with a hidden halo, our signature wrap is described as a scarf of pave diamonds wrapped around the prongs beneath the center stones for that extra shine from the profile of the ring.
Anatomy of The Gallery
If you see or hear the term ‘gallery’ as you’re choosing your ring, it refers to the area just below the center stone. As you view your ring from the side, the gallery is the underside of your stone and the part that fits right over your finger. It isn’t something you’ll typically notice from the top view.
At Lauren B, we offer a unique style called Invisible Gallery™, a type of engagement ring setting that has an open underside allowing for the center stone to sit as low as possible on the hands.
Anatomy of The Body
Think of the band of your ring as its body—the component that supports the head and the center stone. While many people focus on center diamonds or gemstones as the highlight of the ring, your band is equally as important, and it can completely change the look and style.
Solitaire vs. Plain Band
The word “solitaire” is used in a few different ways in jewelry. Technically, it’s meant to designate a single-stone setting. However, you’ll often see it used to indicate one stone set into a plain band. For our purposes, we use it to describe the latter.
Pave Band
Pave bands are covered in a series of tiny diamonds, also known as melee. These micro-diamonds are separated and held in place by tiny bead prongs and work together to accentuate and elevate your center stone. Pave bands can be quite delicate and beautiful. Even though they feature a multitude of stones, they don’t complicate the look of your ring.
Comfort Fit
At Lauren B, we’re big fans of the comfort fit band. Most of our rings feature this style. Comfort-fit bands have rounded edges, which allows the ring to slip onto your finger with ease. If you struggle to get rings over your knuckle, a comfort-fit band is more accommodating and easy to wear.
European Comfort Fit
The European comfort fit bands have a similar idea to the standard comfort fit above. The major difference is that the European version features squared edges instead of the more rounded look of a comfort band.
What’s the Anatomy of Your Ring?
A lot goes into ring design. The head and body are important elements in creating a piece you love, but there’s so much more to it! Whether you have something in mind or have no idea where to begin, our expert design team at Lauren B Jewelry is ready to help create your engagement ring. Schedule an appointment today to start your journey toward the ring of your dreams. Still need some inspiration, browse our Instagram and Pinterest!