Diamond Earrings – Which Setting Is Best? (Part 1)
When it comes to selecting the perfect pair of diamond earrings, you essentially have four basic setting types to choose from, claw or prong set, invisible set, pave set, and rub-over or bezel set. Knowing the difference between these four types of settings can help determine which style works best for you.

The most traditional setting for diamond earrings has always been the claw or prong set. This setting is essentially comprised of several small prongs of precious metal in a claw design that grab the stone to hold it in place. Each prong bends slightly over the stone on the top surface in order to secure it firmly. Some designers have gotten creative with the prong settings over the years and worked small designs into the tips of the prongs, such as hearts or geometric angles, in order to make the claw setting more appealing. The claw setting works with any size, shape, or number of stones.

Pave set diamond earrings are comprised of several tiny diamonds which are set into the precious metal in an embedded fashion. The small diamonds are held in place by either tiny white gold or platinum prongs or small metal beads set atop the edges of the stones. These settings are often done with white gold or platinum in order to create the illusion of a seamless diamond pattern even though part of the visible surface on the pave setting is precious metal. Pave set diamond earrings are ideal when you want the appearance of a larger diamond with a much smaller price tag. Since the pave set requires the stones to be small and embedded, the round cut or shape of diamond is almost always used for this design.

Check back tomorrow when we will discuss invisible set and rub-over set diamond earrings in greater detail.