What Does “Setting Only” Mean When Buying a Ring?
When a ring says “setting only” in the description, it means that the listed price refers only to the diamond.
When you buy a ring, there are basically two components. The first component is the actually diamond itself. The other component is the band, or the ring-part that you put on your finger.
Typically, jewelers will offer multiple versions of the same ring. For example, they might have three or four rings that all have similar 2-carat diamonds.
But, one of them might have a 14k rose gold band. Another might have an 18k rose gold band. There may even be some versions with yellow gold, or white gold, etc.
Different types of gold cost different amounts of money. 18k gold obviously costs more than 14k gold. So, while the “setting only” price might include a default 14k band, the price will increase if you want to upgrade the band to a higher-quality gold.
Can You Add Diamonds to a Ring?
In some cases, you might want to upgrade your ring by adding diamonds.
Whether you want to add stones right after you buy it or years later, this is totally possible. Jewelers will be happy to add a few diamonds.
There are several benefits to this. For one, adding a halo of small diamonds makes the central one look bigger.
And, additional diamonds can be a nice way to commemorate an event like a wedding anniversary.
What are the Different Ring Settings?
When you’re buying a ring, it’s important to consider the setting style. “Setting” refers to how the technique that’s used to mount the stone to the band.
There are several different types of ring setting. Here are a few of the most common ones:
Prong setting: This type of ring has one diamond that’s held in place by small prongs. Typically, a prong-set ring has 4-8 small pins that mount the stone.
Channel setting: A channel-set ring has one diamond, much like a prong-set ring. But, this one also has diamonds set within the band of the ring. Typically, the diamonds in the band are placed side by side so that they’re touching each other.
Bar setting: This is similar to a channel-set ring. But, the stones on the band are separated by metal bars.
Cluster setting: A cluster-set engagement ring has many diamonds on it. There is always one central stone, usually with a halo of other stones around it. The band is sometimes covered with diamonds, too.
For more engagement ring setting styles, check out this article from Robbins Brothers.com.