Do you know how jewellery designers enhance the shine of the precious stones in jewellery? They use different stone setting techniques. One such technique that is widely employed to craft exquisite rings and other jewellery is pave setting.

Pave setting in jewellery is a creative art of jewellery designers that adds extra elegance and radiance to jewellery pieces, especially wedding rings, to accentuate the beauty of the centre stone. A pave setting wedding band is perfect for people who like to flaunt the dazzle and sparkle of the extra diamonds gracefully paved into their rings.

If you have an innate love for jewellery designs, read on to learn more about what is pave setting in rings, different pave setting types and more. And if this piques your interest, consider pursuing a degree in jewellery design in the best design institutes. Let’s get started!

What is Pave Setting in Jewellery?

Pave setting refers to fitting several little gemstones or diamonds to pave or cover the metal of jewellery pieces. This technique is widely popular and used to craft wedding and engagement rings to enhance their shine with extra sparkling details.

In a pave set ring, diamonds and gemstones are fitted along the band by carving a hole, inserting the stone and supporting it with tiny metal beads. Multiple design options are available, ranging from a tad bit of extra brilliance to overwhelming dazzle with multiple diamonds.

How Does it Differ From Other Setting Techniques?

Pave setting in jewellery has several features that set it apart from other common methods. Let’s find out the differences in pave setting vs channel setting.

In pave setting, the designer lines the band with small diamonds and fixes it using little beads. However, in the channel setting, a small channel is carved into the metal to accommodate the diamonds inside it in a row.

Moreover, designers mostly work with round or oval diamonds in a pave set ring, whereas princess cut and baguette cut diamonds are commonly used to fit inside channels.

Unlike with channel setting, there is not much difference in pave vs prong setting in jewellery. The only distinction is the type of prongs used to hold the diamonds in place. Pave setting utilises separate tiny beads or micro-prongs to hold each diamond, while in the prong technique, shared metal prongs retain adjacent diamonds.

A comprehensive course in jewellery design, like the one offered by the JD Institute of Fashion Technology, can help you learn about different setting techniques in detail in jewellery. Read more about the process of setting gemstones and diamonds in jewellery here.

Popular Pave Setting Types You Should Know

There are multiple ways to pave precious stones that result in minute differences in the final look of the jewellery pieces.  Let’s explore the different pave setting types and how they differ from each other.

Micro Pave

This style is used for micro diamonds, usually smaller than .01 carat. Using this technique, the designer creates an illusion that the whole band is constructed with diamonds. Rings designed with this technique are often covered with numerous rows of glittering diamonds and gems. This setting is usually more expensive due to the presence of extra diamonds.

U-Cut Pave

It is the most widely used pave setting technique. The U-cut settings consist of a sequence of grooves which accommodate the stones into them. You will notice a U-shape in the design when looking at it from the side, thus giving it the name.

French Pave

This technique is also known as the fishtail pave. Famous for its textured appearance, this technique involves setting the diamonds into v-shaped grooves carved into the ring’s band. It is somewhat similar to U-cut but imparts better shine to the diamonds as it allows more light to sweep through them. It is a befitting choice for pave setting princess cut diamond rings to increase tier luminescence.

Petite Pave

One of the more traditional pave settings in jewellery is petite pave. It uses the tiniest prongs to hold each micro-diamond in place. The smaller size of prongs provides more prominence to the diamonds, transmitting added brilliance to the jewellery.

Bright-Cut Pave

Also called the channel set pave, the designer places round protrudes between the two metal walls holding a diamond. Apart from adding to the beauty of a jewellery piece, it also provides more sturdiness and durability.

Scalloped Pave

The elements of this type are comparable to U-cut. Scallops or U-shaped cutouts are made beneath to support the accent diamond. The designers typically use it for right-hand rings.

Pave set is an essential aspect of jewellery design which every artist should learn. With the one-year diploma course in Fine Jewellery Design at the JD Institute of Fashion Technology, you can learn about the nuances of jewellery design, including how to pave set diamonds and all the artistic pave setting techniques.

Wrapping Up

Pave Setting in Jewellery is a process of great artistic labour. The time and hard work this technique demands often add to the high pricing of the paved jewellery pieces.

A pave expert has a keen eye for intrinsic details and extensive knowledge of diamonds and gemstones, using them to craft magnificent jewellery designs of great aesthetic value.

If this article has fueled your passion for jewellery design and you wish to explore the intricacies of pave setting and other essential aspects of jewellery making, enrol in the 1-year diploma in Fine Jewellery Design from the JD Institute of Fashion Technology Bangalore. Gain a competitive edge in the industry and start learning today!