What Are Bezel Setting Diamond Rings?

What if your spouse-to-be is a nurse or a baker? The most common prong-setting diamond is likely to get stuck in their coats, gloves, and sweaters. That is why when choosing a diamond engagement ring, couples usually struggle to pick something that is suitable for everyday activities. To save you from this conundrum, a bezel set engagement ring serves as a practical and timeless choice. 

What is a Bezel Setting?

A bezel setting is like a metal picture frame for your diamond stone. Here, instead of tiny claws holding the diamond up (prong setting), a thin metal strip is fitted to fold over the edges of the diamond to prevent it from getting caught on your clothes. While this arrangement means the diamond cannot be viewed from the side, it is an excellent choice for modern lifestyles, especially if you have picked cuts that are more prone to chipping, like the princess cut or marquise cut. 

Types of Bezel Settings

Depending on your preference in terms of how much metal you want to show when viewed from the top, there are two types of bezel settings. 

1. Full Bezel Setting

We suggest you go with this setting if your occupation is very hands-on (doctor, nurse, baker, construction). Known for being the most secure setting, the metal envelops the entire diamond in a clean metal border. Visually speaking, a full bezel setting does have the drawback of making your gemstone appear smaller, but it is the safest setting option for your ring. 

2. Partial Bezel (Half Bezel) Setting

As previously discussed, a bezel setting does not allow a diamond to display its full brilliance. Well, the middle-ground solution is the partial bezel setting. Here, the metal frame does not wrap around the entire circumference but instead grips onto the sides of the gemstone, thus allowing more light to be reflected. It strikes a good balance between a diamond’s brilliance and security since it still holds the signature sparkle while offering more protection than a standard prong. 

Pros and Cons of Bezel Setting Diamond Rings

Pros

If you go ahead and purchase a ring with bezel settings, your last concern will be chips and scratches on your diamond. Especially for professions that require actively working with your hands, this style is the best choice for rock-hard security and to avoid getting your jewelry caught on doorknobs and clothes.

Cons

Due to the metal strip enveloping the entire diamond, a bezel setting ring can occasionally make the gemstone appear smaller than its actual carat weight. Since it wraps around the entire stone except for the top, the light that can enter your diamond engagement ring is reduced, which can also lessen your brilliance slightly.

Best Diamond Shapes for Bezel Settings

While you can technically put any stone into a metal rim, certain shapes are more aesthetically appropriate, especially if you’re picking an engagement ring with a bezel setting.

Related Read: What is the Right Metal for Your Diamond Engagement Ring?

Round Diamonds

Like you and your partner, the round brilliant diamond is a match made in heaven for a bezel setting ring. Due to its geometric perfection, a continuous metal rim continues the round silhouette and behaves like the frame for a masterpiece gem. It is also considered to be the most secure way to wear a round stone since the bezel prevents the girdle from accidental knocks. 

Oval Diamonds

An oval cut diamond is also an excellent choice for a bezel-set engagement ring. Elongated in nature, it features the same softness as a round diamond. Additionally, due to its slim appearance, it makes your fingers look more slender and graceful.

Emerald and Radiant Cuts

If you prefer a more vintage geometric look, stepped diamonds like emerald-cut diamond rings with bezel settings are your best bet. The clean, straight lines of the bezel frame mimic the straight edges of the diamond, creating a vintage aesthetic that feels sophisticated while providing the best security for your diamonds.

Princess Diamonds

Princess cut diamond rings require a bezel setting. Since the diamond has right-angled corners due to its square shape, it is very easy to chip if they hit a hard surface. Having an engagement ring with a bezel setting in this scenario is more strategic since the aim is to protect the vulnerable edges.

Pear and Marquise Shapes

Known for their visually stunning shape, both pear and marquise diamond rings have a major weakness: their thin, pointed tips. With a tendency to get caught in hair and clothes, they are most at risk of breaking if you are very hands-on. A bezel setting helps protect these vulnerable points, allowing you to wear your diamond with greater confidence while preserving its distinctive shape.

Popular Bezel Setting Ring Styles

Many people hold the misconception that, due to the metal framing, a bezel-set engagement ring is automatically plain. That could not be further from the truth, especially with these three stylish settings:

• Solitaire style (single gem) is the most popular setting since the framing highlights the cut of the diamond beautifully. 

• Bezel set halo rings make up for the reduced sparkle due to less light exposure while still protecting your center stone.

• Three-stoned designs typically use bezels in rings to create an architecturally balanced and meaningful look. 

Who Should Choose a Bezel Setting?

If you categorize your lifestyle as active and intense, a bezel-set engagement ring is for you. If you are a nurse, an athlete, or an artist, you will appreciate not having prongs that bend or break in action. It's also the top choice for minimalists and those with sensitive skin who want their rings to sit low on the finger, blending in and not being poked by the prongs. 

Bezel Setting vs. Other Diamond Settings

• Bezel vs. Prong Settings for Engagement Rings

Four-or six-pronged engagement rings allow more light into the stone than a bezel setting ring for the signature diamond sparkle but they are far more likely to require repair since it tends to get caught in clothes, doors, or gloves. 

• Bezel vs. Tension Setting

If you prefer a more modern look, tension setting is the pick for you. Held in place between two metal bands, a tension-setting diamond engagement ring appears to be floating in the air, allowing for much more light to seep into the gem for brilliance. Due to the high tension required to hold the gem in place, tension setting rings are not very forgiving if you wish to resize.

• Bezel vs. Halo Setting
  
  A halo setting is typically used to enhance the perceived size of an engagement ring without increasing the carat weight of the center stone. A bezel setting, on the other hand, surrounds the diamond with a metal frame, offering a secure and modern, geometric look. For the best of both worlds, bezel-set halo designs combine added protection with enhanced size and sparkle, giving your ring both presence and durability.

Conclusion

A bezel-setting engagement ring is a smart and stylish choice for modern couples. It lets you rest easy about the security of your diamond placement while still offering a timeless look. At CaratBee, we offer an extensive collection of lab grown diamond rings in a variety of cuts and settings, including bezel styles. With free shipping across the US, live 3D trials, and a 30-day return policy, your shopping experience is seamless from start to finish.