Choosing the Perfect Setting for Your Stone


The setting of a ring isn’t just a frame for the gemstone—it’s a key design choice that affects how the ring looks, feels, and wears over time. From showcasing a stone’s brilliance to protecting it for decades of daily wear, the right setting should balance beauty with practicality.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular engagement ring settings—prongs, bezels, and halos—and the pros and cons of each.

Prong Settings – Classic and Light

What it is:
Prongs are small metal claws that hold the gemstone in place. Most designs use four or six prongs, but there are also styles like talon, double, and compass prongs.

Pros:

  • Maximum light return: With minimal metal covering the stone, light enters from all angles, enhancing sparkle.

  • Versatile design: Works with almost any gemstone shape and style.

  • Elegant and minimal: Keeps the focus squarely on the gemstone.

Cons:

  • Maintenance: Prongs can loosen over time and may need checking every year or so.

  • Exposure: The edges of the gemstone are more exposed to knocks.

Best for:
Clients who want a timeless look and are comfortable with occasional maintenance to keep the stone secure. Perfect for showcasing brilliant diamonds, coloured diamonds, and Australian sapphires with striking colour zoning or parti patterns.

Bezel Settings – Sleek and Protective

What it is:
A bezel setting surrounds the gemstone entirely (or partially) with a thin rim of metal.

Pros:

  • Maximum protection: The metal rim shields the stone’s edges from impact.

  • Modern aesthetic: Offers a clean, contemporary look.

  • Secure: Stones are held firmly in place, making it ideal for active lifestyles.

Cons:

  • Less light entry: Slightly reduces the amount of light reaching the stone, softening sparkle (especially noticeable in diamonds).

  • More metal presence: Can visually reduce the apparent size of the stone if not designed carefully.

Best for:
Those who prioritise durability or have softer gemstones. Works beautifully for freeform sapphires, where the bezel can trace the stone’s unique silhouette and highlight its individuality.

Halo Settings – Amplified Brilliance

What it is:
A ring of smaller stones (usually diamonds) encircles the main gemstone.

Pros:

  • Visual impact: Makes the centre stone look larger and more brilliant.

  • Design flexibility: Halos can be round, square, or custom-shaped to follow the stone’s outline.

  • Extra sparkle: Adds light and contrast, especially for coloured gemstones.

Cons:

  • Maintenance: More stones mean more settings to clean and check over time.

  • Busy look: May overpower a very unique centre stone if not balanced correctly.

Best for:
Clients who want a bold, glamorous look or to maximise the presence of a smaller centre stone. Particularly striking around champagne diamonds or parti sapphires, where the halo adds contrast to enhance the colour.

Our Approach at Laher

We design settings around the gemstone, not the other way around. Whether it’s a minimalist prong setting for a vivid yellow diamond, a sculpted bezel to embrace a freeform sapphire, or a delicately proportioned halo to amplify a parti stone, every choice is made to balance aesthetics, function, and longevity.

The perfect setting isn’t just about style—it’s about how you live with your ring every day. Our job is to guide you through those choices so your ring not only looks incredible, but is built to last for generations.