The Types, Benefits and Drawbacks of the Bezel Setting

The bezel setting, as you already know, is a type of setting which gets used in jewelry to fit a precious gemstone onto the band. The metal on top of the band is wrapped around the sides of the stone to hold it in place. If you plan on getting something like this for your next jewelry item, it bears knowing a few things about it first, such as the types of bezel settings, and the advantages you can look forward to.

Full Bezel vs. Partial Bezel

A full bezel holds a diamond tightly on all the sides, and is the most well-known as well as preferred type of bezel setting thanks to the superior protection it offers to the studded gemstone. Chipping is not an issue you need to be worried about unless the setting comes loose for some reason.

A partial bezel, on the other hand, holds the gem from just two opposing sides. That means only close to half of the stone stays covered at all times by a protective layer of metal. The aesthetic factor goes up this way, but safety takes a decided dive. This is not recommended for a delicate gemstone.

The Advantages You Get from a Bezel Setting

• The Stone Stays Well-Guarded: A stone set within a bezel is well-protected, for obvious reasons. That means you can wear a bezel set ring during a lot more situations, and not have the gemstone comes loose from minor knocks or get damaged due to chipping. This works best for stones with under a 7 rating on the Moh’s Scale, such as Opal for instance.
• The Stone Looks Internally Flawless: a lot of the inclusions around the edges of your stone can be made to disappear by setting it inside a bezel. In some cases you can even have it look as clear as an IF or Internally Flawless stone, which would be a lot more expensive.

The Downsides of a Bezel Setting

• Waste of Shine: A bezel blocks much of the light trying to get into your stone, which means it would sparkle less than if it had been set using, say, four prongs. If you value looks over safety, then a bezel is not the setting to go with.
• High Expense: Bezels are hard to create, and because of that they are expensive as well. Due to the amount of labor that goes into creating one, a lot of people stick to buying a prong-studded diamond or gemstone.

Above was a look at how a bezel setting can and should figure into your plans for a truly amazing engagement or wedding ring. Be sure to weigh the points that are the most important to you before making a decision.