Wondering what the bad and good sides are of a bezel setting if you pick it for your engagement ring?
Well, you have come to the right site. This article will teach you many things about a bezel setting including:
- Is bezel the best ring setting for your engagement?
- Difference between bezel setting and solitaire setting and other settings
- The most preferred jewelry store to buy bezel setting engagement ring
- Tips for saving a few bucks when shopping for a bezel setting
- And a lot more
A bezel setting is among the first-ever ring settings to be designed. Back then, bezels were made using colored gemstones, not like now they are used even with diamonds.
When jewelers started to cut diamonds for brilliance, bezel settings started to gain popularity.
Looking for a bezel set engagement ring? Here is a list of the best places to get the ring at a great deal.
- James Allen (best prices and value)
- Blue Nile (best collection)
- Clean Origin (best for synthetic diamonds)
- Whiteflash (best cuts and shapes)
A bezel-set ring is best suited for someone who wants a look more than just the average appearance.
It is the best pick for someone whose lifestyle or daily routine does not allow for a high profile ring. A bezel-set ring is low and can withstand daily activities. This means you will not have to think so much about the diamonds becoming loose or falling off.
Bezel settings are simple and flashy rings that do not have a lot of variations. Some few pieces are made of plain metal such as pave, solitaire, or freeform to unique settings. These settings are affordable and longlasting, any bride to be will be happy to have it.
What is a Bezel Set Engagement Ring?
The bezel setting is characterized by a diamond, diamond simulation or gemstone at the center. The diamond sits inside a band that has a metal running around the girdle of the diamond. The top part of the diamond can either be flush or near-flush to the metal. A bezel-set ring can be high-set although such designs are rare. You will find most bezel set engagement rings in platinum, rose gold, white gold, or yellow gold.
The bezel can also be set in other metals that are not precious. Stainless steel, titanium, and tungsten are commonly used in wedding bands for men.
A bezel-set ring does not come in many styles but it can be used to create one of a kind settings like freeform or flower settings.
Pros and Cons of Bezel Set Engagement Rings
Like most other ring settings and styles, the bezel too has advantages and disadvantages. The question is- are the disadvantages deal-breakers or game-changers? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Center stone does not loosen
- Looks beautiful with two wedding bands
- Low profile style
- Favorable for hands-on lifestyles
- matches with other styles of rings
Cons
- Expensive to repair
- Affects the ring’s brilliance
- Not good for princess-cut diamonds
The greatest advantage that comes with buying a bezel setting engagement ring is that it offers utmost protection for the diamond and the ring at large.
The bezel was the first-ever official recognized ring setting and was commonly used with gemstones. The metal used around the diamonds holds the stone very secure.
This setting is low profile and makes the perfect fit for people with active lifestyles or professions like nurses and personal trainers.
Bezel settings can be full or half. Full settings prevent the stone from being knocked off. Half bezels leave some part of the girdle exposed, making the diamond vulnerable to damage but at the same time allowing for additional brilliance.
Regardless of the style of bezel setting you find you cannot fail to get a matching wedding ring. If you pick solitaire bezels that have big shanks, keep in mind that they will not look pretty with certain wedding bands, but would look gorgeous with a band on every side.
With a pave style band for your bezel set engagement ring, you can come up with various eye-catching bridal sets.
The major disadvantage with a bezel is its metal surrounding. As much as it protects the diamond, it also greatly affects the level of brilliance.
If you are more into dazzling diamonds and want to use them to attract attention, you would not want to go for high-quality diamonds only to stuff them inside a bezel setting. There are many other ring settings that can give you the same protection but not impact the brilliance.
The craftsmanship process of a bezel is very delicate meaning that any repair that may be needed will cost a lot. Of all the diamond shapes, do not settle for a princess-cut because when inside the metal, it covers a large portion of the diamond.
Bezel Setting vs Other Diamond Ring Settings
A bezel setting is the most popular ring setting you will find in the market. However, there are myriad settings for engagement rings that we can compare bezel to. Let’s go through the differences between bezel settings and other settings for engagement rings.
Bezel Setting Vs Solitaire Setting
Pros
- Bezel protects the diamonds better than solitaire
- Bezel does not require high grades for diamond
- Solitaire returns light better than the bezel
- Solitaires options for wedding bands are better
Cons
- Bezel reduces brilliance
- Solitaires chip easily
- Solitaire settings need require high grades for diamonds
RECOMMENDED: Pros and Cons of Solitaire Setting Engagement Rings
Bezel Setting vs. Halo Setting
Pros
- Bezel sets are unique and modern
- Bezel settings don’t snag easily
- Halo settings sparkle more than a bezel
- Halo settings are suitable for many styles of rings
Cons
- Bezel sets do not go well with antique designs
- Bezel sets can be industrial or plain
- Diamonds in halo settings risk to loosening and falling out
- Halo settings are more expensive
RECOMMENDED: Pros and Cons of Halo Setting Engagement Rings
Where to Buy Bezel Setting Diamond Engagement Rings
Bezel settings are very common in pendants and earrings but not engagement rings. It may be a hustle to find a high-quality ring in a bezel setting from popular jewelers or local retailers.
You are most likely to find bezel engagement rings in family-owned or custom jewelry shops that do not stock jewelry for commercial sale. My suggestion would be you try your luck in online diamond retail shops; my take is you will not be disappointed when looking for a bezel setting engagement ring.
Here are some of the online retailers to shop from.
James Allen
James Allen is no doubt the best online jewelry retailer. In local megastores like Helzberg and Jared, you will encounter pushy sales staff, but that is expected since they work on commission. These sales staff is only trying their best to meet sales targets given to them.
At James Allen, their customer service staff is available all day, every day, and are ready and willing to answer all the questions you have about diamonds, they have no sales targets to meet. The diamonds in this online shop give expert advice, correct and non-partisan information under no pressure. They are there to specifically help you through the buying process and make sure you get exactly what you want.
At James Allen, you can view the diamonds you wish to but up close using their 360 technology. With this technique, you can closely see all the inclusions, blemishes, and characteristics of the diamond to make sure you buy with confidence.
Once you are comfortable with your choice of loose diamonds, you can proceed to pick a setting for your ring from their collection including the bezel settings. When done, you can view the entire customized ring. You will not be charged for the labor of customizing your ring.
To crown it all, you will get a lifetime warranty for the bezel setting engagement ring you buy. The warranty will cover all routine repairs like polishing metals, rhodium plating for white gold, prong re-tipping, etc.
RECOMMENDED: What You Need To Know Before Buying From James Allen
Blue Nile
rating the commonest online jewelry retailers, like James Allen, Blue Nile also gives you the chance to build your own wedding or engagement ring.
Blue Nile has a wide selection of diamond shapes with high-quality diamond grades. You can filter through all these to get your most preferred center stone. On the bad side, only a section of their diamond collection has a 360 degree view and their quality is not good too.
This notwithstanding, Blue Nile remains among the best online jewelry shops, and customers can attest to their great customer service. You can be assured of getting great service from Blue Nile than you would if you went shopping in a local jewelry store.
The diamond and jewelry experts at Blue Nile are trained by GIA and you can rest assured that the information you get is reliable since the staff does not work on commission.
Blue Nile offers a manufacturer’s warranty for their jewelry that covers manufacturer’s defects and flaws only. This simply means if the jewelry was not created properly, Blue Nile will replace it. The warranty does not cover any damages that arise from wear and tear. This kind of warranty is somewhat not favorable as every manufacturer should be responsible for any mistake that is their making.
RECOMMENDED: Detail Review of Blue Nile
WhiteFlash
Whiteflash is one of the other reputable online jewelry sellers that boast of stocking diamonds that have top-notch brilliance. They have filters and customizable diamond engagement rings. Although diamonds at Whiteflash are much more costly than those at Blue Nile and James Allen, they are cheaper and better quality than those in the inventory of brick and mortar jewelry retailers.
Like Blue Nile, Whiteflash also offers its customers a manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, they have a year service plan that covers any kinds of repairs you may need for your ring. The one-year service plan covers prong re-tipping, stone tightening, sizing, cleaning, as well as polishing. Once the year is over, you have to take care of such repairs out of pocket.
Read Here: Review of Whiteflash Jewelry Store
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