Sunday, September 7, 2014

Jewelers can set a gemstone in a ring in several different ways, including the tension ring setting, which makes the gemstone appear to be floating. The gemstone is actually held in place by pressure. The metal band is spring-loaded to put pressure on the stone. This setting is more involved and more expensive than traditional settings.

Gemstone Information

    While most tension-set rings contain only one gemstone, most jewelers can make a ring with more than one stone. Buyers need to be aware, however, that these rings are more expensive and that more than one stone would add to the price. Buyers also need to be aware that only certain stones can be placed in the setting: diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are the most common. Diamonds are the most popular of the three.

Manufacturing

    Tension-set rings cannot be made in advance. Consumers need to choose a gemstone first. After the gemstone is selected, the manufacturer designs the tension setting for that particular stone. The setting is calibrated by a computer using light to identify places where pressure must be applied to avoid fracturing the stone. The metal in the band will also undergo special alloying, hardening, and treatment to improve its strength.

Safety

    Some consumers believe that a tension setting is not safe and that they could lose the stone within. Most jewelers believe that this is not the case. While prongs can snag on clothing and become loose over time, a tension set ring doesn't have parts to snag or loosen. Because of the extreme amount of pressure exerted onto the stone, it is unlikely that the stone would fall off.

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