Everyone loves Channel-Set Diamonds. If you don't know, Channel Set Diamonds are Diamonds that are
set down into the mounting by Channeled Walls. (See Pictures)
The Diamonds in Channel Settings are set almost flush and in a straight line so you don't have to worry about prongs or beads to get caught on things like hair or clothes.
No Snagging!
Nurses don't have to worry about wicked prongs that catch patients! You can wear a Channel Set Diamond Wedding Ring by itself. Channel Setting won't ruin your clothes or rip your panty hose.
Women love Channel Set Diamonds. Channel Settings are one of the cleanest, classiest ways to set Diamonds. Not to mention the safest! Diamonds that are set into the mounting are very protected. It's tough to knock one of those Diamonds out of the mounting. But still, Channel Set Diamonds can be a big headache and a huge nightmare. Here's why...
Less Sparkle!
Diamonds that are set low in the mounting get less light to them. Less light means less sparkle. Less sparkle means darker Diamonds. And Channel Set walls make it tough to clean the Diamonds. Dirt and crud gets trapped underneath the Diamonds and often it's an impossible feat to get them clean again. Jewelers sometimes leave rings set in Ultrasonic Cleaners for hours just to clean them again. But dirty, dark, Diamonds are hardly a nightmare. So what is the nightmare? Sizings and Repairs!
Not easy to size
Rings with channels in them are not easy to size. You simply can't bend a channel's walls without loosening the Diamonds or making them pop out of the mounting. Jewelers always have to double check the channels after working on a ring because they always need tightening. Make sure if you have your ring sized or repaired to check the stones and make sure they're tight! If you're buying a new ring with Channel Set Diamonds, see if the Jeweler can special order the ring from the Manufacturer in the correct size to avoid any problems.
The only way to fix loose Diamonds in a channel is to push part of the channel wall over the Diamond to hold it in. So much for a straight looking channel! See the photo below.
If you see jagged edges, rough walls, chunks of the channel pushed on top of the Diamonds, uneven spacing between the Diamonds, or overlapping Diamonds, stay away. Channels like these could mean that the ring is refurbished or even a return! Overlapping Diamonds usually mean the Diamonds are too big for the channel or set wrong. Buyer Beware!
So the next time you're thinking about buying a Diamond Ring with Channel Set Stones, do yourself a favor: Take a closer look, view them with a Jeweler's Loupe. You'll be glad you did!
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