I love Pave Set Diamonds! Pave Set (also called
Bead Set) Diamonds have changed the face of Jewelry today.
Pave Settings are what turned White Gold on its head 10 years ago. It used to be that White Gold Wedding Sets were a thing of the past. They were old and antique looking and just didn't cut it. They looked liked your Grandmother's Mother's Engagement Ring! Old, Worn, and Out of Style!
My how times have changed! When Jewelry Stores started carrying these Cool, New Pave Set Designs, the Jewelry Industry went hog wild! Pave added a whole new World to Wedding Sets and Bridal Sets. They were now Different, Fresh and Beautiful. White Gold Pave Sets became all the rage. Everyone had to have one... And still does!
I can't blame them. Pave is "it"!
So what is Pave? What are Pave Set Diamonds?
Quite simply, Pave is a Setting that holds small Diamonds almost flush in the Mounting by little beads (drops) of Gold or Metal (like little baby prongs).
Pave is actually French meaning "Paved". And that's because rows of Pave-Set Diamonds often give the appearance of Cobblestone Roads! Sweet!
Take a look at some of the examples below!
Pave Settings look wonderful. They are like one big blur of Diamond! Endless Diamonds running up and down the Mountings. How cool! They tend to enhance an Engagement Ring or Solitaire greatly. It makes any Ring sparkle and dance with light. It gives it that extra "POP!"
If you run your fingers over Pave Set Diamonds they should feel like smooth little nubs. They shouldn't feel rough or stick up too high. Smooth and rounded beads that don't get caught or snagged are perfect.
Pave Settings are usually pretty safe and protected as well. I doubt you'd ever have to fix them or repair them. They're pretty simplistic. The beads sit low so they won't wear down much. You won't be bumping or hitting them. You won't be knocking the Diamonds loose... They really seem like a Winner!
I think they liven up any Mounting. They look great in White Gold (my favorite), and they give any Jewelry that Clean, Crisp, Classy feeling. Nothing Gaudy or Distracting. Just Sleek!
So now that I've made them sound so awesome, are there any downfalls to Pave Setting?
Just one!
Sometimes the edges of the Diamonds Chip! Since Jewelers have to push the beads down on top of the Diamond's edge, sometimes the Diamond can't take the force and breaks. It happens! Plus, if they are setting the Diamonds too close together and they happen to overlap... That could also cause them to crack.
So my advice to all those out Shopping for Pave Set Engagement Rings and Bridal Sets is this: Scope the Diamonds! Take a closer look at the Mountings, Beads and Diamonds set this way. You want to make sure that the Beads are actually covering the edges of the Diamonds (holding the Diamonds in - You'd be surprised how many Pave Set beads aren't doing their job!), make sure the Diamonds aren't set Crooked or on an Angle (this happens sometimes when a corner of the Diamond is pushed down too far), and check that the edges of the Diamonds aren't cracked or broken.
To me, Pave Set Mountings are the best looking Mountings on the market. Stylish, Hip, Young and Elegant... They tend to look like a Million Dollars!
Now, if only every road was Paved with Diamonds...
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