When looking at the side profile of a ring, notice how the center stone is being held in the setting. If you can see significant space between the culet (bottom pointed tip of the diamond) and the band, it's considered a high setting. If the culet is close to or almost touching the ring's band, it's a low setting.
What is the average height for an engagement ring setting? The average height of an engagement ring setting is approximately 5.5mm. This measurement is taken from where the setting touches the finger—measured to the tip of the claw. Larger diamonds have more depth and require taller settings.
As we mentioned above, high settings can make your diamond look bigger to the naked (and untrained) eye. So basically, you can get away with a smaller rock if you want to. And here's how… If you want to show off your bling, pair your high set diamond with a thin band or ring shank.
This depends. If your ring is spinning on your finger but still feels snug, it's probably not too loose, and you don't need to worry about it. However, if your ring is spinning easily and feels like it could fall off, it's likely too loose, and you should have it resized.
The perfect fit of a ring is snug past your knuckle and then a little bit loose once down on your finger. When I say snug I mean that you have to give it a bit of a push to get past your knuckle. A little bit loose can be tested by taking your opposite hand and lightly grabbing the ring.
As a general rule, your ring should be able to slide over your knuckles easily, but take a bit more to come off. Turning and tugging for two to three seconds to remove your ring is actually normal. In fact, your ring should barely fit over your knuckles.
A perfect ring should be able to slide easily over your knuckle, and sit on your finger tight enough so that you can feel the metal of the ring touching every part of your skin.
If you're between sizes, it's usually best to size up rather than down, as it's easier to adjust a ring that's too big than one that's too small. You may even go back and forth between two sizes; for example, your hands can swell up on hot days, making your ring size slightly larger.
A ring that is fitted properly should be able to slide over your knuckle without too much struggle. A little bit of friction is good, since this will prevent the ring from falling off of your finger. The ring should fit snugly at the base of your finger and there shouldn't be any pain or unusual tingling.
Pick the right setting.
Some engagement ring settings cover more of a center diamond than others, which can diminish the sparkle. Choosing a prong setting can better allow light to enter through the diamond than, for example, a bezel setting, which covers a larger surface area of the gem.
The bezel setting comprises of a rim of metal which secures the diamond by its circumference. Since it follows the outline of the stone, the shape of the center stone is enhanced and appears larger than it is.
A round diamond requires a larger rough diamond to cut it from than any other shape does. The goal when cutting a diamond is to keep the amount of waste as minimal as possible. Round cut diamonds result in more waste than other shapes. This factor makes them more valuable per carat than fancy shaped diamonds.
Whether it's for a change of style, an upgrade to a larger stone or to add additional stones and details like an extra sparkly halo, you can absolutely change the setting of your engagement ring.
Bezel Settings
The whole diamond is essentially encased in the precious metal in a way that keeps it locked up tight. Unlike prong settings, bezel settings won't get snagged on clothing. While they aren't the most popular ring setting, bezel settings are definitely more secure.
A low-set engagement ring may look different than a high-set one, but it has advantages of its own, especially when it comes to comfort and durability. "This setting is safer and less prone to any kind of accidental damage," Daga notes. Since the stone sits lower, it's less likely to get caught on things.
An average finger size is 6 for women and 8 or 8½ for men. Finally, if your partner is above average height or build, their weight will be naturally distributed across their whole body, so it might be a good idea to start at around a ring size 7 for a woman and a size 10 for men.
Do 1/2 and 1/4 sizes really make a difference in fit? Yes, for a ring to fit properly and comfortably it absolutely should be fitted to the closest 1/4 size for your finger. This will ensure your ring won't fall off, or be uncomfortably tight.
Your fingers are more likely to be swollen in the morning than at night, and they will be plumper in the summertime than in cool weather. Eating salty foods will cause your fingers to swell. Pregnancy can turn them into little sausages. Illness, exercise, and hormonal changes all can affect your ring size.
A proper fitting ring should slide over your knuckle with a little friction and fit snugly on your finger, but not too tight. You should feel resistance and need to apply a little extra force to remove the ring backwards over your knuckle.
Things like weight gain, pregnancy, swelling, salt intake, and weather can change your ring size, and that's normal. Most of us experience changes in ring size throughout our lives, and even throughout the day. If your ring is too tight, you may need to get it resized.
A properly fitted engagement ring will snugly fit your hand to the point that you can shake your hand, and the ring will not move past your second knuckle. Most of the time, the second knuckle acts like a goalie, keeping your ring from slipping off.
Over time your ring will maintain its shape, but if you do need to get it resized then you can take it to your local jewellers.
“If your ring doesn't go past your knuckle (on the coldest days in your area), then you should be fine. Hands can swell because of so many reasons, so getting it sized smaller may be an issue later on. I would size it down if it easily slides past your knuckle and off your finger.”