Ring Settings

A ring setting is the architectural element of a ring — the metalwork that holds a stone, defines the ring's profile, and determines how the finished piece sits and wears on the finger. On this page, the 505 settings span three distinct purposes: engagement ring settings built around a centre stone, designs that incorporate coloured stone accents alongside a central diamond, and more architectural band forms suited to wedding rings or anniversary bands. Whether you are choosing a setting to pair with a loose diamond you already have in mind or selecting a finished ring as shown, each piece is made to order at our Hatton Garden workshop and hallmarked at the London Assay Office.

The collection covers every major setting family — solitaires, three-stone designs, nature-inspired shoulder settings, halo constructions, and pavé or baguette arrangements — across a wide price range. At the more restrained end, The Wave Setting at £630 offers a clean, open shoulder profile suited to many centre stone shapes. At the more intricate end, the Luxe Secret Garden Lab Emerald and Diamond Engagement Ring at £2,728 pairs a central stone with lab-grown emerald and diamond detailing along the band. Every setting in between can be adapted to certified diamonds, coloured diamonds or gemstones as the centre stone.

All rings in this collection carry complimentary insured UK delivery, free resizing for life, and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Every diamond above 0.10ct is independently certified by GIA, IGI or HRD. Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation, beginning with a CAD rendering reviewed at our workshop before any metalwork proceeds.

What is a ring setting?

In the strictest sense, a ring setting refers to the part of a ring that holds and presents a stone — the prongs, bezel, channel or other metalwork that positions the stone above the band. In everyday use, particularly in the context of engagement rings, the word has broadened to mean the full ring design minus the centre stone: the band, the shoulders, the head, and any accent stones already present in the metalwork.

The setting type determines a great deal about the finished ring. A claw or prong setting maximises the stone's exposure to light; a bezel wraps the stone's girdle in metal and offers greater protection for everyday wear; a pavé or channel setting runs smaller stones continuously along the shoulders or band face. Different setting families suit different centre stone shapes — a round brilliant sits naturally in almost any head; an elongated shape such as an oval or marquise generally needs a four or six-claw head that follows the stone's outline. Understanding the setting first makes the stone choice more focused.

Solitaire settings

A solitaire setting isolates one centre stone — no accent stones on the shoulders, no side stones flanking the head. It is the setting family with the longest continuous history in engagement ring design and the one that gives the centre stone the most uninterrupted visual presence. The band profile and the head construction carry the full design responsibility: slim and round-profiled for a delicate effect, wider or flat-faced for a more architectural one.

Within this collection, solitaire designs range from minimal to structural. The Wave Setting at £630 curves its open shoulders upward to cradle the head with a small amount of movement. The Majestic Solitaire at £850 takes the opposite direction — a wider band that makes the ring's presence felt before the eye reaches the stone. Both accept round brilliant or shaped centre stones and are available in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold or 950 platinum.

Three-stone and side-stone settings

A three-stone setting flanks the centre stone with two matching side stones, typically of the same shape or a complementary one. The side stones increase the overall visual weight of the ring without requiring a larger centre stone, and the traditional association with past, present and future makes three-stone rings a consistent choice for engagements. Baguette-cut side stones introduce a geometric tension that suits emerald-cut and square centre stones particularly well.

The Baguette Trilogy at £830 demonstrates this clearly: rectangular baguettes flank the centre position, their parallel facets emphasising the geometry of the setting rather than competing with it. For a three-stone design at a higher specification, the Luxe Rhiannon Three Stone Sapphire Engagement Ring at £1,771 places sapphire side stones beside the centre, while its counterpart — the Luxe Rhiannon Three Stone Lab Emerald Engagement Ring at £1,705 — uses lab-grown emeralds in the same position for a deeper colour accent.

Nature-inspired and shoulder-detail settings

Settings with organic shoulder detail — twisted vine bands, leaf-form claws, botanical shoulder pavé — are among the most requested in this collection. They draw on floral and natural motifs rather than geometric abstraction, and they suit oval, pear and round centre stones well. The shoulder detail adds visual complexity without the ring becoming busy at the head, because the ornament is distributed along the band rather than concentrated around the stone.

Several pieces in the Willow and Secret Garden families illustrate the range. The Willow Ring With Sapphire Accents Engagement Ring at £1,221 uses sapphires set into the shoulders of a slender band; the same design is available with lab-grown emerald accents in the Willow Ring With Lab Emerald Accents Engagement Ring, also at £1,221. The Petite Luxe Twisted Vine Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring at £1,548 wraps a twisted vine motif around the band with sapphire and diamond accents throughout. Each accepts a centre stone of your choice.

How much does a ring setting cost in the UK?

Entry-level solitaire settings in 9ct gold begin below £700 in this collection — The Shore Setting at £810 and The Wave Setting at £630 are representative of the mid-range. Settings with coloured stone shoulder accents — sapphires, lab-grown emeralds, or diamonds — typically sit between £1,100 and £1,800, depending on the total accent-stone weight and the gold carat chosen. Highly detailed shoulder designs with significant accent stone coverage approach £2,000–£3,000. The UK average engagement ring spend is £2,247 (Bridebook, 2026), and the majority of settings in this collection sit close to or below that figure.

The centre stone is priced separately. Choosing the setting first gives a clear budget framework for the stone: once the setting is confirmed, we can recommend centre stone specifications that balance the ring's visual weight without overbuying on carat or underbuying on cut grade. Speak to the team at Hatton Garden or via the consultation form to work through the combination.

Choosing a setting: what to consider before ordering

Three factors narrow the choice practically. First, centre stone shape: the setting's head must be sized and configured for the intended stone — a round-brilliant head will not present an elongated oval at the correct height or orientation. Second, shoulder style: plain shoulders let the centre stone lead entirely; pavé, twisted or coloured-accent shoulders add shoulder presence and suit a slightly smaller centre stone if budget requires. Third, band width: a narrow band reads as delicate; a wider band makes a more architectural statement and tends to suit larger hands or a ring worn without a stacked wedding band.

Metal is the fourth variable. Yellow and rose gold flatter warmer-toned centre stones and skin tones; white gold and platinum present colourless diamonds neutrally. All settings in this collection are available in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold — in white, yellow or rose — plus 950 platinum. If the setting will be worn alongside a wedding band, matching metal across both rings is worth confirming at the order stage, as different karats of the same colour can appear slightly different in daylight.

Made to order at President Jewellers

Every setting in this collection is made to order at our Hatton Garden workshop. The process begins with a CAD rendering, reviewed and confirmed before casting. Where a setting is being made to receive a specific stone, a silver or wax sample can be produced for a try-on appointment at the workshop, so the proportions and head configuration are confirmed before any precious metal is committed. Lead time is 7–14 working days from order confirmation — simpler settings at the faster end, detailed shoulder-accent and bespoke commission work at the longer end.

Loose diamonds and gemstones sourced separately are delivered within 5–7 working days; once a stone is confirmed and paired with a setting, the combined ring follows the 7–14 working day schedule. Hallmarking is at the London Assay Office; insured UK delivery is complimentary on every order, with no minimum spend. Every ring carries a lifetime warranty and free resizing for life. For bespoke variations — a different metal, a modified shoulder length, or a head resized for an existing stone — contact us before placing an order and we will confirm whether the modification is available within the standard lead time.

Frequently asked questions

What are the different ring settings?

The main setting families are: solitaire (one centre stone, no accent stones), halo (smaller stones encircling the centre), three-stone or side-stone (flanking accent stones on either side), pavé (small stones set closely along the band shoulders), bezel (metal collar encircling the stone's girdle), channel (accent stones set flush between two rails of metal), and tension (the stone appears to float between two ends of compressed metal). Within each family, the band profile, claw shape and overall proportions vary considerably. Most engagement rings combine two or more of these — a pavé-shoulder solitaire, for example, is both a solitaire and a pavé design.

Can I buy a ring setting only, without a centre stone?

Yes. Every setting in this collection is available as a standalone piece of metalwork, ready to receive a centre stone you have already chosen or will choose separately. We can advise on the correct stone shape, minimum diameter and carat range for any given head before you order. Loose certified diamonds — graded by GIA, IGI or HRD — are available through our loose diamond catalogue and delivered within 5–7 working days, after which the stone is set into your ring within the 7–14 working day production schedule.

What is the setting on a ring — what does the term mean technically?

Technically, the setting refers to the section of metalwork that holds a stone in position: the prongs, bezel collar, channel rails or other structure that grips the stone's girdle and prevents it from moving. In wider use, particularly when browsing engagement rings, "setting" often means the entire ring design excluding the centre stone — the band, shoulders, head and any accent stones already built into the metalwork. Both uses are correct; context determines which is meant. At President Jewellers, settings can be ordered with or without a centre stone at the same time.

How do I know which setting suits my centre stone?

The centre stone's shape is the primary constraint. A four-claw round head holds a round brilliant securely; an elongated stone — oval, marquise, pear — needs a head configuration that supports both ends. Beyond geometry, scale matters: a heavily detailed shoulder setting visually frames a smaller centre stone, reducing the minimum carat needed for the ring to read well. A plain solitaire head with clean shoulders lets the stone lead, so a slightly larger or higher-grade stone becomes more important. We discuss both the setting and the intended stone in every consultation, and the CAD stage resolves any proportion questions before work begins.

How long does a ring setting take to make?

7–14 working days from order confirmation. Simple solitaire settings without shoulder detail sit at the faster end of that range; settings with nature-inspired shoulder work, coloured stone accents or bespoke modifications sit closer to fourteen days. The timeline includes a CAD rendering shared at the outset, an optional silver or wax sample for try-on at the Hatton Garden workshop, casting, setting, polishing, and hallmarking at the London Assay Office. Insured UK delivery is included and tracked.

What metals are the settings available in?

Every setting is available in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold — in white, yellow or rose — plus 950 platinum. White metals present colourless diamonds most neutrally; yellow and rose gold complement warmer-toned stones and add visible colour contrast against a colourless centre stone. Platinum is the most wear-resistant option and the most secure for holding small accent stones over decades of daily wear. If you are matching a setting to an existing wedding band or engagement ring, confirm the metal and karat before ordering, as small differences in shade can be visible between karats of the same colour.