Bezel Setting
By Debi Wexler 
, Wednesday, November 30, 2011 7:03 AM
If you’ve ever looked at a photo of a celebrity starlet wearing big, showy engagement ring and thought, “I could never wear that—it would catch on everything!” we have good news for you. Active women who need a ring that they can safely wear doing all kinds of activities can finally have a diamond as large and spectacular as they want and keep it safe with a bezel setting.
Although the bezel setting is not new, it has recently gained in popularity as more and more women realize the practical benefits of a setting type that has such a sleek and smooth profile. Unlike the more common prong setting, the bezel setting will not catch on clothing, hair or other surfaces. Mothers of small children, artists and athletes are all starting to realize the beauty and practicality of this newly popular setting.
So how does it work? The bezel setting has a thin metal rim, called a bezel, which wraps around the perimeter of the diamond and extends slightly above and over the diamond’s edge. This thin collar is smoothly burnished down on top of the edge of the diamond. The bezel setting is among the most secure of all the diamond setting types - the setting would have to be damaged quite severely for the diamond or gemstone ever to come out. It also offers protection to the stone from chips to the girdle edge, the most likely place for damage to occur. Additionally, the flat smooth surfaces and the usually low profile of bezel settings are perfect for people with active lifestyles.
Some ring buyers worry that the bezel setting, because of its protective collar, will not allow in as much light to the diamond, and will therefore limit its light performance. While it is technically true that the bezel does enclose the diamond a bit more of than the more minimalist prong setting, most of the light returning to the eye from the diamond enters from the top. To allow more light in and still get the benefits of the bezel setting, consider a half bezel style that allows profile views of the diamond from two directions. And it is always a good idea to put strong emphasis on cut quality when choosing your diamond. Buying a certified ideal cut diamond will ensure that you get maximum light performance(fire, brilliance and sparkle) no matter which setting style you choose.
Whether you are a mother or marathon runner, an artist or athlete, a preschool teacher or pediatrician, the bezel setting is the go-to option for the woman on the go.
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