One of the most popular styles for engagement rings is the Pave setting. The Pave style captures the eye and adds extra sparkle to the ring by making the entire surface seem like it is covered in diamonds.

If you’re shopping for a diamond ring for that someone special, then you may want to consider the pave setting. The pave (pronounced pah-vay) style of setting is one of the most beautiful settings and is a very popular style for engagement rings, wedding bands and promise rings.

For the woman who wishes for more “bling” to her ring, the pave style is the perfect answer. The word “pave” is French for “paved” and the pavement, in this case, is made of diamonds. The pave ring has many diamonds encrusted on its band. These smaller diamonds all lead up to, and in the case of halo settings, surround the center diamond. The look is stunningly shiny and sparkly. The pave style is definitely for the woman who likes a little flashiness on her hand.

The pave diamonds encompass either half of the width (half pave) or the full width (full pave) of the band. This setting maximizes the brilliance of the entire ring, not just the center diamond, by lining the surface with diamonds and minimizing the amount of metal seen.

The full pave setting is certainly the most beautiful, but many people find the half pave preferable, since it is more comfortable — after all, rows of diamonds, all around the band would rub against the other fingers and might cause some discomfort. The full pave is also more difficult to resize.

In addition to the one and two row pave settings there is also the “micro pave” setting, so called because the surrounding diamonds are much smaller — indeed, they are almost indistinguishable from one another. This style is popular because the surface of the ring is smoother, and is less likely to cause discomfort when rubbing against other fingers.

Unlike the channel or bezel settings for a ring, a pave setting uses only small beads or prongs to hold each stone, which reduces the appearance of metal, while simultaneously maximizing the appearance of free standing diamonds.

The pave engagement ring is also available in several options…

The Petite Style

Petite designs are delicate and feminine. Some mistakenly think that “Petite” means a small ring, with a small diamond; however petite refers to the width of the band, typically between 1.5mm and 2mm.

One advantage of the petite styled ring is that the thinner band makes the center diamond appear larger.

This ring is perfect for women with delicate and small hands or for women who prefer a more delicate look to their ring. Many women say that the only ring that looks right on their hand is a petite engagement ring.

The petite pave engagement ring, with its beautiful sparkle and unmistakable elegance, sits like a small piece of art on a woman’s hand. The combination of dazzling diamonds and the delicate and feminine band assures that the petite pave setting will be one of the most coveted engagement ring styles today.

The Cathedral Setting

The cathedral style features beautifully graceful arches that are inspired by the sweeping arches of a cathedral.

This is a lovely example of how architecture has influenced art, jewelry and even tokens of romance!

Depending on the design, the cathedral style arches can lift the center diamond up and away from the band making the diamond appear larger. And when the cathedral setting is combined with the petite style, the effect can be striking! Which is why the petite cathedral pave design is one of the most popular ring styles today.

Halo Settings

Another fashionable style is the Halo style engagement ring. The Halo design features a ring of diamonds surrounding a larger center stone.

One nice feature of the Halo is that it makes the center stone appear larger, while maintaining a vintage feel. The Halo diamonds also add some extra sparkle and bling which is always appreciated!

When combined with the sparkle of the Petite Pave design the Halo setting is strikingly dramatic. Check out our Halo Settings page for more design examples.

Vintage Designs

In addition to the vintage feel of the Halo design, rings accented with milgrain detailing, filigree decoration and intricate engravings are popular with women who love the romantic styling of bygone eras.

Milgrain detailing describes a style where strings of small grain-like bead shapes are formed at the edges of the ring or surrounding the diamond stones, and is a common technique in antique style jewelry. Rings with filigree etching and intricate detailing also echo back to earlier times.

History of the Pave Engagement Ring

While the pave setting dates to the mid-20th century and the micro-pave technique to the mid-1970s, the engagement ring itself dates back to ancient times.

The placing of a ring on the finger of a beloved stems back to ancient Egypt and it was these ancient Egyptians who decided that the engagement ring would be placed on the fourth finger of the left hand.

This finger, it was believed, held a vein that literally led to the heart. The tradition, whether or not it is founded on any truth, stuck and was passed down through the ages.

Some people credit the ancient Greeks as being the first people to use the engagement ring as a symbol of marriage. Most historians, however, point out that while it is true that the Greeks were the first to use a ring as a sign of committed love, the ring was presented at the time of the wedding ceremony and not before making it a betrothal ring instead of an engagement ring.

In ancient Rome, it was popular to give a small key with the engagement ring. This key, of course, symbolized the key to the man’s heart of which he is now giving to his future wife.

However, never mistake the ancient Roman men for being overtly romantic. The engagement ring was considered the public display of ownership that a man held over a woman as opposed to a symbol of love.

While the engagement ring has certainly found a permanent place in ancient society, the diamond, on the other hand, took a little longer to catch on. Even though the first diamond engagement ring was presented by Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1407, the diamond didn’t become a staple stone on rings until the late part of the nineteenth century when diamonds were finally discovered in Africa.

The pave style is very popular for engagement rings. Although the pave setting is usually more expensive than the solitaire style, the total cost of a pave ring is often less than a solitaire as the center stone of a pave ring can be smaller without sacrificing on the overall brilliance of the ring.

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• Vintage Style Engagement Rings – Influenced by the ornate detailing of the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, Vintage rings bring back the romantic stylings of bygone eras…

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