Pavé setting, pronounced “pa-vay,” comes from the French word “to pave”. It features closely set small diamonds or other gemstones with minimal visibility of the tiny metal beads or prongs.
Reasons to Buy Pavé Setting Jewellery?
Pavé setting jewellery is a good choice for those who want a piece that provides a lot of sparkles but also has an affordable price tag.
Since the individual stones in the setting are small and less visible, they have single cut, i.e only 16, 17 or 18 facets. That’s why gems are quite affordable in price.
Besides, metal beads holding the stones together add to the visual effect, as long as they are not too large.
Pavé Setting Jewellery Maintenance and Wearing
The pavé setting doesn’t need much special care.
The stones are held pretty tight together by the prongs. The prongs themselves are very safe as long as they are not worn out or broken.
Generally, the pavé setting is safer when it comes to everyday wear and tear. But all that doesn’t mean that pavé setting can’t get damaged at all. You should try to avoid hitting or damaging your jewellery as much as possible.
Remember to be careful when wearing pavé jewellery with other pieces, since their hard surfaces may damage the pavé gemstones.
When wearing your pavé jewellery, make sure it is clean, since it’s very easy for dust or other particles to get caught between the stones.
Tips For Buying Pavé Jewellery
When shopping for pavé setting jewellery, you should pay special attention to some important points.
Pay close attention to the stones. It’s very easy for them to break when setting if they are forced too hard into the mounting.
Examine the stones under a loupe. If there are chipped stones in the setting, ask for another piece of jewellery.
Check the prongs. Make sure the metal beads acting as prongs are holding the stones well in the setting. There shouldn’t be any loose stones.
Examine the surface of the setting under a loupe. The surface of the setting should be smooth. No stones should be out of alignment. The stones should be close to each other, but should not overlap.
The prongs should not be too big; otherwise, they will hide the stones. Also, they should not be too high, or they will be more exposed to accidental hits and damages.
Cover image credit: Diamond Foundry
