Pavé engagement rings add delicate beauty to anyone’s hand. Whether you’ve already picked out your dream ring or are just beginning the process, pavé setting engagement rings are a type that you should definitely consider.
Shopping for and building a pavé engagement ring is an exciting experience. The options are pretty much endless: rose gold or yellow gold, small diamonds or big diamonds, a solid shank or split shank, and more. From picking the center stone, shape, and size to choosing the perfect setting, there are tons of combinations.
However, most individuals come into the buying process with a general idea of one thing: which style they align with. Whether they’re more of a halo lover or a vintage seeker, the setting style is an easy starting point for narrowing down options.
There’s also the question of whether or not you want a pavé setting. An attractive characteristic of many different engagement ring styles, here’s everything you need to know about diamond-studded pavé rings.
What Are Pavé Engagement Rings?
The word pavé comes from the French word for “paved,” pronounced “pah-vay”. Pavé settings feature rows of tiny accent diamonds that line the shank, or band, of the ring.
These tiny stones fit into holes set level with the engagement ring. Each of the small diamonds sits in either raised beds or prongs, which support the petite pavé setting. Pavé settings are not to be confused with a channel setting, which features diamonds inside the band, sandwiched together with no metal separating them. Instead, pavé diamonds create a solid diamond surface with lots of sparkles surrounding a center stone.
The result is a scintillating setting that draws even more attention and light to your center stone. A pavé setting creates a road paved with diamonds leading to the center stone, if you will.
Pavé engagement rings are available for many setting styles you know and love. Vintage and modern settings often feature pavé set diamonds. Pavé diamonds are often smaller diamonds, typically .01-.02 carats. But adding many of these tiny diamonds packs a considerable punch! If you’re looking for a setting that has a daintier or thinner band style, it will use micro pavé diamonds, which are even smaller.
Types of Pavé Settings
There are many different types of pavé engagement rings. A pavé setting is a fantastic way to add extra drama and intrigue to any engagement ring, so it’s helpful to know your different options. Here are some ways to incorporate these highly-detailed accent diamonds into your dream ring.
Micro Pavé
If you’re looking for a ring that defines delicate beauty, then micro pavé engagement rings are the first style you should consider.
A micro pavé setting uses diamonds that are smaller than .01 carats. This addition of multiple micro diamonds gives the beautiful illusion of a band made entirely of diamonds.
A precise jeweler must set these tiny diamonds, which make these rings very delicate and sometimes more expensive.
Our Chaleur Ring is one of our favorite oval engagement rings if you’re looking for a setting with micro pavé diamonds. Three rows of pavé diamonds surround the striking center diamond. This diamond engagement ring features a grand total of 92 small diamonds in its pavé setting!
French Pavé
The French pavé (also known as fishtail pavé) has a unique V-shaped groove cut into the wedding band, making the small diamonds visible from the side. Pavé rings also gives the illusion of endless small diamonds traveling along the band.
You can see this style on our Sempre Diamond Ring. Turn either of these rings, and you’ll see stunning accent diamonds from virtually any direction. The pavé settings also highlight the sparkling beauty of the center stone on the Petite Floating Gem Ring. These small diamonds come together to make a significant impact.
Scalloped Pavé
Scalloped, or U-cut, pavé engagement rings are similar to French pavé engagement rings. Both styles let light in from the side of the ring.
The key difference between a French pavé setting and a scalloped pavé setting is the shape of the metalwork. While the French pavé setting is cut in a V shape, the scalloped pavé setting features a U shape or scoop.
This is one of the more popular pavé styles. The fluid lines and delicate beauty of the pavé setting create a pavé diamond ring. You can see this scalloped style on our Tiara 5 Stone Diamond Ring.
Are Pavé Settings More Expensive?
Sometimes your dream ring can cost a little extra cash. A pavé ring is just like any other ring regarding pricing: more bling comes at a cost.
Intricate pavé engagement ring bands often cost more than plain yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold bands. Solitaire settings with only a center diamond (meaning no accent diamonds) can be a less expensive option.
Engagement ring settings with more diamonds such as a pavé halo—especially a double pavé halo like the Petite French Double Halo Ring—are often on the more expensive side. One way to cut costs when you want more bling is by shopping for lab-grown diamonds. Lab-grown stones are 20-30% cheaper than mined stones but have the same chemical makeup. Shopping lab-grown gives you a sparklier dream ring without compromising your budget.
Another thing to keep in mind when you’re purchasing an engagement ring is the carat weight of your diamond. The larger the carat, the bigger the cost. Diamonds in a pavé setting are pretty small, so adding them to your ring will be less expensive than adding a single diamond of the same weight.
Benefits of a Pavé Setting
The biggest benefit of choosing pavé settings is the sparkle! The added diamonds on the band allow more light to reflect off your engagement ring. This effect makes your pavé engagement ring look more dazzling to the eye. If you want to add some more sparkle to your ring (and who isn’t), pavé engagement rings are the way to go.
A pavé setting to a solitaire engagement ring can add an extra touch of glamour without breaking the bank. Another option is a pavé halo. A pavé halo encircles your center gem and makes the diamond appear larger.
Drawbacks of Pavé Settings
Pavé engagement rings are a stunning addition to any fine jewelry, but they do come with some extra maintenance. Because the stones are set with prongs, they’ll need to be tightened over time to avoid the diamonds falling out of the band. If you live an active lifestyle, a pavé ring’s delicate style should be worn with caution.
With all engagement rings, you should be cautious when wearing them to ensure you keep them in tip-top shape. However, some engagement ring styles are more fragile than others. Also, because the pavé diamond accents are secured with these raised beads, the band will not be as smooth as a channel setting would be. If this is something you think will bother you, we recommend going with an engagement ring like our Petite Windsor Ring, which features channel-set accent diamonds.
Another downside of choosing micro pavé settings is that your engagement ring will be much harder to resize. Little changes to the band can damage the delicate prongs that hold the tiny diamonds in place.
If you are looking at a pavé style band, we highly recommend knowing your ring size before purchasing to avoid any trouble with resizing later on. In general, you want to prevent resizing, but with some styles, it is easier than others. If you need resizing for your new pavé engagement ring, look for a company with a generous return policy.
Celebrities with Pavé Engagement Rings
There’s no wonder a pavé ring is popular among many brides. Many celebrities wear this style as well!
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley sports a stunning 5-carat round diamond with a micro pavé band.
Blake Lively has an incredible 12-carat oval-cut diamond with a micro pavé band from her husband Ryan Reynolds.
Sofia Vergara also wears a beautiful 7-carat cushion-cut diamond with a micro pavé halo. These examples are definitely what you would call #ringgoals.
Are you looking for your own pavé ring? Check out our collection of lab grown pavé diamond rings today.
