Holding diamonds onto the band of engagement rings is done by mountings or settings, which are part of the overall ring design. In most cases the most popular types of settings are prong settings, however there are many other types of settings that are just as effective and can really add to the overall appearance of any style of traditional or modern engagement rings.
Many engagement rings settings are designed specifically to maximize the amount of light that can enter the diamond both from the top as well as the sides. This light entering into the diamond causes the flashes in color that make diamonds such an appealing stone for engagement rings and other types of jewelry. Mountings also elevate the diamond above the band, providing more options for capturing light as the hand moves.
There are some solid types of mountings that also are designed to maximum the security of the diamond but also attract light. One such option is the bezel setting, very common on both antique and modern styles of engagement rings. Bezel settings are like a collar around the gem and can be full or half, depending on the style of the ring and the shape of the diamond.
Inset diamonds into the band of engagement rings or wedding rings are set with the channel setting style. A uniform groove in the ring itself plus a side groove just under the lip of the channel holds each diamond in place. These rings are often made with smaller round diamonds, diamond chips or baguette type diamonds for maximum brilliance.