What Is A Tiffany Setting For Engagement Rings?
The only thing that might be more legendary than the timeless robin's-egg blue Tiffany box is the brand's namesake setting. These days, the luxury jeweler is the go-to source for engagement rings, thanks to a finely honed reputation as an industry tastemaker. The Tiffany setting truly set the standard in the market.
Not an expert on ring language? No worries — a setting is the way that a gem is mounted on the band. The band is usually made of some type of metal, like platinum or white gold. Tiffany & Co. chief gemologist Victoria Wirth Reynolds told Brides that the silhouette "lifts the diamond off the band and into the light, allowing it to sparkle and take center stage." After all, what's the point in having an engagement ring (the average piece goes for a whopping $6,000) if it's not going to sparkle, shine, and generally wow the world?
The deluxe details of the Tiffany setting
All engagement rings have a setting as a required part of their design. The stone (or stones) has to sit somewhere! However, not all designs are the same as the coveted Tiffany setting. Their version is hallmarked by a six-prong format, encasing a round, brilliant-cut jewel. This is, of course, compared with different settings that have a varying number of prongs as well as different cuts and diamond shapes.
The Tiffany setting was created in 1886 when Charles Lewis Tiffany himself designed the beauty. Each prong is evenly spaced around the stone and is directly up against the stone to keep it stable. The prongs are also positioned in such a way as to make it look like the diamond is floating, an elegant optical illusion that droves of people have paid a premium to get for decades. Whether you prefer the classic round, halo, or another style, Tiffany is a name that's endured.
How Tiffany rings are the ethical choice
No doubt, a bride presented with an engagement ring in a Tiffany setting is going to be all kinds of thrilled. She can also rest easy in the knowledge that the company does not use any conflict diamonds in the creation of their jewelry, Tiffany & Co. explains. All diamond suppliers and mines are vetted and come from sources that do not use diamond profits to fund a government's armed conflict efforts. This is a big deal because conflict diamonds are commonly used in certain parts of the world to abuse people via forced labor and other abhorrent human rights violations, per Brilliant Earth.
Ethical appeal aside, the Tiffany setting is particularly popular because of its classic simplicity. The style hasn't gone out of vogue for more than 100 years, and it's unlikely to do so soon. After all, it goes with everything and looks great on anyone. Engagement ring trends have their place, but when it comes to a long-term piece of jewelry like this, a lot of people elect classic over contemporary.