Tension Setting for Jewellery

Tension Setting for Rings

Gemstones are set in jewellery in various ways and tension setting is one of them. This type of setting uses a single gemstone or diamond between two walls of metal and holds it there under pressure. This is quite a striking system of putting a gemstone in a ring as it makes the precious stone seem like it is hanging in air. In this setting the metal on both sides of the stone holds it in place by its girdle only and this gives the stone hanging in air illusion.

However this setting is quite risky as any slight damage to the tension creating walls can result in loss of diamond/gemstone. It is recommended by jewellers that if tension setting is to be done it should be done in platinum. The reason for choosing platinum is due to its hardness. Gold and silver is not a good choice for tension setting as they are softer metals.

There is a modified way of using tension setting which uses a support below the gemstone or diamond. This support safeguards the security of the diamond if there is any damage to the walls. Jewellers often find themselves modifying tension settings to add the abovementioned support on gifted jewellery.

This setting should not be used if one uses jewellery regularly as the risk of losing gemstones in this setting is high. This is especially true since the stones used in this setting are normally 0.5 carats or more, naturally the loss of stone will hurt you more. The second biggest problem is that the stone can be intentionally removed without any special tools. Hence the chances of theft are more with these types of rings.

Despite all the risk the tension set rings are the talk of the town as they look superbly dramatic. Since there are no metal below the stone light travels through the stone easily and gives it a grand sparkle. The diamond is showcased and can be seen from all angles.  If you are using a good diamond this setting can truly bring out its beauty. If you want to make a grand statement this is the only type of setting which can do that without using a very large stone.