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Whether it's a diamond solitaire ring or a colorful gemstone pendant, the way a stone is set can affect everything from a stone's sparkle to the durability of the design. There are many different ways to set stones in jewelry, each with their own unique style and benefits. From classic prongs to modern bezels, it is important to understand the different options available to choose the right setting(s) for your special jewelry. In this blog, we will explore a few of our favorite settings to help you make an informed decision about your design.     Prong Settings Prong settings are one of the most popular and versatile options! Small metal prongs are bent over your stone(s) to hold them in place. This style allows more light into your stone, maximizing its sparkle and shine. From the number of prongs to their shapes and sizes, prong settings can look very traditional or wildly unique. The possibilities for prong designs are nearly endless! While many of our most classic styles feature prong settings, like The Minimalist Solitaire and The Montana Sapphire Ring, prongs can also feel more organic, like The Mokume Twist Ring, or create modern vintage vibes, like The Morganite Halo and The Cat's Eye Ring.    Four-Prong Setting       Four-Prong Basket Setting     Decorative Prong Setting     V-Prong Setting       Double Prong Basket Setting       Bezel Settings Worried about pokey little prongs catching on gloves or clothing? A bezel setting might be the choice for you! In this style, a smooth, thin metal rim encircles the gemstone, holding it in place. Bezel settings are very secure and can help protect gemstones from accidental scratches or other damage. This type of setting may also enhance a gemstone's color and brilliance as the metal frame reflects light onto the stone. Bezels are a sleek choice for solitaires, as featured in our ‘Gold For Good’ Fairmined Solitaire Collection, as well as for multi-stone rings, like our Seven Stone Anniversary Bands. There are two types of bezel settings: full bezel and partial bezel. A full bezel setting completely surrounds the gemstone, like The Square Cut Garnet Mokume Ring, while a partial bezel only covers part of the gemstone's girdle (the widest part of the stone), like The Mokume Embrace. Most of our catalog designs with prong settings can be customized with bezel settings!   Bezel Setting     Partial Bezel Setting     Pavé Settings Pavé means “cobblestone” and “paved” in French. Pavé Settings feature small diamonds or gemstones that are set very close together, to create a continuous sparkling surface of round stones around the ring shank. The stones are all held in place by small metal beads or teeny prongs. Pavé settings bring a lot of brilliance and sparkle to any piece of jewelry; they look beautiful on their own and when complementing larger stones in other settings. While white diamonds are the traditional choice for pavé settings, we love mixing things up with more colorful stones, like The Rainbow Band and The Black Pavé Band. Pavé settings can also be used in nesting or contour bands, like The Pavé Contour Band.   Eternity Pavé Setting     Flush Settings In Flush Settings, gemstones are set into the metal so the tops of the stones are level (or flush) with the metals’ surface. The metal around each stone is pushed over its edges, creating a consistent rim all around the stone, holding it securely in place. Flush settings are extremely durable, and it is nearly impossible for a flush-set stone to fall out.   Only the tops of the stones are visible; the sides and bottoms are hidden below the surface of the metal. This ultra-low-profile setting is comfortable and completely snag-free, as there is nothing above the ring shank to catch on gloves, hair, or clothing. While other settings allow more light into your gemstones, flush settings create a sleek and elegant look of their own, like in The Scattered Stars Ring. If your style is more subtle than blingy, flush settings might be the perfect way to bring a bit of sparkle to your special jewelry.   Single Flush Setting     We hope this blog has shed some light on a few different stone settings and their unique features. Whether you prefer the classic elegance of prongs, the sleekness of bezels, the dazzle of pavé, or the modern simplicity of flush settings, we would love to help you design your dream ring!  Learn more about our Customizing option, where you can customize one of our catalog designs with your favorite stone settings. If you’re dreaming of a completely custom design that incorporates one or more of these settings, tell us all about it! We look forward to bringing your vision to life!       Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!  

You may be dreaming of a multi-ring stack for yourself, for one partner or multiple - we're here for you! When it comes to pairing new bands with sparkling rings you already have or creating a complete stacking set from scratch, the possibilities are nearly endless! We’ve put together an illustrated guide to help you create the ring set of your dreams.  We honor and celebrate the diversity of relationship structures by asking and using our clients' language for each project we make. For brevity, we're using the terms 'engagement ring' and 'wedding band' throughout this blog, though we hope this guide is helpful for all types of multi-ring stacks! Straight Bands Straight bands, like our Classic Band or The Diamond Pavé Band, are a timeless stacking option. Engagement rings that have an elevated stone setting will allow these straight bands to slip right underneath, so both rings touch without a gap. Contour Bands     Contour bands are curved or angled to follow the silhouette of a solitaire or multi-stone ring, allowing multiple rings to stack closely together. These are the perfect companion to a low-set engagement ring. You may even choose to have more open space between the rings, adding another dimension to your stack. Nesting Bands     Nesting bands are the perfect option when you want the rings to fit very closely to each other. If your rings have a unique profile, such as our Notched or Olive Branch designs, nesting bands will fit into each other like puzzle pieces, leaving little to no gap between the rings. If we’re hand-casting your rings, we can achieve a closer alignment by creating both rings at the same time. If we’re designing your rings using CAD, we are easily able to create matched companion rings, long after the first ring has been made. Open Bands Open bands have a small gap in the top of the ring shank, which creates space for a stone or stone cluster to sit in between the two ends of the band. This is a great option to complement larger stone settings and they have a distinctive, modern look when worn on their own! Get in touch with us today to bring your dream ring stack to life by clicking the chat button on the bottom right corner of your screen!   Subscribe to our newsletter to get more tips and tricks for designing and buying the perfect jewelry! Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!    

The 4c’s of Diamonds and What They Mean Choosing the perfect ring design is hard enough and picking the right stone can make the process even more daunting. You might know you want a diamond but then start looking at buying one and be confronted with “The Four C’s” - what are they? What does clarity in a diamond mean? How expensive is a 1ct diamond? Don’t fret! We’re going to break down the 4Cs for you to create the ultimate diamond buying guide.   And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more tips in your inbox!   Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!     The 4Cs stand for: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Let's break them down… Cut     Cut is the only aspect of the 4Cs that is not determined by nature. It impacts how light will reflect off of and refract within the stone. This quality largely determines the brilliance, sparkle, or “fire” of the diamond. According to GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the cut of a diamond is rated as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.  If you are curious about what shapes a stone can come in here is another helpful blog for you! Color     Diamonds follow a D-Z scale when it comes to coloring. D, the highest rating, is completely colorless and Z has a yellow hue. Most of the diamonds we source fall under D-J in grade (unless you are looking for a colorful stone!). Having a diamond that has D coloring is often more expensive, but it is important to remember that color is based completely on preference and does not indicate quality whatsoever. Clarity    Clarity refers to the number of imperfections otherwise known as inclusions that are present within a diamond. The GIA grading scale rates clarity from IF (flawless) to I (included). The scale is as follows: (IF) flawless, (VVS1) very very slightly included 1, (VVS2) very very slightly included 2, (VS1) very slightly included 1, (VS2) very slightly included 2, (SI1) slightly included 1, (SI2) slightly included 2, (I1) included 1, (I2) included 2, (I3) included 3. You can find a helpful chart with examples of each of these below. A stone doesn’t need to be completely flawless to appear clear to the human eye too! You can get a beautiful stone and save a bit as well if you choose a stone that is anywhere from VVS1 to VS2. Carat       Congratulations! You made it to the last of the 4Cs… carat! Carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond. So it is not a measurement of dimensions as many might think. One carat converts to around .2 grams (which for those of you who are equally as confused by the metric system that equates to about the weight of a paperclip). Carat and cost are directly correlated meaning the higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond will be. We hope this quick diamond buying guide will help you in your search for the perfect ring! Make sure to check out our other blogs to learn more about different types of stones too (especially this one if you are looking for alternatives to a diamond)!   Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!      

Through the years, your ring might need a touch up to keep its luster. Daily wear can expose your ring to all sorts of grime that can build up over time, but have no fear! Here's all the info you need to keep your ring looking as shiny as the first day you saw it!  Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!   For any ring with stones or solid bands: Clean your ring once a month with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of mild soap in warm (not hot) water.  We recommend using our new Jewelry Cleaning Kit, which contains everything you need to safely clean your special pieces! This kit comes with a bottle of gentle cleanser and a soft bristle brush, safe for cleaning diamonds and sapphires, as well as softer stones, including opals and pearls. You can even use it to clean costume or antique jewelry! The cleaning solution is made of a special blend of bio-based surfactants that coalesce in a foam to efficiently break down the daily buildup of oils and grime and allow them to be easily rinsed away, leaving your jewelry sparkling clean!    For mokume rings: You can do the same cleaning process as above but you can use hot water and a firmer-bristled toothbrush if you'd like to really clean out the grooves of the ring. If the silver in your mokume ring is tarnishing you can polish it with this method: You Will Need: About two cups of hot water, a glass dish, a third of a cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of salt, and aluminum foil.First, line your glass dish with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up. Remember to use a new piece of aluminum foil anytime you want to polish your ring. Next, Put your mokume on the aluminum foil and make sure it is making as much contact with the aluminum foil as possible. Once your mokume ring is on top of the aluminum foil (remember shiny side up!) add the baking soda to the hot water and stir. Once it is dissolved add the salt and stir to combine everything. Slowly start to pour the water, baking soda, and salt solution over your mokume in the aluminum foil lined dish. If you see bubbles on the ring that means the process is working! Leave everything until the water cools and then remove it and it should look good as new! Just give it a quick rinse to remove any residual baking soda.   How to keep the finish on your ring looking new: If your ring has a matte finish that is starting to be worn away to look polished you can use a Scotchbrite pad to re-matte it and buff the surface. Be careful not to do this too often because it will wear the ring down over time. We recommend only doing this once a year.If your ring is polished, you can use a polishing cloth, these can be easily found online and we love them! We often cut them up to make them smaller for single-use too. One thing to note is to keep your polishing cloth in an airtight container as the polishing compound in them will dry up over time. If you use a polishing cloth just be sure to wash your ring in warm soapy water before wearing it again to make sure all of the polishing compound is removed.   Wood and wood inlay rings: If your ring has wood in it only use cold water and be super careful with it as the inlay is very delicate and should be treated similar to pearls and other soft stones.   An important note about ultrasonic machines or steam cleaning: Ultrasonic and steam jewelry cleaners will crack or damage some stones. Please be cautious and aware of what stones are in your piece. Diamonds and sapphires are the only stones that are durable enough to handle these types of cleaners. We strongly advise against cleaning any other stones with these methods as they can irreversibly damage the stones.    If you have questions about your specific piece feel free to email us at studio@wrmetalarts.com     Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!  

Engagement Ring Band Styles Picking out an engagement ring is definitely a nerve-wracking experience! There are so many different variables - stone type, color, shape and size, metal type, detailing, side stones, setting style...the list goes on! Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!   It's so easy to get overwhelmed by how many little details there are - that's why we have broken the process down into individual decisions to make bringing your ring to life an absolute breeze! One of the most influential design details is the band (also called a shank) style. This small detail can totally change the look of a ring. Here are some of our favorites:                                                               Straight Half Round The classic half-round solitaire. This is likely the ring you picture when you think of an engagement ring. The rounded edges make it comfortable to wear and it is definitely a classic for a reason! This timeless design never goes out of style!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Reverse Tapered The style is a romantic and vintage take on the classic half-round style. With a narrowing shank it can also make the stone look larger. This delicate band can also elongate the finger.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Tapered This durable and vintage style is a great way to showcase metalwork on a ring. This style is super sleek and looks beautiful with all sorts of setting styles.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Bypass (Embrace) This modern style has a beautiful movement to it that encircles the main stone. Unlike other ring shank styles this band becomes parted when each side reaches the stone. This style is easily customized and can even be combined with others like the reverse taper - this can be seen on rings like our Aquamarine Embrace.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Split Shank This vintage style can be seen on many rings throughout history. This style is highly customizable - making the split larger, smaller, more or less pointed - all of these are ways to make the  ring more romantic, dramatic, subtle, or complex. This band gives a beautiful movement to a design without sacrificing durability and style.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Knife Edge This sleek and modern design has gotten more and more popular over the past few years. Though it may look sharp it is still super comfortable to wear and the edge can be softened as much as you'd like. The angled edges make the band appear thinner and can make the center stone appear larger as well.     What about adding some more stones? Adding some sparkle around the band or the center stone can make really take the ring to the next level!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Pavé This style features a trail of tiny stones along the band of a ring. Pavé is French for pathway and makes it appear that the ring is "paved" with these tiny sparkling stones.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Halo This style can be paired with many other shank styles. It refers to the halo of stones surrounding the center stone which can add an extra level of sparkle to a ring.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Pavé and Halo If you want the maximum level of sparkle then this is it! Having a gorgeous center stone surrounded by a shining halo and a pavé band means this ring will be a show-stopper from every angle.                                                                                                                                                            Don't see your dream ring style here? We can bring it to life! Click here to tell us all about your vision.                                                                     Enjoy 5% off your first order & be the first to know about new collections, exclusive offers & more!