Depending on the size and shape of a gemstone, the desired look of a jewelry piece, and the jeweler's artistic vision, different gemstones require different settings. Some settings thoroughly secure small stones to prevent them from becoming loose or lost. Others are more open to facilitate shining and light play of large stones. Closed and blind settings work only with opaque or very small stones. Large diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other transparent stones are usually set openly and lightly.
The most secure setting is the bezel setting. The stone is set in a metal cavity and secured so that three of its sides are completely hidden within the mounting. Typically, this type of setting is used for small or nontransparent stones with flat bottoms. In contrast, gems like diamonds and emeralds require much more than just a single-sided presentation to show their beauty and light play.
If the bright cut bid setting is used, a gemstone is secured with the help of small projections pressed out of the mounting metal. Bright cut bid setting is often utilized when a certain amount of small stones need to be set in rows. It is reliable enough to keep small stones secured while also looking very attractive with bright, shiny stones.
In the pavé setting, numerous small stones are set closely in carved cavities and secured with lugs. Actually, pavé is a type of bright cut bid setting in which stones are set closely, resembling cobblestones in "pavement."
The prong setting grips a stone with crisscross claws, smoothly and securely fastening it to the mounting. The claws are usually made from the basic mounting material, but they also may be made separately from plain or round wire fastened to the mounting edges. Sometimes, stones are prong set in order to hide their defects, like scratched or cracked facets. Prong setting is also known as basket setting.