5 Reasons to Skip the Pavé Setting

Who doesn't love a little extra sparkle, a little extra shine, a little extra drip? The pavé has all of that - and then some. It can even make your center stone look bigger and better than it really is.

That being said, there are some damn good reasons not to go pavé. Pavé can be cliché… And a little too extra. Here are 5 reasons to skip this setting and go for something simpler - like a trinity or solitaire ring.

Pav What Now?

Like many wondrously romantic fancy words, pavé – pronounced pah-vay like okaaay – is french. It translates to pave, or according to google translate, cobblestone. As in, "some or all of my ring is paved with tiny diamond cobblestones." How expensive are diamond cobblestones? Pretty expensive… Even if they are small enough to fit on a ring.

Although tiny diamonds are cheaper than you'd think, they're still going to cost you more than your standard solitaire setting. And, of course, it makes sense. One is a plain band made of gorgeous, gorgeous gold. The other is a sparkle encrusted band made of gorgeous gold and oodles of diamonds. All told, a pavé setting is only going to add around $300 to the price of your ring. They are cheaper than you may have expected, but they still cost money.

Tricky Little Diamonds

There's a little magic trick that happens when you surround a diamond with a bunch of other diamonds. It makes the thing look huge! Double it up with a halo, and you're living in sparkle city.

While it's a big plus that a pavé will make your rock look bigger, it's a bit of a letdown if you're a lover of gold. See, a good pave ring can completely hide the gold underneath. Some people are wild for this look, see diamonds galore, and want more! But if your choice of gold was a fashion statement – e.g., you wanted everyone to know you're wearing rose gold–pavé is just not for you.

No Redos

If you're going for the full pavé experience, that is, diamonds all the way around the band, you're going to have some serious issues when sizing. Like you won't be able to do it. Make so so sure you know your partner's size if you're going down the rainbow road with this one.

If you want some play in your pavé, consider going with a ¾ or even ½ pavé so you'll have a little breathing room. Even still, it's best to be sure about sizing when going all-in on this setting.

Keep in mind every time you mess with the band size. You're also messing with dozens of tiny diamonds and their settings. Repeated stretching or shrinking the band size will weaken the grip those small prongs have on little stones, and you don't want to lose those.

Diamond Down!

Micro pave stacks small stones, usually 0.01ct or smaller, to give the appearance of an endless band of sparkles. A micro pavé can contain anywhere from 50-100+ diamonds in tiny little rows. This is easily the best type of pavé since it delivers more shine more diamonds and keeps the lowest profile, making it easy on your fingers.

Open pavé is a similar technique that uses bigger stones. This makes the ring look as if the entire band is made of tiny diamonds cause, well, it kind of is.

Now, pavé rings have a reputation for being a bit uncomfortable between the fingers. The good news is the small nature of the diamond makes the micro pavé the most comfortable of all the different pavés. The problem is tiny pavé diamonds can fall out.

Rows on rows of tiny stones mean you're bound to lose one here and there, right? Well, yes, technically. When you increase the number of stones on your ring from 1 to like 75, the likelihood of you losing a stone does go up, but that's just math. And, to be fair, since theirs so many, you're going to be less likely to notice if you do lose one until later. So chances are you won't find it, and it'll have to be replaced.

The good news is while this can happen, it's not very likely. This goes double if you know your partner's size out the gate, so you don't have to mess with the ring's structure by getting it resized.

Bottom line, if you do end up losing a stone or two over the life of the ring, it's not that big of a deal. These tiny diamonds, especially if we're talking micro pavé, won't break the bank when it comes to restoning one or two missing pieces.

So Smudgy

Due to all the tiny cracks and crevices on a pavé, it does tend to get dirty more than a plain band. But a little maintenance is a small price to pay for glamour.

Really, it's a good idea to remove your ring when you plan on getting dirty anyway, but this goes double with a pavé. Not only will dirt and grime get lodged in all the little gem holes, but you might also knock a few stones loose, and this is not that kind of garden party.

It's not impossible to clean the ring yourself with a little bowl of warm water, a little gentle toothbrush action, a dip in some clean water, and a dry on the counter. However, you don't want to rub or scrub your ring as tiny fibers might gum up the glitter works.

You could also just skip the whole ordeal and take the ring into the jeweler to get steam cleaned now and then. It doesn't cost a lot, and it's worth it to get your ring shining like new without shaking anything loose.

Still, Want to Play Pavé?

Some people don't know when to quit. It's us; we're people.

All the small stuff aside, these little diamonds make a big impact. While they might not be smooth to the touch, we like how it feels. It doesn't hurt that it makes that statement stone stand out just a bit more or that it sparkles all the way around.

When it comes down to it, if you know your size and commit to cleaning (call it self-care), you really can't go wrong. After all, who doesn't want a hundred tiny diamonds?

Wait, But Questions

Here are a few of the FAQs we get about pretty little pavés.

Do Pavé Settings Cost More?

Yes, a pavé setting will cost more than a simple solitaire. Dozens of tiny diamonds and mini design work add extra cost. However, usually, it only costs a few hundred more, which is a small price to pay for your dream sparkle city ring.

What's the Difference Between Pavé and Channel Diamonds?

In a pavé setting, the aim is to keep the metal as invisible as possible, so the main focus is on the stones. A channel setting features a metal band around the stones, like a border.

Are the Diamonds in Pavé Settings Real?

Yes. Pavé settings are made up of dozens of tiny diamonds, which vary in size depending on which type of pavé you choose, micro being the smallest.

What's the Difference Between Pavé and Micro Pavé?

As the name states, a micro pavé is a smaller version of the pavé setting. Both settings have a small row–or rows–of small diamonds creating the appearance of an endless band of diamonds. A micro pavé setting tends to have a lower profile, making it more comfortable between your fingers.

Because it uses smaller stones, a micro pavé gives more of an endless sparkle vibe. A regular pavé with its bigger stones has a bulkier feel to it and tends to show more of the underlying metal.

Do Pavé Diamonds Fall Out Easily?

No. While it does happen from time to time, pavé diamonds do not fall out easily. Each stone is set with a set of tiny prongs or beads. As with any setting, if a prong gets snagged or bumped, it might become loose, and this may cause a diamond to fall out.

Fortunately, if you do lose a diamond, you can always take your ring to a jeweler and have the missing stones replaced.

Are Pavé Diamonds Valuable?

The value of pavé diamonds is less about the diamond itself and more about the setting. Each diamond in a micro pavé setting, for example, is 0.01ct or smaller. On its own, that doesn't amount to much, but in a setting with 50-100 of its little friends, it makes a big impact.

A pavé setting can help to make your center stone look larger. So while the cost of the setting is more than a solitaire, it adds a lot more value when you consider what it saves you compared to sizing up your center stone.