Pavé setting
JewelryWiki Editorial·2 sources·Reviewed 2026-08-04
Many small stones set close together in a honeycomb, held by tiny beads of metal, so the piece looks paved with diamonds. Elegant, and the least robust setting in common use.
Properties
| Property | Value | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| How it holds the stone | A type of bead setting: the gemstone sits in a recessed hole in the mounting and is held by small beads of metal attached at the stone’s girdle. Many small gems are placed close together, usually in a honeycomb pattern. [1] | — |
| Security | If the wearer is extremely active the diamonds can be vulnerable to falling out, and the setting should be handled with care. [1] | — |
| Suits an active wearer | Handle with care. GIA singles out the extremely active wearer as the case where pavé stones are vulnerable. [1] | — |
| What to watch for | Two things a jeweller will tell you only afterwards. If a pavé stone does come out it is difficult to reset. And pavé should not be run along the bottom of the shank — that part of a ring rubs constantly, and the stones there wear and are damaged. [2] Translated from GIA’s Chinese text; GIA serves this article only in Chinese, including at its /en-us/ URL. | — |
Sources
- GIA — Side Stone Settings for Engagement Rings — Gemological Institute of America (GIA 4Cs, Side Stone Settings for Engagement Rings (13 December 2012))
- GIA — Engagement Ring Settings That Make a Diamond Look Bigger — Gemological Institute of America (GIA 4Cs, Settings That Make a Diamond Look Bigger (18 April 2017))