By Gary A.
Edited by Brian M.
Published Aug 8, 2024
Edited on Dec 6, 2024
The Tiffany Setting is the epitome of timeless elegance, offering a classic design that elevates the diamond to take center stage, capturing the essence of sophistication and enduring beauty.
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Every once in a while, a jeweler or brand will produce a design that becomes so instantly iconic – so distinctive, and yet versatile enough to withstand our fickle trend cycles – that it never dips in popularity, no matter how many years pass. The Tiffany Setting is arguably one of the best examples we have of this phenomenon. Like De Beers’ famous line, ‘A diamond is forever’, the Tiffany Setting represents one of the most time-honoured parts of the engagement ring world.
Beautiful yet simple, practical yet chic, this is a great setting to consider if a diamond solitaire is on your radar…
Before we dive deeper into the specifics, here are some practical tips to help guide your decision-making process:
When purchasing a Tiffany setting engagement ring, it’s crucial to pay attention to several key aspects to ensure you’re getting a quality piece that meets your expectations and needs. Here are some practical tips to guide you through the process:
Now that you’ve got these practical tips, use Jeweler AI below to find the perfect engagement ring that suits your style and budget:
We’ll look in more detail at the specifics of the Tiffany Setting below but, for now, the most important features to be aware of are those six perfectly spaced prongs. Whereas your average solitaire round brilliant features four prongs with a view to minimising the metalwork’s impact on light performance, the Tiffany setting is a subtle departure from the norm.
At the heart of the Tiffany setting is a sleek and minimalistic six-prong design that elevates and showcases the diamond’s brilliance. The prongs are strategically placed to maximize light refraction and create a mesmerizing sparkle. This setting also features a slender metal band, often crafted from platinum or white gold, allowing the diamond to take center stage.
One of the most significant advantages of the Tiffany setting is its ability to make the diamond appear larger than its actual carat weight. The elevated design and lack of additional embellishments create an illusion of grandeur, making it a popular choice for those seeking a timeless and elegant look without compromising on the diamond’s size.
Tiffany settings allow plenty of light to reach the diamond – and a lot more than what would have reached the stone before prong settings were introduced. That said, six prongs block more light than the usual four, so ensuring the highest possible quality for your cut grade is imperative.
Read all about cut quality here.
A strong color is so important if you’re sticking with the traditional Tiffany’s vibe and opting for a platinum band and setting. Colorless metals like platinum can really highlight any slight trace of color in a diamond, so do yourself a favor and invest a little more into a stone from the higher end of the Near Colorless range – ideally, a G or H.
Clarity is also very important, although not as important as color. As always, you’ll want to prioritise eye cleanliness at one of the lower grades. Read all about it here.
There’s no prerequisite for a certain carat weight if you’re opting for a Tiffany style setting. Traditionally, the rings you’ve seen on TV and social media probably fall between the 1.5-5 carat range, but that’s not to say you can’t go under, for a dainty engagement ring, or over, for something really spectacular.
Read all about carat weight here.
A big part of the Tiffany setting’s appeal lies in its unique backstory…
Sure, I’d be happy to share a bit about the fascinating history of the Tiffany setting!
This iconic design can be traced back to the late 19th century when Charles Lewis Tiffany, the founder of the renowned Tiffany & Co. jewelry empire, introduced a revolutionary ring setting that allowed the diamond to be truly admired in all its glory. Prior to this, diamonds were often set in intricate, heavy metalwork that overshadowed the gemstone itself.
The Tiffany setting quickly gained popularity among the elite, with its minimalistic yet elegant style becoming a symbol of sophistication and taste. Over time, it evolved into a timeless classic, gracing the fingers of countless brides-to-be across generations. Even today, over a century later, the Tiffany setting remains one of the most sought-after and recognizable designs in the world of engagement rings.
Its enduring appeal lies not only in its beauty but also in its ability to seamlessly blend tradition and modernity
Put simply, a Tiffany Setting is one that was created by Tiffany & Co themselves. Again, it will feature that same 6 prong style, but the only way to get a ring that is certifiably a Tiffany Setting is to invest in one from the luxury brand.
By contrast, a Tiffany-style setting is one that draws upon those same features but doesn’t have the Tiffany’s label attached to it. As you’ve probably guessed by now comma you don’t need that 1837 blue box in order for your ring’s design to reach its full potential. While a lot of us love the idea of a designer ring, it’s just not practical for most shoppers; the surcharge incurred by shopping from a luxury brand just doesn’t fit with most budgets.
The good thing about the Tiffany setting is it is simple and very versatile. Many jewelers have mastered the technique, whether they’ve worked at one of Tiffany & Co.’s benches or not.
We’re never going to deny the allure of a Tiffany & Co. ring – not just because of their history and status in the world of luxury brands, or even their popularity among celebrity clients, but also because of their commitment to ethical sourcing practices and transparency for shoppers.
There’s plenty to love about Tiffany’s – and not just the breakfast!
But remember that buying an engagement ring means being very careful with your budget, even if you feel like you’ve got plenty to spend. Tiffany & Co., like any designer label, comes at a higher price – but, when you’re buying a diamond, you really want the high price to be on that.
You don’t need to go with the OG to get something incredible, conversation-worthy, and show-stopping. The simplicity of the Tiffany-style setting design is that it can be reinvented depending on your preferences, your partner’s style, and the type of ring design you’re opting for.
While the obvious pairing for the Tiffany setting is a round brilliant diamond, which enables those six prongs to sit very regularly around the edge of the stone, other, more unusual shapes can produce just as captivating results. The pear and marquise diamond shapes, for instance, require slightly more unusual prong placement – particularly when you’re opting for six, instead of four – but the results can be very pleasing.
And, of course, you still have the option of accents, pavé, additional sidetones, metalwork, and personal features. The Tiffany Setting leaves plenty of room for personality, and it’s not all about bright platinum, round brilliant solitaires.
We love a Tiffany-style setting. We love its history, its elegance, its simplicity and its celebration of metalwork without intruding on the diamond itself. It’s definitely worth knowing about if a solitaire is what you’re after since it adds a little extra detail to an otherwise simple (though very beautiful) design.
But that’s not to say you should write it off if you’re going for something more than a solitaire. Virtually any ring design, provided it doesn’t rely on a bezel or halo, can benefit from an additional two prongs – not just for diamond security, but for visual appeal, too.
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