High set or low set engagement ring: which is right for you?

What does setting height mean?

It is the distance from your finger to the top of the diamond. The diamond sits in a head, which is the small basket of prongs or the bezel that holds it. A tall head lifts the diamond up. A short head keeps it close to the finger.

How to tell them apart

Look at the ring from the side, at eye level.

• High set: you see clear open space between the bottom of the diamond and the band. The diamond looks lifted.
• Medium set: you see a little open space under the diamond.
• Low set: the diamond sits right on the band, close to the finger, with little or no space under it.

A photo from the side shows it best.

Which one is more comfortable?

Low set. The diamond stays close to the finger, so it does not catch on hair, sweaters or gloves. It also bumps less against tables and doors. It feels lighter and turns less on the finger. If you work with your hands, or you have never worn a ring before, low set is the easiest to live with.

You notice a high set ring more on your hand. Many people like that. It just needs a little more care.

Will a straight wedding band sit flush?

This is the question we hear most. It depends on two things: how high the diamond sits and how thick the wedding band is.

• High set: usually yes. Most times a straight band up to about twice as thick as the engagement ring band slides under the diamond and sits flush.
• Medium set: usually yes, when the wedding band is not thicker than the band of the engagement ring.
• Low set: a straight band usually stops at the diamond and leaves a small gap, unless the design leaves open space under the setting.

Why band thickness matters

There is only so much space under the diamond. A thin band slides under it. A thick band, like an eternity band with large diamonds, can be too tall to fit, even under a high set ring. Before you choose a wedding band, compare how thick it is with the band of your engagement ring.

Wedding band options for a low set ring

• Wear it with a small gap. A straight band with a little space next to the engagement ring still looks good.
• Choose a curved band. It dips around the diamond, so the two rings touch.
• Choose an open band. It has an opening at the top where the diamond sits, so the two rings sit flush.

Does the height change the sparkle?

Very little. Sparkle comes from the cut of the diamond. A higher setting shows more of the diamond from the side, but a well cut diamond sparkles at any height.

Does the height depend on the size of the diamond?

Size is one part of it. Larger diamonds are deeper, so they need a taller head. That is why big center stones often sit a bit higher than small ones.

Which one should you choose?

• Low set if comfort and daily wear come first.
• Medium set if you want a mix of comfort and height.
• High set if you want the diamond up high and a straight band to sit flush.

How to see in a photo if a band will sit flush

Look at a photo of the ring from the side and find the bottom of the setting that holds the diamond.

• Open space under it: a straight band can slide under it and sit flush. The more space, the thicker the band that fits.
• No space, the setting rests on the band: a straight band stops at the setting and leaves a small gap. A curved or open band closes it.

Can a low set ring still sit flush?

Yes. Some low set designs keep the diamond close to the finger and still leave a little open space under the setting. A straight band slides into that space and sits flush. So you get the comfort of a low ring and a band that sits flush.

This is our Mercy ring with a straight matching band. It sits low, but the side photo shows open space under the diamond. So on the hand the band slides under and sits flush.

At Next Diamonds

Many of our designs sit low and still let a straight band sit flush, such as Clover, Mercy, Romy and Amanda. Check the side photo on any ring page the same way.

Questions people ask