Cocktail Diamond Rings - More Than Just A Setting

What Cocktail Diamond Ring Setting?

The first thing that comes to mind when someone hears the phrase diamond ring is probably a traditional solitaire diamond engagement ring . You are unlikely to associate the phrase with the term cocktail setting diamond ring, an exciting ring set with several stones of different cuts and sizes, often with a larger 1.5 carat to 3 carat center stone. The ring will usually be larger to not only facilitate so many diamonds, but also to add sparkle to the ring and give it certain uniqueness.

Many purchasers of diamond cocktail rings buy such a ring to wear on special occasions. As suggested in the name, cocktail parties and fancy dinners are a great opportunity for you to wear such a stunning piece of jewelry.

Cocktail And Invisible Setting Rings – What's The Difference?

Many people will assume that the invisible diamond ring setting and the cocktail ring setting are both the same. However, there are certain factors that set the cocktail setting apart from the invisible setting. After reading this article, you may also want to take a look at our guide on purchasing invisible set diamond jewelry.

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Diamonds Look Larger

Invisibly set diamond rings tend to give the impression of containing larger stones, rather than it being clear that the ring contains several smaller stones. In some cases, the ring is set in such a way that it is almost impossible to see that there are several stones set in the ring. The whole essence of the cocktail setting, on the other hand, is that it contains several small stones, sometimes over 300 diamonds, in one piece of jewelry, adding immense shine and sparkle to the band.

Typically Thicker Ring For Cocktail Setting

In order to stand out and to accommodate being embossed with so many beautiful diamonds, the band for the cocktail ring will often be much larger than usual. The stones on the invisible setting, however, will usually be set as the centerpiece of the ring, occasionally surrounded by even smaller side stones.

Some rings will have an arrangement of both the invisible setting and the cocktail setting. For example, this ring is invisibly set in the center with 20 G color, VS1 clarity princess cut diamonds. It is surrounded in a halo design by 115 round cut diamonds with the same clarity and color equaling 1.8 carats. The two settings give this halo engagement ring real grandeur and is bound to get you noticed at your next dinner party.

Choosing The Right Cocktail Setting Ring

As with all diamond jewelry, it is important to take into account the 4 Cs of choosing diamonds: clarity, cut, color and carat weight. Here are some tips to choosing the ideal cocktail setting ring.

Clarity

Almost all diamonds contain imperfections. When several smaller diamonds are present in an item of jewelry, jewelers will often pick out stones that have a clear center and edges with more cloudy areas and black spots, making the imperfections less visible. It is advisable not to purchase a cocktail setting ring with a clarity grade of less than SI1. Most cocktail setting jewelry will contain stones with a similar clarity grade to each other (no more than one clarity grade difference), which is also advisable.

Color

As with clarity, the stones in the cocktail setting will usually be grouped under one color rating. D-F graded diamonds will be “colorless”, meaning totally white, while K-M diamonds will have some faint yellow color present. Customers with darker skin tones often prefer darker diamonds, thus allowing them to save money as diamonds with lower color grades are less expensive.

If you do not have a preference for lower color graded diamonds, the diamonds in your cocktail setting ring should have a color grade higher than L. Fancy color diamonds will make your cocktail setting ring look even more unique, with colors such as champagne and chocolate brown usually costing slightly less.

Cut Grade

This refers to how well the diamonds in the ring refract light. A diamond that has been well cut will have facets positioned in a way that scatters light through the top of the stone. A well-cut diamond will produce great fire and brilliance while a poorly-cut diamond will usually produce little light and occasionally look small for its carat weight. In order to have a sparkly diamond cocktail setting ring, we advise that you look for a ring with excellent to ideal cut stones.

Total Carat Weight

Most jewelers will give you the total carat weight of all the stones in the diamond combined. One of the benefits of purchasing a cocktail diamond ring is the cost per diamond. If you would like to know the individual carat weight of each diamond, you should contact the jeweler. Smaller diamonds are far more accessible, meaning that the cost of ten 0.10 carat diamonds will cost less than a 1 carat diamond with the same credentials. If you are purchasing the cocktail setting ring online then you should be able to easily see from the photo of the ring whether any of the diamonds seem larger.

Choosing The Right Shapes

When choosing the shapes for a cocktail setting diamond engagement ring there are no limits to how creative you can be. The most common shape is round diamonds, often combined with princess cut diamonds to add another dimension to the ring, such as an 18k white gold double band fashion ring with invisibly set princess cut diamonds and channel set round cut diamonds with a G color and VS1 clarity grading.

Pear shapes and marquise cut diamonds are less common, mainly because their shape makes it more difficult to fit several small stones nicely together. Square diamonds such as princess cut and asscher cut diamonds, as well as baguette diamonds are often used for invisible setting diamond jewelry. Melee diamonds, often referred to as chip diamonds, can be used to add sparkle to larger stones. They typically weigh less than 0.10 carats.

Getting The Setting Right

Prong Setting

The prong setting is the most common setting in diamond jewelry involving each diamond getting its own arrangement of prongs, most commonly four. The height of the prongs can be set either higher or lower by the jeweler. This setting in a cocktail ring will make each diamond look more significant.

Channel Setting

This is a beautiful setting that involves two or four rows of small diamonds being lined up against each other. The most common shape for this setting is round brilliant diamonds, although baguette or princess diamonds can make a ring look exquisite.

Bezel Setting

This setting is most commonly used to make one stone, usually the center stone, stand out from the other stones in the ring. It wraps the outer edge of the diamond in a small casing of metal.

Pave Setting

As suggested in the name, this setting involves paving many small stones close together. For rings that contain over 80 diamonds, this setting is the most commonly used. For example, this 18K white gold cluster fashion wedding band contains 97 G color, VS1 clarity round cut diamonds equaling 1.71 carats, each diamond looking just as brilliant as the last.

Diamond Ring Metal Type

When it comes to choosing between a yellow gold or white gold band for your cocktail setting ring, it really comes down to personal taste. White gold is considered a slightly more neutral color for this setting, thus making it a more common choice. If your ring contains diamonds with a color grading lower than L, an 18K yellow gold band will help the presence of color blend in with the stones. If you are looking for a particularly special piece of diamond jewelry, consider an 18K two-tone yellow gold and white gold ring.

A two-tone ring is most likely to be kept for certain occasions and will make a great gift for your mother or as a wedding anniversary gift for your wife. This 382 stone multi-stone ring, for example, has a yellow gold oval center surrounded by a white gold pave setting. This striking ring will probably not be purchased for daily wear, rather kept somewhere safe for those special moments.

Cocktail Diamond Wedding Rings

While wedding rings are most commonly one single band without any stones, cocktail wedding rings are becoming increasingly popular. They allow a woman to add another piece of diamond jewelry that she can wear every day.

Purchasing Diamond Cocktail Setting Rings Online

By purchasing diamond jewelry online, you can save up to 50% off the retail price for diamond cocktail jewelry. CaratsDirect2U offers a 30 day return policy on all diamond jewelry and a diamond manufacturer spanning over 60 years, you can be sure to trust us with your next purchase.

If you have any questions about a particular item, we can always be contacted on 1-800-557-7095 where one of our expert diamond jewelers will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected] with any questions you may have.