What is a Micro Pavé Setting?
A micro pavé setting is a type of pavé engagement ring setting that features small diamonds set in the shank of the ring. These diamonds, referred to as melee diamonds, are tiny on their own, but can give an engagement ring an incredible, eye-catching appearance when set beside one another.
In a pavé setting, small diamonds are placed in tiny holes drilled into the band of the ring. These small diamonds are held in place using tiny metal prongs or beads. This line of small diamonds creates the appearance of a continuous sparkle that spans the top half of the ring.
A micro pavé setting differs from a classic pavé setting in that both the diamonds and the metal prongs used to hold them in place are smaller. Many micro pavé settings feature diamonds with a carat weight in the 0.01 carat range (or, in some cases, even lighter).
Micro Pavé settings can vary in price depending on the number of small diamonds used and the quality of the center stone. However, they are generally considered to be a more affordable option compared to other intricate settings, given that smaller diamonds are less expensive. You can expect to budget anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on various factors like diamond quality, metal type, and craftsmanship.
Here is what we’ll cover in this article:
Why choose a micro pavé setting?
Pros & cons of micro pavé settings
Where is the best place to buy a micro pavé ring?
Quick tips on how to buy the right diamond
Why you should trust us
To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.
Bottom Line Recommendation
Micro pavé engagement rings can look absolutely stunning, especially when they’re paired with the right center stone. A beautiful micro pavé setting will add to a ring’s brilliance and draw extra attention to the center diamond, giving it a more impressive and eye-catching appearance.
Beautiful micro pavé settings include this stunning trio micro pavé engagement ring I found from James Allen, which uses three rows of pavé-set diamonds for a beautiful sparkle, and this elegant cushion cut halo micro pavé engagement ring from Blue Nile, which features a halo of small diamonds around the center stone.
Our guide below explains what a micro pavé setting is in more detail, as well as the major pros and cons of this type of setting.
If you’re thinking of buying an engagement ring and like the micro pavé setting, make sure you shop from a reputable jewelry vendor. We recommend James Allen, Blue Nile and Brian Gavin Diamonds, all of whom offer outstanding quality and value.
Deal Alert: Get 25% off sitewide at James Allen
Why Choose A Micro Pavé Setting?
Micro pavé settings can look absolutely stunning, making them a good option if you’re looking for a setting that’s more impressive than a typical solitaire or halo engagement ring. They’re also relatively affordable for their level of brilliance and presence on the wearer’s finger.
“The pavé technique also allows for the creation of more affordable engagement rings, as small diamonds are generally less expensive than larger ones of comparable quality. So an engagement ring with pavé may be a good alternative for those on a budget.” Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
The small diamonds of a micro pavé ring both enhance the sparkle of the ring and draw extra attention to the center stone. Many micro pavé rings also feature diamond halos or side stones for an even more impressive, dramatic appearance.
Pros and Cons of a Micro Pavé Setting
As everyone has different tastes and preferences, there’s no “perfect” engagement ring setting for every person. However, micro pavé settings have a variety of pros and cons that could make them a good choice for your fiancé-to-be.
Pros
- The small diamonds of a micro pavé setting draw attention to the center stone and can make even a modestly sized or less sparkly center diamond appear more eye-catching and impressive.
- Since a micro pavé ring features numerous small diamonds that line the band, the ring’s sparkle extends beyond the center diamond to the ring itself.
- Micro pavé settings are popular, meaning you can choose from a wide range of modern and vintage designs.
Cons
- Because numerous small diamonds are set in the ring, resizing a micro pavé setting can be extremely difficult.
- Although it’s very uncommon, it’s possible for the tiny pavé-set diamonds to come loose and fall out of the ring.
To avoid these issues, it’s important to make sure you know your fiancé-to-be’s exact ring size before buying a micro pavé ring. Our ring sizing guide lists several strategies that you can use to work out your partner’s ring size without asking them directly.
Where to Buy Micro Pavé Diamond Engagement Rings
There are several factors that affect the quality and value for money you’ll get when shopping for an engagement ring. Of these, one of the most crucial is the jewelry vendor you choose to buy from.
As we’ve covered in our reviews of engagement ring and diamond jewelry stores, not all places that sell engagement rings are equally good. It’s common for vendors, both offline and online, to offer poor value for money, or to sell diamonds that aren’t particularly attractive or desirable.
Over our 20 years in the diamond industry, we’ve vetted a huge range of diamond sellers, giving us a hands-on understanding of which diamond jewelry vendors are the most reputable, reliable and customer-friendly.
We’ve listed our four recommended diamond jewelry vendors below. All of these vendors offer large collections of high-quality diamonds in every price range. They also provide GIA or AGS certificates for their diamonds, letting you know that you’re getting what you pay for.
Blue Nile
Blue Nile has the largest inventory of diamonds of any online vendor. They also stock a huge range of settings, including numerous micro pavé engagement rings. Their prices are fair and their service is excellent, with free shipping and free returns for almost all of their products.
James Allen
James Allen offers a large, diverse range of high-quality diamonds and settings, including micro pavé settings. Their prices are extremely competitive, their selection vast and their imagery very detailed, allowing you to see each diamond under magnification before ordering.
Brian Gavin Diamonds
Brian Gavin Diamonds offers some of the world’s best cut diamonds, particularly the stones from their “Brian Gavin Signature” Hearts & Arrows collection. If you’re looking for a diamond with an extremely high cut quality, this is an excellent place to shop.
Leibish & Co. (Gemstone Alternative)
Leibish & Co. is a fantastic place to shop if you’re looking for a gemstone engagement ring. They also have a large range of exceptionally high-quality fancy color diamonds. Their selection of settings includes numerous pavé engagement rings, including many in unique, eye-catching designs.
How to Evaluate a Diamond Ring for Beauty and Value
Want to buy the most beautiful ring at an amazing price?
Review our Diamond Pro resources to learn what to look for in a diamond engagement ring and how to get the best deal.
- Diamond cut: The cut of a diamond has a huge impact on its brilliance and sparkle. We recommend only looking at Excellent and Ideal cuts, as diamonds with these cut grades will have the most beautiful, impressive appearance.
- Diamond shape: Diamonds come in numerous shapes, from the round brilliant cut to an entire range of fancy shape diamonds. Use our diamond shape resources to choose the right shape for your fiancé-to-be’s tastes and style.
- Diamond color: A diamond should look white in relation to its setting, which is especially important with a pavé or micro pavé ring. Look for a diamond in the same color range as the setting’s pavé or side diamonds to make sure it looks white and colorless.
- Diamond clarity: There’s no need to choose a perfectly clear diamond. Instead, look for one that’s eye-clean. Most of the time, a diamond with a VS1 or VS2 clarity grade won’t have any visible inclusions when viewed with the naked eye.
Got a question about diamonds or engagement ring settings? Contact us and we’ll help you pick the best diamond, engagement ring or other jewelry for your style and budget.
Here are more specific setting style topics to browse:
- What are the different types of engagement ring settings?
- What is a Solitaire diamond ring?
- How to pick a Halo diamond engagement ring?
- Most popular Three-Stone engagement rings
- What is a Channel set engagement ring?
- What is a Pavé Engagement Ring Setting?
- What’s the difference between a Vintage and Antique ring?
- The pros and cons of a bezel-setting engagement ring
- What does a Bar setting look like?
- How to choose an impressive Cathedral setting
- What is a Cluster engagement ring?
- Important things to know about a Flush setting
- Where to buy a Split Shank setting?
- What is a Tension ring setting?
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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