A ring that comes in various sizes and that features an endless row of sparkling diamonds embodies everything that a perfect piece of jewelry should be all about–elegance, refinement, and a dazzling diamond sparkle. These qualities make such pieces of jewelry both an ideal gift for a variety of occasions and, in recent years, increasingly also a modern alternative for wedding rings.
Their history and meaning
Eternity rings, as their name suggests, symbolize eternity. They were introduced to the world in the form we know today in the second half of the 20th century by the famous De Beers company. Because they are so versatile, the rings quickly became popular and today are a highly sought-after fashion accessory.
An eternity ring as a wedding ring
While a simple plain band is an ageless classic when it comes to wedding rings, women (and sometimes men!) have increasingly shifted their attention on to attractive diamond designs. In this respect, an eternity ring is an excellent choice, since its shape does not deviate from a traditional wedding band but the diamonds set into it make it look unique. What’s more, it perfectly complements a diamond engagement ring. See for yourself in our beautifully matched engagement and bridal ring sets.
The width of eternity rings
Eternity rings come in various widths which affect not only their appearance, but also how comfortable and easy they are to wear. The finer, thinner varieties are set with 1mm diamonds and have an understated look to them which makes them ideal for layering with other rings. On the other hand, the wider designs are more distinctive and pronounced in terms of how they look on the hand, and they also give off a more intense sparkle due to their larger stones. When choosing a ring, it's a good idea to think not just about personal style and preferences but also how the ring will pair with other jewelry.
Half eternity rings
If a ring is set with stones only half way around the band, it’s called a half eternity ring. The benefit of this style of ring is that it is more affordable since there are fewer diamonds in it. Some people also appreciate the fact that it is a lot more comfortable to wear. A very original design in half eternity rings is a wedding ring with two rows of diamonds on a knife edge band.
The different styles of eternity rings
Eternity rings are available in three colors of gold and in addition to clear diamonds, we also have eternity rings with very unique black diamonds. Another important detail that helps determine the overall look of the ring is the way the stone is mounted.
Pavé eternity rings
In a pavé setting, the diamonds sit very close together in the metal band to form a continuous surface. A pavé setting makes it possible to create jewelry even with tiny diamonds. A ring in this style has a very dainty and elegant feel to it and sparkles beautifully.
There are several types of pavé settings which differ in the way the stones are set and the resulting look they have:
Shared prong setting
The diamonds are held in place with tiny prongs that simultaneously hold two adjacent stones together. This means that less metal is visible and this accentuates the shape of the individual stones. The prongs can come in a variety of forms and embellishments, such as with fine milgrain, which creates a decorative edging around the stones.
Bright cut pavé (Channel set pavé)
Eternity rings with a cut down pave setting
At first glance, this type of eternity ring is similar to the previous pavé style. But in this case, the diamonds are set into a band that has had small arches cut into it on the sides in order to show off as much of each stone as possible. This allows for a greater play of light on the surface of the diamond, something that this diamond eternity ring displays beautifully. The most common cut down pave setting varieties include:
The delicate French V-split
The stones are set into delicately cut V-shaped prongs. This allows the diamonds to catch light from the sides too, making their brilliance stand out even more.
A scalloped pavé setting
Fishtail Setting
This style has an elaborate pattern on the sides that resembles the fins of a fish. The precise way the stones are faceted adds a touch of luxury to the ring and makes the stones look larger.
Groove set eternity rings
This is a very elegant style of eternity ring. The diamonds are surrounded by a strip of metal on each side making it appear as though they have just been loosely placed next to each other. The magic behind this setting is the groove channel around the inner circumference of the ring which the stones have been set into. One of the benefits of a groove setting is that the stones are secure, since they are protected from damage on both sides. A decorative element can also be added to the setting in the form of tiny metal beads between the stones.
Bezel eternity rings
A bezel setting, where the stone is surrounded by a metal band all the way around is one of the most secure settings. In eternity rings, this creates a very interesting effect of many small rings connected to each other. Bar set eternity rings also visually separate the individual stones but compared to bezel set rings, bar set rings have exposed sides, which allows more light to pass through the stone for a more pronounced sparkle.
Uniquely original eternity rings
At the KLENOTA jewelry studio, we like to experiment, always looking for ways to adapt classic designs to modern trends. Therefore, in addition to the tried and tested classics, we also design original models, including this unique wedding ring with side facing stones. In a matching wedding ring set, we work with clear diamonds for the ladies' ring and very unique black diamonds for the men's ring. This style of over-the-edge ring is also appealing because it is the only style of eternity ring that allows for the rings to be engraved due to the way the stones have been set.
