RING TERMINOLOGY

Mounting - The whole ring itself, not including any gemstones.

Shank - The band portion of the ring wraps around underneath your finger.

Center Stone - The main stone of the ring, often the largest gemstone of the piece.

Side Stone/Accent Stone -  A gemstone directly adjacent to the center stone, often smaller in size (sometimes "side stone" term is used as well as the "accent stone" term).

Head - The piece of metal that holds a gemstone, but is also connected to the band of the ring, also referred too as a  Setting.   Included in the head are the prongs or bezel, the gallery, and the gallery rail.

Prong - The bit of metal on the head that grabs the stone and holds it in place; prongs come in different styles and amounts depending on the ring.

Gallery - The part of the head underneath the center stone, visible when the ring is in profile; it may be plain or have filigree, engraving or accents stones. (not all rings have a gallery)

Gallery Rail - Cross beam of metal that keeps the prongs on the sides of the stone in place. (not all rings have a gallery rail)

Bridge - The underside of the band that is directly beneath the head (not all  rings have a bridge)

Shoulder - The top part of the band on either side of the head (just like the shoulders of a person).

Sizing Area (Base) - The base of the shank where ring sizing will occur; this is important to consider when having patterned, eternity, or tapered bands resized.

Hallmark -  The mark that is punched or engraved into every ring showing what karat the metal is.

The diagram shows a classic engagement ring, which has several parts to consider when buying or designing one. The style of the ring is a personal choice.

Most rings have a center stone held in place by a setting called the head. Often, there are side stones next to the center stone, and accent stones on the band. In this case, the terms “side stones” and “accent stones” can mean the same thing.

The stones are secured with small metal pieces called prongs. There are different prong styles, like V-prongs or bezel settings, depending on the look and protection you want.

Beneath the center stone, visible from the side, are the gallery, gallery rail, and bridge. These can be plain or decorated with designs or stones, or left open like in this example.

Inside the ring, you’ll find the hallmark, which might show the metal quality (like 14K) or the maker’s logo. Some people also choose to engrave a message inside the band. If you do, avoid resizing the ring later, as the engraving is usually done in the sizing area (bottom of the band), and resizing could damage it.

The ring in the diagram is a 3-stone prong-set ring, with graduated accent stones (stones that get smaller along the band) and a half-round shank (the rounded part of the band).

*Alternate ring designs shown below*