Everything You Need to Know About Pavé Diamonds

Conventional wisdom has it that when a word is preceded by a French moniker, expect luxury. If you’re interested in a little extra sparkle, then there’s two words you’ll want to know more about: pavé diamonds. 

The timeless diamond setting isn’t just for engagement rings and old school bling. Every jewelry collection can and should have its fair share of pavé pieces that add a little more je ne sais quoi than your average gobstopper diamond. Here, we asked our Director of Design Yunjo Lee to answer some of our burning questions like: what exactly is a pavé setting? How are pavé pieces designed? And which pavé piece is right for, well, us? Read on for the answers. 

WHAT IS PAVE?

According to Yunjo, pavé (pronounced pah-vay) comes from the French word for “paving,” and refers to a type of stone setting in which several small diamonds create a field of sparkle. While this diamond setting is having a moment of resurgence right now, Yunjo explains that “pavé settings have been around for hundreds of years with notable designs dating back to the Georgian era,” making it a timeless piece in every jewelry collection.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

What makes pavé such an attractive style is its ability to give off major sparkle at a lower cost compared to solo diamond settings that have a larger carat weight. But what exactly gives pavé its all-diamond-everything shine? The 4Cs, of course. 

All of our pavé styles are set with conflict-free, ethically-sourced S1-2 diamonds. Each style can contain up to 50 pavé diamonds that are 1mm in diameter, nestled closely together with nearly invisible metal prongs securing each stone. This creates the effect of a continuous shining stream of diamonds.

OUR INSPIRATION

When it comes to design, every style is paved with good intentions— literally. “We love pavé diamonds in our designs for their intense play on light that brings life to any of our styles,” explains Yunjo. “Even on a tiny scale, pavé creates a captivating effect, creating delicate sugary shimmers that feel ultra feminine, modern and playful all at once.”

PAVÉ YOUR WAY

There’s no right or wrong way to wear pavé. Like all of our diamond pieces, we designed our pavé styles so that you can wear them all day, every day, no matter the occasion. 

For a gateway pavé piece, you can’t go wrong with a staple like the Pavé Diamond Round Necklace. If you’re partial to a certain shape, let the Sculptural Pavé necklaces take care of that. Available in cuts like cushion, pear and oval, it’s our version of painting with shapes à la Alexander Calder. 

For the self-described ring person there’s two routes: the minimal and the statement. You remember the Slim Signet, right? Meet the diamond version. A low commitment sparkler with major payoff. If you’re a fan of the iconic Croissant Dôme collection (and who isn’t?) This diamond version will bring a big handful of va va voom to your stack.

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