As you search for the perfect diamond engagement ring, it’s important to know that there’s many different styles of shanks to accent your centre diamond.
Commonly known as the band, ‘shank’ is the official term for the part of the ring that wraps around your finger. Some also call this the engagement ring setting.
This long stretch of metal is one of the most customisable elements of your overall engagement ring design. Only a few small modifications can make your ring truly one of a kind. We craft these settings in 18ct white, yellow and rose gold as well as platinum to ensure your ring stands the test of time.
Split shanks are graceful and complement many diamond sizes and shapes. This particular style of shank divides into two before joining with the centre stone, giving the appearance of two separate bands. The split shank can be separated with a space in between or woven, twisted, or sculpted into different formations. The shank will merge back together towards the middle of the band to create a single band under the finger.
A cathedral shank is one of the most traditional setting styles, imitating the grandeur of cathedral architecture. A cathedral style lifts the centre diamond higher off the finger to to give it more presence on the hand, able to catch more light throughout the day. In this style, the shank delicately tapers upwards in the form of ‘shoulders’ that frame the centre diamond.
Fishtail style shanks can have a very vintage feel. Here, the small diamonds that line the shank are held together and separated by small v-shaped cut-outs in the metal of the band. The way that the diamonds are set in this style of engagement ring setting gives the illusion of more sparkle and larger diamonds.
A knife-edge shank is characterised by the sharp edge that runs around the outside of the shank. This shank style features two smoothly slanted sides that meet at a point, encompassing the shank and creating a sleek and classic look. Knife edges can be designed to have a ‘softer’ or ‘sharper’ point depending on the desired look of the ring.
The word pavé comes from the French word for ‘paving’. This describes how pavé engagement rings have a shank that is ‘paved’ in small diamonds, creating a sparkling avenue that runs the length of the band. There are several styles for setting diamond melée into pavé, including micro pavé and bead set pavé, that each have a slightly different sparkle effect.
In a channel setting, diamonds are set along the shank in a metal channel. This shank style fastens the featured diamonds between two parallel walls of crafted metal. This style gives the shank a smooth and elegant, modern look.
The twist shank style has become increasingly popular over the past few years. As the name suggests, the metal of the shank is twisted to create an interlacing design around the finger. The twist can either be very tight or looser. This is usually dependent on whether the shank is pavé or plain metal.
A tapered band style is one where the shank either tapers off towards the centre gemstone, or tapers outwards along the band as it circles under the finger. Most common is the style where the shank tapers on either side of the centre stone, creating a delicate resting place for the centre gem and highlighting its prominence.
An interlocked shank style is where a wedding band and engagement ring setting have been design specifically to fit together perfectly. There’s many ways of achieving this style, from where the wedding ring fits inside of the engagement ring to a wedding ring containing the exact detailing and design of its matching engagement ring. The interlocked shank style particularly complements bespoke and custom engagement rings.
