Knowing gem setting styles is half the skill; the other half is drawing them so a client can read the design and a goldsmith can build it. Once you have explored the many styles of gem setting, the next step is learning to include those different styles in your own jewellery designs on paper.
Settings read differently on paper
A bezel reads as a clean metal outline hugging the stone; a prong setting reads as claws reaching over the crown; a pavé field reads as a rhythmic pattern of small bright circles. Each style has a conventional drawing language, and using it correctly is what makes a design unambiguous. Our overview of gemstone settings through the ages covers the styles themselves, from traditional bezels to modern prongs.
What the drawing must communicate
A well-drawn setting shows three things: the stone’s cut and size, the metal geometry that holds it, and the view direction. The same setting looks different from the top and the side, which is why technical drawings use projections — the core discipline of JD200 Technical Drawing & Counter Sketching, where templates and technical pencils turn settings into precise, repeatable shapes.
From settings to finished designs
Drawing settings fluently is what lets a designer combine stones and metal into balanced, buildable pieces — the synthesis stage of the classical design ladder inside the Fine Jewellery Design diploma, which starts at JD100 Creative Drawing. For the cut styles themselves, see cabochons versus faceted gems.
Frequently asked questions
How do different settings read in a jewellery drawing?
A bezel reads as a clean metal outline hugging the stone; a prong setting reads as claws reaching over the crown; a pave field reads as a rhythmic pattern of small bright circles. Each style has a conventional drawing language that makes the design unambiguous.
What must a setting drawing communicate?
Three things: the stone's cut and size, the metal geometry that holds it, and the view direction - the same setting looks different from the top and the side, which is why technical drawings use projections.
Explore further: play Name That Gem, a free gem-identification game, or trace gems to their sources on the Gem Globe.
Going deeper: these are bench skills you can learn properly - the gemmology foundation course and the gem identification methods certificate teach identification with real stones and instruments.
Visual reference
