Anatomy of a Ring
You may have seen rings in all shapes and sizes, bespoke designs, various metals, gold tones and of course, with a wide range of price tags. They have fascinated us for ages and will always be an integral part of our precious moments (for example, engagement and wedding rings). In fact, we now have rings for all sorts of purposes, promise rings, daughter’s pride rings, rings for moms and dads, engraved or personalized rings, etc. They are an important category of jewelry for men and women alike.
It is rather amusing but have you ever had a block of words when you wanted to talk about how beautiful a ring was but could not really refer to its structure? Or if you went to a jewelry store and the jeweler used a term while talking about the ring and you could not decipher what it meant?
We intend to share with you information that will help you identify the anatomy of a ring and make you aware of the terminology the goldsmiths use while referring to various parts of the rings. This will also help you understand the product specifications found on various online jewelry stores.
Let’s begin with three main parts of a ring.
- Head
- Shoulders
- Shank
The figure below explains various parts of the ring
The head of a ring will have an appealing design that may or may not use precious and semi-precious stones. In a ring with stones, the head holds the center stone. A center stone is the central part of a ring and, this is what most people look at in a ring often. A center stone is the eye-captivating part of your ring and can either be a precious stone such as a diamond or, it can be an ordinary stone. At NL Gold Factory, you can choose from a variety of shapes of centre stones and diamonds including, round brilliant cut, cushion cut, pear shaped, marquise, and oval etc.
The head also contains prongs and prong head that hold the stone securely in place. Depending on your preference and the stone size, there can be a variety of number and style of prongs.
The higher the number of prongs, the higher will be the security of your stone. Stronger prongs should be used in diamond or other precious stone rings. You must check the prongs of your ring from time-to-time and if you notice any wear or tear, get it fixed by the jeweler. We provide our customers with an array of services--stone-tightening, prong setting, prong repairs and replacement.
The Shoulder is the section of the ring's band which joins it to its setting. The shoulder is the place for side stones and accent stones to sit, for example, in the case of a three stone ring.
The shank or band plays a huge role in a ring's anatomy. It is the band that goes covers the circumference of your finger. There may be rings that are adorned with accent stones all around the shank, or it may be partly paved. The shank may be a split-shank, split into two or three or a twisted shank, or a bypass shank.
The shank contains the base/sizing/alteration area. Any alteration to adjust the size of the ring is done in this part. When you are looking to find your size of the ring, often the jeweler will match the inside diameter/ circumference of the ring to the circumference of your finger.
Shanks may be thick or thin in size depending upon the total weight and size of the ring. Shank of thicker and sturdy material last longer than shanks of a thinner and fragile material. The shank also contains the engraving /hallmarking are on the inside.
And not to forget mentioning, the antique and vintage style rings are adorned with milgrain or filigree on the shanks. Milgrain are the small beads of metal used to adorn the edges of the shank. Filigree are carved stylistic designs on the shanks, bridge, girdle etc.
A ring would also have a bridge; it may have a gallery depending upon its design. The bridge is the part of the ring that joins the two shoulders of the ring at the bottom of the head. A bridge touches the skin of the wearer under the head. The gallery is the part between the stone and the shank.
Various combinations of the above give different styles of ring profiles. Having known parts of the ring would also be beneficial to you in your discussions with a jeweler or jewelry designer in case you decide to get a custom ring made for yourself or a loved one.
