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Tiffany & Co. photo

A pear-shaped diamond engagement ring from the Bezet collection

Engagement Rings

New setting from Tiffany & Co. is like a big warm hug for diamonds

One of the benefits of being in love is that one frequently finds oneself wrapped in the warmth and security of another’s arms.

The precious nature of a loving embrace is reflected in a new diamond setting by Tiffany & Co.

The Tiffany Bezet collection features a range of exquisitely-faceted diamonds, all of which are encircled in platinum, much the same as a sweetheart’s hug.

This streamlined design, which follows the contours of each stone, is known as a bezel or collet setting. Tiffany’s Bezet designs are available in radiant round, princess-cut, heart- or pear-shaped diamonds. Bezel-set stones can also be found in a matching wedding band.

Bezel settings have a precise, modern look that is right for the times, however the style actually dates to ancient Greece and Rome.

According to Jewelrymaking Through History by Rayner W. Hesse, it was during the Hellenistic era – the 4th to 1st centuries B.C.E. – that the Romans and Greeks began to incorporate gemstones into their jewelry. The collet, an elevated collar of metal, was wrapped around the gemstones to hold them in place.

A bezel can surround a gem's entire circumference or only a portion of it. Either way, the gemstone is securely in place. And the low, protective profile a bezel creates makes it a good choice for people with active lifestyles. A bezel setting can also be used to cover chips in a gem.

Of course, you won’t find any such things in a Tiffany stone. Along with the famous blue box, a Tiffany purchase comes with an assurance of superior quality.