Ultimate Guide to Floating Diamond Rings (And Where to Buy)

Floating ring designs like the tension setting above create extraordinary appearances.

You are finally ready to make a diamond ring purchase and you couldn’t be happier. But there are so many styles to choose from, where do you start? You’ve heard people mention floating diamond rings before, but what are they? And how do you know if one is right for you?

In this write-up, we will give you all the information you need about floating diamond rings, where to find them, and how to make a decision about buying one for yourself. Read on to gain useful insights!

First of All, What is a Floating Diamond Engagement Ring?

Traditionally, most diamond engagement ring settings utilize prongs or claws to hold the diamond in its position. However, this results in more visible metal surfaces and places less focus on the diamond.

The term “floating” is used to describe ring settings where the center stone is suspended and appears to be floating instead of being held in place by prongs or channels. This also allows more light to enter uninterrupted into the diamond for better light return.

Most floating diamond engagement rings create an unhindered appearance by using open and elevated settings. Simpler designs often utilize open bezel or tension settings to achieve this while more complex designs may feature bars or hidden claws.

The Different Types of Floating Diamond Engagement Rings

Floating rings can come in a variety of designs and metal options. They can also incorporate creative design elements that result in unique-looking rings for people who want something different.

Below, I’ve listed several categories of floating ring styles available in the market and included some real-life examples of how they look like. If you are interested to find out more, feel free to click on the corresponding images or links to get full details…

A beautiful 18k white gold V-ring that suspends the center diamond in mid air.

Tension Settings: These are modern and ultra-sleek looking rings that make use of high pressure to hold the diamond. In the example above, the gemstone is literally held between the 2 halves of the ring’s band under tensile forces.

You can visit Brian Gavin Diamonds to browse through their intriguing collection of tension ring designs.

Contemporary and delicate, the mounted diamonds in this ring are separated by a thin bar of metal.

Bar Settings: Bar set rings utilize a bar shaped piece of metal to hold diamonds tightly in place. They create beautiful symmetry and are usually found in eternity rings or classic 3-stone ring designs.

A special half-bezel design, this ring combines modern and classic elements to “Wow” spectators.

Open Bezels: Carefully designed bezel settings can be created with an airy and open base to create the illusion of a suspended diamond in mid air. I would also note that most of these open bezel designs would tend to have thicker bands because of the mechanical strength needed to secure the center stone.

Exquisite ring from Blue Nile that features diamonds hand-set in a unique and low-profile setting.

Floating Arches: Typically found in eternity rings, floating arches make use of an elevated setting design that floats the diamond on arches or a bridge-like basket. This raises the height of the ring and emphasizes the focus on the diamonds.

A striking platinum ring that features a bypass shank wrapping around the centre diamond.

Bypass Rings: Popularized during the Victorian era, bypass rings are characterized by bands that overlap or part instead of forming a continuous line. Depending on the creativity of the designer, bypass rings can showcase individuality and result in an almost other-earthly visual effect.

Side profile of the floating halo ring I purchased from Blue Nile.

Floating Halo Rings: Halo rings are designs that encircle the center stone with smaller accent stones (melees). This enhances the visual size of the diamond and adds a field of sparkle. In a floating halo diamond engagement ring, the center diamond is “lifted” up above the halo to put the focal point on the center stone.

Tips to Buying a Floating Diamond Ring

Due to the open nature of a floating ring design, the diamond will be more exposed and this increases the risk of accidental damage. Also, since the center stone would take the limelight of the engagement ring, diamond color and cut quality would become even more important.

In general, I would recommend a diamond clarity of at least VS2 as I do not want inclusions to pose any durability issues in an open setting. Obviously, you also want to ensure that the diamond is eyeclean.

In terms of color, if you want a diamond that faces up white, I would recommend a color rating of G or better. And finally, with cut quality, you want it to be as good as possible as it affects sparkle and brilliance. If you haven’t yet, make sure you read this step by step guide to choosing a diamond here.

The other important aspect of buying a high quality floating diamond ring is craftsmanship. Floating rings utilize minimal metal contact to secure the center stone especially when it comes to tension set rings.

Rings with poor craftsmanship may result in diamonds falling out of their settings with wear and tear. I’m sure no one wants this to happen to their jewelry.

Where to Buy a High Quality Floating Diamond Ring

Depending on the specific style of floating diamond engagement ring you are looking for, different vendors would excel at different types of settings. Here’s a list of my favorite vendors to buy a bright, sparkly floating diamond ring where you can shop with complete peace of mind.

Brian Gavin – A vendor that specializes in super ideal cut diamonds with top-notch light performance. Brian Gavin offers some of the best tension setting rings in the market with bold looking appearances. If you are looking for the best of the best, make sure you check them out.

James Allen – One of my favorite vendors that I’ve personally made multiple purchases from. James Allen’s video listings make the shopping experience fun and allow you to see exactly what you are buying. Whether you have an extravagant or a more modest budget, you will be able to find something that fits your style.

Blue Nile – The biggest online retailer of diamonds and engagement rings. Blue Nile has a massive inventory of more than 100,000 GIA certified diamonds and an impressive selection of ring designs to choose from. If you are looking for a floating diamond eternity ring, they offer a number of superb looking designs.

With that, I hope you found this write up useful! Thanks for reading and have a great time deciding on your floating diamond ring. If you need help with a diamond selection or have any questions, simply get in touch via email or drop a comment below!

Related Articles