The term pave (pronounced “pah–vay”) setting is used to describe gems that are set very close together and are only separated by tiny prongs or metal beads. Because of the look that this style creates, it is named after the word “pavement”.
The setting is constructed by leaving small holes in the metal that the gems are going to be set into. Once the gems have been selected, they are placed into the holes and a small amount of the surrounding metal is forced over the girdle of each stone.
It is hard to explain how this is done without the aid of a video, but the best way to visualise this technique is to imagine that the jeweller uses a tool that pushes the metal over the girdle of the gem similar to how butter curls as a spoon or knife is pushed along its surface.
If the colour of the metal being used is similar to that of the gem, then the setting is referred to as an “Illusion Setting”.
