Jewelry style and metal guide
Explore Jewelry Styles, Metals, and Settings
Choosing a piece of jewelry—whether ready-to-wear or custom—can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through styles, metals, finishes, widths, and gemstone settings so you can make informed decisions. If you have questions, please schedule a consultation to get personalized guidance.
Styles
Think about the look you want. Do you prefer simple elegance or detailed landscapes? Will the piece include stones? Do you want it to reflect a meaningful place?
Ring Shapes
Rounded
Comfort fit on the inside and outside; ideal for everyday wear.
Rectangular
A rim frames the landscape for a bold look.
Setting
I typically use bezel settings, which secure cabochon or faceted stones while maintaining a clean, modern design.
Contour
These bands curve to complement another ring, often an engagement ring with a solitaire. They fit together seamlessly.
Open
Open bands can feature multiple mountain shapes, joined by bezel-set stones. Mountains can come from a single location or several meaningful places.
Organic
Rings inspired by rivers, plants, and landscapes. You can select a piece of nature that has personal significance.
Metals
Your choice of metal affects durability, color, and wearability:
Sterling
Affordable but soft; shows wear over time.
14k Yellow Gold
Durable, classic, and warm.
14k White Gold – Nickel Alloy
Strong but can trigger allergies; check before choosing.
14k White Gold- Palladium alloy
Allergy-friendly, slightly more expensive, and durable.
Platinum
Dense, extremely durable, and lasting; higher cost.
Dual Metal
Combines two metals for color contrast, durability, or cost efficiency.
Finishes
Keeping in mind that all finishes will change over time, do you like a bold shiny ring or something more understated?
Shiny
Mirror-like and highly reflective.
Satin
Brushed and understated, letting stones stand out.
Two Tone
Highlights landscape details like mountains against the sky.
Oxidized
Darkened recessed areas; available in Sterling Silver and White Gold.
Widths
This image shows a 4 mm and a 6 mm wide band. Widths are completely customizable, however I prefer not to go narrower than 4 mm for mountain bands, as the mountains start to lose definition.
This setting shows a 2.25 mm wide band for the setting.
Gemstones
Bezel Set
Surrounds the stone with metal; secure and modern.
Flush Set
Embedded in the metal; elegant for smaller stones.
Channel Set
Stones placed in a channel; clean and continuous.
Bead Set
Stones held by raised beads with sunray-like patterns.
This jewelry style and metal guide helps you navigate the many options for both ready-to-wear and custom pieces. By understanding styles, metals, finishes, widths, and gemstone settings, you can choose a piece that reflects your personal story and lifestyle. If you want hands-on guidance, schedule a consultation to explore all options with me.