Channel Setting
Also called channel set, flush channel
A channel setting is a stone setting that holds a row of stones in a groove between two raised metal walls, with nothing separating one stone from the next. It gives a smooth unbroken line of sparkle and keeps the stone edges tucked below the metal, which suits bracelets and wedding bands.
In other words, the stones sit in a track cut into the metal, held by the walls on either side rather than by prongs.
How it differs from pave
Pave hides metal by covering it with stones and tiny beads. A channel keeps two clean metal walls and hides only the gaps between the stones. The look is straighter and more architectural, and the surface stays flat enough not to catch on clothing.
It works best with stones cut to a matched size, usually rounds, princess cuts, or baguettes. That is why channel setting shows up so often on eternity bands and tennis bracelets.
What it asks of a render
The two walls trap light. Stones inside a channel receive far less light from the sides than a prong-set stone does, so a render that lights the piece from the front alone leaves the row looking dark and dead.
On a bracelet the problem repeats along the whole length, and the piece curves as it lies. The stones nearest the camera catch the light and the ones running away from it fall off fast. Getting an even read along a curved run of channel is a lighting job, not a modelling one.
Bracelets and bangles
Channel work is most common on the pieces that wrap the wrist, which is why our bracelet and bangle renders pay attention to it. The three videos per file matter here, because a bracelet only reads as jewelry once you see it move.
Send the CAD file as 3DM, STL, OBJ, or STEP. Standard turnaround is 24 to 48 hours, and we sign an NDA before the file is opened.
Questions about Channel Setting
Is channel setting secure?
Yes. The metal walls sit above the stone edges, so the stones are protected from knocks on both sides.
Can you render a full tennis bracelet?
Yes, at the flat $15 per file. A long run of channel-set stones is a lighting job rather than an extra charge.