Carousel: vintage pear halo

What this ring is made of

Pear

A teardrop with one point. Worn with the point toward the fingertip it lengthens the hand. The point is the most fragile part of the stone, so pears are usually protected there with a prong or a V-shaped tip.

Prongs

Small metal claws hold the stone from above. They let in the most light and show the most of the stone, and they should be checked by a jeweler every year or so.

Halo

A ring of small diamonds right around the center stone. It makes the center read larger and adds sparkle, but it also adds width and makes the head of the ring busier.

Cathedral shoulders

Arches rise from the band to cradle the stone, lifting it and framing it from the side. They add height, so check how the ring sits against a glove or a coat sleeve.

Milgrain

A row of tiny beads along the edges. It is the detail that makes a ring look antique, and it softens the line where metal meets stone.

14k yellow gold

14k yellow gold is 58% pure gold. It is harder than 18k, so it resists scratches and bending better, and the color is slightly paler.