The Encyclopedia · Settings & techniques
Pavé
Small stones set close together so that the metal almost disappears, like a paved street.
Pavé, French for paved, describes a surface covered in small stones set close together, each held by tiny beads of metal raised from the surface around it. The effect is a continuous field of light in which the metal almost disappears.
Pavé is used everywhere in fine jewelry, from Belle Époque platinum to the gold animals of the 1960s and the hearts and bands of later decades.
What to look for
The stones should be level, evenly spaced and matched in color. Missing or loose stones are common in worn pavé; check under a loupe that each stone is held securely.
In the collection
Pavé, available now
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