Floating Diamonds: How to Get the Look Without Losing Your Stone

Floating settings may be trending, but not all are built to last. Here’s how to get the look, with security built in.

Why Everyone Wants the Floating Look

The floating diamond style has become dominant in 2025’s jewelry landscape. Clean, minimal, and ultra-modern, these settings make the stone appear as if it’s suspended midair—no metal visible from the top view, and often barely any from the side.Celebrities and social media have driven the demand—Zendaya’s tension-set oval sparked waves of East-West and open-profile solitaires. On TikTok, bridal accounts obsess over the “barely-there” look that puts the entire spotlight on the center stone. Retailers have responded with everything from cathedral-style rings that raise the stone high to low-set prong builds with hidden bases.But what most buyers don’t see is the structure underneath—or lack of it.

What Makes a Diamond Actually 'Float'

There are a few different design approaches to create the illusion of a floating diamond:- Modified cathedral settings with minimal metal contact beneath the stone- Tension-style settings, where pressure holds the stone between two walls of metal- Hidden basket or peg settings, where the head is recessed to vanish from a top-down viewIn all of these, the goal is visual lightness. However, these settings leave the stone vulnerable to impact, loosening, or even falling out completely if done incorrectly.

The Problem With Some Floating Settings

The floating look tempts many designers—and mass manufacturers—to take shortcuts. Thin, unreinforced bands without proper galleries or crossbars can warp. Over-thinned prongs meant to “hide” from view may flex or snap. Stones set too high for visual effect become top-heavy, increasing the chances of catching or spinning.Inexpensive floating settings often rely on weak friction-fit components or underbuilt shoulders. They look sleek in a box… but bend, loosen, or even drop stones with daily wear.

Where It’s Trending Now — and How the Best Do It

Designers pushing the floating diamond trend forward are doing it smart.At the high end, brands like Jessica McCormack, Jemma Wynne, and even heritage houses like Cartier are incorporating structural support invisibly. They’re using:- Reinforced under galleries hidden behind the finger- Knife-edge shanks with built-in tension relief- Raised shoulder tension, not peg-only floating heads- Flared bridge support beneath floating stonesThe result? Diamonds that appear to float but are secretly anchored with precise tolerances.Even on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, savvy custom jewelers are showing off X-ray views of the mechanics beneath the floating illusion, making it clear that what you don’t see matters most.

How to Spot a Safe Floating Design

Look for:- Symmetry and balance between the stone and the band- Secure side support from either the shoulders or a recessed gallery- Even tension without visible gaps around the girdle-A flush fit against the finger that keeps the ring stableAsk the jeweler whether the setting has been reinforced from underneath or has a lifetime maintenance plan. In actual floating settings, minor adjustments over time are critical.

Final Thought

Floating diamonds may be a trend, but structural integrity should never go out of style. The best floating settings blend visual magic with engineering mastery. If you’re chasing the illusion, make sure it lasts.

About the Author

Hemali Dalal is a jewelry critic and former high jewelry designer with over 15 years of industry experience. Her designs have earned top placement awards from the World Gold Council and De Beers. Today, she draws from that background to evaluate luxury jewelry through structure, symbolism, and long-term wearability.