Rings are the most popular type of jewelry, probably because you can enjoy them yourself: you will see a beautiful ring on your hand all day long, not just in the mirror.

No longer a simple band of gold, rings today most often have a central focus, most often a gemstone. Whether you're choosing a solitaire or a ring with several stones, the way the gems are held in the setting is an integral part of its style. Here is a round up of popular ring setting styles and tips on judging quality.

The purpose of any setting is to hold gems securely, but at the same time allow light to enter for maximum brilliance. This is obviously a delicate balancing act. The more metal used to hold the gems, the more secure they are; the less metal used, the greater the chance for the gem to sparkle. Prongs are the classic solution: the gem is held by a thin metal crown of claws that extend up from the ring over the gem, bending to hold it in place.

The ideal prong tapers to a rounded point. It should be smoothly finished so there is little chance of the prong snagging your clothes. The prongs should be placed at the key points of the stone, typically at four corners or at four, five, or six points evenly spaced around the stone, to offer security without interfering with the stone's brilliance.

Flanking the center gem you may find either side stones or design elements on the shank. Triangle-shaped side stones are a popular choice because they suit the tapering width of the shank or the shape of the side stones can echo the shape of the center stone. The side stones provide a frame for the center stone and complete the design.

If a design is symmetrical, the side stones should be too; they should be matched in color, size, setting height and all other respects. They should also complement the center stone.

In setting side stones, the designer has a wide vocabulary of methods from which to choose, including prongs, channel setting, bezels and half-bezels, and flush setting.

This technique involves setting gems between parallel bars of metal. These bars form a channel or canal for the stones with the center of each bar carefully hammered over the gems to hold or suspend them in the channel. The bars are like two small tracks of gold, very much like train tracks, with the center of each bar carved out on the inside. The ideal channel setting offers a neat and tight placement of stones, each one nestled right up against the other, with the tables of the stones forming an even surface. This allows for the maximum reflection of light. If the tables of the stones are at different angles, the effect of the light display is broken up. The skill of the stone setter determines the overall look of the ring. The stones should also be well matched.

Channel setting protects the gems extremely well. None of the edges are exposed and so they are not subject to hard knocks and general wear and tear.