head | ˈhed
noun
The portion of a jewelry item that holds the stone
The head is a piece of a jewelry item that is designed to hold the stone in place. It is typically a 3-6 pronged setting for a gemstone and will be cast separately from the rest of the jewelry piece. Only after the center stone is selected will the appropriate head be identified and soldered onto the rest of the body of the jewelry piece. This allows greater customization of a piece by the buyer, who can choose a specific stone for their preferred design. Heads can be replaced on a piece of jewelry due to damage or a change of stone or general design preference as well.
