Four Claw ¹²

The four-claw setting is the most exposed way to hold a diamond, which is exactly why it is the hardest to do well. Nothing is hidden. The claws must sit precisely where the stone's geometry asks for them, and the gallery beneath has to be finished as carefully as the face.

Within this family, compass settings place the claws at the four points rather than the corners, so the outline of the stone stays uninterrupted from above. Cathedral shoulders rise to meet the diamond and give the ring height from the side. Both leave the stone as the subject.

The engagement rings shown here are a small curation of MARLII LAB pieces — a glimpse of antique-cut diamonds, old-world settings and contemporary designs made to feel personal from the beginning. Beyond this edit, a wider selection of rings, stones and bespoke possibilities is available privately, upon request or at our appointment-led viewings.