Nicholas Theochari, the owner and managing director of MDTdesigns has been making wedding rings and jewellery that brides and grooms love since 1988. Quality is the key to MDTdesigns' success, as the jewellers work meticulously on every piece for their clients to their specifications. Nicholas Theochari has always maintained the value and significance of hand made rings. "When it's made by hand, it's a much better piece, as the metal is more compact after a jewellers work-hardens it. It has a lot more meaning attached to it because it doesn't come off a manufacturing line". Another pillar of their successful business has been to ensure that MDTdesigns can offer the most modern and current bespoke designs to their customers.

In 1992, Nicholas renamed what was known as Melbourne Diamond Traders to MDTdesign to reflected the new, modern boutique that Nicholas created. Shortly after they began to create sleek, beautiful and contemporary tension rings.

MDTdesigns have been making tension set rings since 1995 and are experts in this method. Brides and grooms love tension set rings due to their modern look and the ability to show off the diamond with a floating effect. We chat to MDTdesigns about this popular design.

What is a Tension Set Ring?

A tension set ring is one that has been fully work hardened to a point where the metal is made stronger by the way the metal is crafted. The more metal is worked, the harder it will get. It is worked until the tension in the metal is high enough to hold the diamond in place, hence the name tension or pressure set. This kind of strength created in the metal allows a diamond to be held securely in place without the need for metal under the diamond connecting the band.

How does the diamond stay in place?

We set the diamond in the band with a small grooves etched into the side of the metal where the stone can sit securely. This is what gives the diamond the floating in midair effect. Having the diamond look like it's floating in midair gives the ring a contemporary modern edge look that MDTdesign prides itself on.

How Secure Is A Tension Set Ring?

These rings are extremely safe to wear! Tension set diamond rings are as secure as any other ring, provided that the ring is handmade correctly. This is one of the reasons that all of our tension rings are handmade from start to finish. As with all rings, we recommend removing your tension set ring when you are doing something that may damage it. Any metal on metal contact will damage and bruise the metal of any ring. It is highly unlikely your tension set diamond will move or fall out under normal wearing conditions.

Keep in mind and make sure you take advantage of the Lifetime free refinishing service we provide. Refinishing of a ring needs to be done anywhere from six months to one year and it is important we check the ring every so often to ensure there is no bad wear and all the settings are safe as well as bring it back to near the condition of when you first purchased it.

What sets MDTdesigns tension set rings apart?

The beauty of this style is that the more the metal is worked, hit with hammers, filed and stretched, the harder and stronger the metal will become. The diamond is being held in by significant tension and pressure created throughout the crafting process. Rings designed on computer in a computer aided design (CAD) program, are mass produced and not hand worked in any way and cannot be tension set as the metal is nowhere near hard enough to hold a diamond in securely.

We put the highest level of care and craftsmanship in our process and it is this attention to detail and our experience that sets us apart.

Are there any benefits to having a tension set ring?

The diamond is exposed from all angles as there are no bezels or other setting techniques covering up the beauty of the entire stone. This can also allow more light to reflect through the diamond and can make for a brighter lustre. As a tension set ring sits lower to the finger, there is a significantly lower chance of the ring being intrusive in everyday wear. This can also help avoid harder knocks that the average style of ring would receive. The contemporary and style of a tension set ring is one that cannot be matched.

To create your very own tension set ring with the very best at MDTdesigns, get in touch with them online to make an appointment and get inspired by their latest designs by following them on instagram @mdtdesign and facebook.

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