Gems, Prongs & Pavé

16. Create rail center curves for gem placement

Offset Curve on Surface from the bottom edge of each rail at 0.95 mm — consistent across every rail — and run Curve Seam on each, moving the seam to the top end. These centerlines will carry the gems.

17. Place gems on the curves and set prong parameters

Gems on Curve: the centerline in the selector, the rail surface for orientation, gems at 1.65 mm. In the Prongs tab: diameter 0.65 mm, distance between prongs 1 mm, height over girdle 0.10, under girdle 0.3, manufacturing extension 0.3. Activate Prongs and Cutters and accept — gems, prongs and cutters in one pass.

18. Populate the remaining rails with gems and prongs

Repeat rail by rail with the same measurements, adjusting start and end so no gem protrudes. Where the fit is tight, switch the prong end style to Single so it adapts to the rail — and if a cutter gets missed, edit the gem group and add it after.

19. Fill empty spaces with pave settings

The gaps between orbits get Pave: add the ring, mix sizes as needed (1.40, 1.20, 1.20, 1.35 mm in the example), and add prongs to the last gems at diameter 0.55 mm, over girdle 0.10, under girdle 0.3, extension 0.3 — plus a 1.35 mm gem on the opposite side if the balance asks for it.

20. Add missing cutters and finalize gem groups

Sweep for gems without cutters: Ungroup where needed, add them to the Cutter command’s selector, and accept. You can also edit gem groups by curve and add cutters from the command panel — no stone ships without its seat.