Shank Designs

There are many popular shank designs, from simple and traditional to creative and unusual. Ring shank designs will vary based on shape, width, and depth and include straight shank, tapered shank, knife-edge shank, bypass shank, split shank, pinched shank, cathedral, and Euro shank. 

A cathedral – or open cathedral – style is where there is negative space in the shoulders of the ring, leading up to the center setting. 

Euro shank designs are part of the bottom of the ring, opposite the center setting. Here the shank is slightly flattened.