What Is a Gallery Rail? And a Butterfly Alternative
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio, Toronto · Updated October 4, 2026
Short answer: A gallery rail is a band of metal that runs around the setting under the diamond and connects the prongs. It holds them in place and adds strength. It does not have to be a plain rail: on this radiant we replaced it with a butterfly pattern that holds all the prongs together, visible only when you flip the ring.
Make sure you know about this one detail when you design a ring. It is where a lot of personality can hide.
Read the video transcript
Make sure you know this one custom detail when designing and building a ring. Here's our custom butterfly basket added onto this radiant diamond. But instead of a traditional gallery rail, we actually created this butterfly pattern holding all of the prongs together. From the top view, super timeless, super clean and radiant diamond with pavé band. Only when you flip it over do you see this unique butterfly basket holding the centre stone up.
What does a gallery rail do?
Prongs on their own are long thin wires. A gallery rail ties them together partway down, so they cannot bend out and the head stays rigid. Most rings have one, even if you have never noticed it.
Straight, curved or none?
- Straight rail: classic and simple.
- Curved rail: follows the stone and reads softer from the side. We use it often with a radiant tulip.
- No rail: a tulip basket or a hidden halo can do the same job.
The butterfly basket
On this radiant with a pavé band, we built a butterfly pattern in place of the rail. It holds all the prongs together. From the top it is a clean, timeless radiant. Flip it and the butterfly is holding the stone up.
Other things a gallery can become
Flowers, initials, a heart, a birthstone. See initials in the basket and butterfly rings.
Want something hidden under your stone?
A free 30 minute video call with Clint or Karina. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.
Book a free callGet a 60 second estimateQuestions we get about this
Do all engagement rings have a gallery rail?
Most prong settings have one or something that does the same job, like a basket or hidden halo.
Does a custom gallery make the ring weaker?
No. It is designed to hold the prongs the same way a rail does.
Can you see the gallery when wearing the ring?
From the side, yes. From the top, no.
How much does a ring with a custom gallery cost?
A fully custom ring from us starts at about $4,000 USD, and most of the rings we build land between $4,000 and $5,000. Our Ready To Order settings start at $1,299 CAD, plus the diamond. The centre stone moves the price most: in September 2026 a 2 carat lab grown diamond ran about $2,500 CAD and a 3 carat about $2,700 CAD. Real numbers are in our cost guide.
What is the gallery of a ring?
The part of the head under the stone, including the rail and any openwork. It is visible from the side.
Keep reading
Share
