A style of setting in which many small gemstones (usually calibré or faceted diamonds, sometimes turquoise and half-drilled pearls) are set very close together in a mass so as to cover the entire pieceand to conceal the metal. The stones (often backed with foil) are secured in holes drilled through the metal base and held in place by burrs pressed down over the edges of the stones. It is a styleused for brooches, pendants, etc. that seek to emphasize the massed effect rather than any individual stone. On some dome-shaped jewels, the stones must be of graduated sizes, diminishing inconcentric circles from the central stone, to permit accurate close spacing.
Pave Setting

Pave Setting
A style of setting in which many small gemstones (usually calibré or faceted diamonds, sometimes turquoise and half-drilled pearls) are set very close together in a mass so as to cover the entire pieceand to conceal the metal. The stones (often backed with foil) are secured in holes drilled through the metal base and held in place by burrs pressed down over the edges of the stones. It is a styleused for brooches, pendants, etc. that seek to emphasize the massed effect rather than any individual stone. On some dome-shaped jewels, the stones must be of graduated sizes, diminishing inconcentric circles from the central stone, to permit accurate close spacing.
References
From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson



