The center diamond is the centerpiece of any engagement ring, and consequentially the most expensive! Which is why when we’re designing a ring for a client, one of the most frequently asked questions we get is “What type of Setting is right for me?” Understandably a lot of folks are concerned with how secure their stone will be, but at the same time wanting show as much of the stone as possible.
There are different balances that can be struck between visibility and security, here are the pros and cons of the most popular types of diamond settings (pictured clockwise from the top left!)
- Four prong settings are probably the most common type of setting we encounter. They present the stone in the best light possible (no pun intended!), but may require a little more maintenance and check up than the other settings. Over time the prongs will wear down to “foil” on the tops, and will need to be rebuilt by a professional jeweler.
- Six prong settings are also very popular, like the four prong they allow lots of light to enter from the sides of the stone. These are sometimes referred to as “Tiffany Mountings” as the iconic Tiffany and Co. Solitaire bears a six prong setting. Six prongs will provide a little more security than four, but still need to checked regularly by your jeweler.
- A half bezel setting uses a wall of metal around either side of the diamond, with a notched lip on the inside to grip the stone. Half bezels are very durable while still allowing light to enter the sides of the stone. Although lower-maintenance than prong settings, the bezel walls will still wear, eventually needing to be rebuilt
- A full bezel mounting is perhaps the most durable setting for a diamond, but with the tradeoff being that light can only enter from the top of the stone. Some customers who wear their rings gardening or doing physical activities prefer this setting as it not has the most secure hold on the stone, but also provides a bumper that helps prevent the stone from being cracked or chipped. Yes even diamonds will break if you hit them hard enough! As you probably already guessed, even these settings are susceptible to wear, and still need to be checked up on by a local jeweler!
There is no right answer to what type of setting you should use for your diamond, it’s all about what your aesthetic sense and comfort levels are. Whichever you decide to go with, the most important thing is that you have them checked every couple months by a jeweler, we even offer free cleanings with our check ups!
for more info and diamond questions answered, check out our custom diamond designs page!
http://oceanside-jewelers.com/custom-design-diamonds