Different Type of Prongs for Engagement Rings

What are Prongs?

Prongs are metallic claws mounted to secure a stone in place, commonly known as prong setting. The most popular engagement ring prong settings are 4 or 6 prongs, but there are also 8 and 10 prong settings in the market. Prong settings can either be round, oval, flat, V-shaped, or other designs. Prong setting has a minimal metal presence to make a big part of the stone visible, elevating its appearance and giving it a more prominent look.

What Are the Different Types of Prongs for Engagement Rings?

Why is prong setting important? And how can this help you make an informed decision when purchasing your engagement ring? What are the pros and cons of different ring prongs? All these are crucial questions to ask when you want o understand more about your engagement ring prongs.

Different types of prong settings determine the overall look of the jewelry. In most cases, the number of prongs or shape determines the type of prong setting.

Four Prong Setting

The four-prong setting consists of four projections that hold the stone in place, forming a square appearance. Four prong rings reflect more light on the stone giving it more sparkle.

 The advantage of a four-prong setting is that the metal covers less surface on the stone, providing maximum visibility on the diamond. However, the diamond is likely to get lost if one of the prongs break because it has less protection on the girdle.

Six Prongs Setting

Just like four-prong, the six-prong ring has six projections holding the stone firmly in place. Larger stones use a six-prong setting. The advantages of a six-prong setting include; one the security of the stone. If one of the prongs breaks, the other prongs firmly hold the stone in the center. Two, it provides better protection to the girdle compared to four prongs. Three, the six prongs can hold bigger stones better compared to the four-prong ring setting.

The evenly placed six prongs create an illusion of a bigger stone. Using smaller and thinner prongs minimizes the area that the metal covers the stone. One of the cons of using a six-prong setting is the metal can overshadow small carat stones.

8 and 10 Prong Setting

Eight and ten prong settings aren’t common. Although they provide more protection, the major con is the metal covers much of the stone. This prong setting provides a vintage style. The advantage of this prong setting is that it gives more security to the diamond by holding it firmly at the center. However, more metal covers the stone, minimizing visibility by far.

Claw Prong Setting

The claw prong setting is one of the most popular ring prongs used on engagement rings. It involves the prongs holding the stone in place by bending them around the stone edges. Their sharp “claw” shaped prongs tend to show minimal metal covering the stone. Other claw setting designs include double claws and pointed claw prongs.

Double claw prongs setting, as the name suggests, consists of dual tips that secure the stone in place. The pointed claw prong setting flawlessly blends with the stone. It also helps emphasize and outline a diamond’s aesthetics. If you prefer minimal metal to show on your center diamond, the claw prong setting might be the way to go!

Shared Prong Setting

Shared prongs, commonly used for larger stones, hold together multiple stones on the ring with each stone sharing a set of prongs next to it. It shouldn’t be confused with the pave© and channel setting. The shared prong gives the appearance of an array of stones spread across the finger with minimal metal covering them.

The shared prong setting is cost-efficient as it saves on materials, and it doesn’t overwhelm the stones with the unnecessary installation of metal. The downside is that the prongs are required to hold the stones close to the center to provide more security.

Credits to GIA.edu

V Prong Setting

Just like the name implies, V-prongs are V-shaped, firmly gripping the stone at the edges. The prongs usually conform to the shape of the stone. V prong setting is commonly used in marquise, princess, pear-shaped, or heart-shaped stones and is suitable for angular and sharp edge cut stones.

One of the major cons of the V Prong setting is that it requires extra care. For example, if the prongs get snugged, the stone could fall off easily compared to other prong settings. The significant advantage of V Prongs is they do not cover the top area of the diamond as much as other prong settings. They also offer protection to the edge of the stone, making them less susceptible to scratching and breakage.

Custom Prongs

Prong tips can feature different designs. Some conventional designs include fishtails, name initials, and hearts. The advantage of custom prongs is that you can choose your design. The con is that achieving a proportion and the right standard can be extremely difficult.

 

Tips to Consider When Choosing Engagement Ring Prongs

Consider choosing thick prongs and a bit heavier. Thick prongs will provide better grip and security for your stone. They are also less prone to wear and breakage.

Consider choosing a prong size proportionate to the size of your carat to achieve the right balance. Thick size prongs set on a small stone tend to overshadow the stone affecting the whole jewelry aesthetic. Identify your desired size, shape, and type of stone. These factors will influence the ideal prong setting for your engagement.

Finally, consider the color, cut, clarity, and carat, commonly known as 4C’s of diamond quality. These four elements play a significant role in the overall appearance of the engagement ring. The color of the diamond should blend seamlessly with the mounting color. The cut is the shape of the stone, and an ideal cut diamond provides for maximum light reflection. Clarity refers to how many flaws are in diamonds. Avoid diamonds whose flaws are visible to the naked eye. Carat refers to the diamond’s total weight.

The prong setting is one of the most important considerations when getting engagement rings. A prong setting emphasizes the stone while downplaying the other parts of the ring. The advantages of choosing prong settings for your engagement ring is that they’re cost-effective and easy to clean and maintain. They also highlight the shape of the stone.

At Masina Diamonds, we will ensure that you get the best out of your engagement ring. Talk to us through (404) 681-0379 or email us on masina@masinadiamonds.com.