4 prong or 6 prong Round Solitare setting - does it matter?

[laney]

Hello All -

For a Round say 1.5(ish) does it matter if you get a 4 prong or 6 prong setting (solitare).

Platinum is what we are interested in.

I always thought you should get more prongs(to keep the stone more intact / durability if you should bump it) is that a myth?

Or - do some people prefer 6 prongs or 4 for looks?

Any thoughts?

 

[niceice]

You are less likely to experience the loss of a diamond with a six prong setting than you are with a four prong setting simply because it is more difficult to remove a diamond from a six prong setting... With four prongs, the diamond can be removed or fall out if a single prong is bent back or snapped off. With a six prong setting, three consequitive prongs need to be bent back or broken off before the stone can be removed.

Six prong settings tend to keep the diamond looking round, four prong settings tend to make diamonds look square because the prongs pull your focus out to the corners of the stone created by the location of the prongs... Optical illusion.

It's all a matter of personal preference, some people think that four prong settings make the diamond look larger because more of the surface of the diamond is visible... We prefer six prong settings because we don't like to hear that somebody lost their diamond. Platinum is definitely the way to go, it is more durable than gold and less likely to bend back.

 

[laney]

Thank you.

That makes perfect sense. Was always considering 6 prong - but I was wondering why 4 prongs were so popular as well. Six sounds more safe!

 

[strmrdr]

When I was looking around at them I asked several women about it some had 4 some had 6 prong rings.
The majority that had 4 prong rings hadnt had a problem but one lady had lost 2 diamonds from 4 prong rings but she still had a 4 prong because she hates the looks of 6 prongs.

4 or 6 get the ring checked out twice a year and have it repaired at the first sign of trouble and everything should be fine.
Or learn how to check it yourself.

I ended up getting the 6 prong because my fiance does house cleaning for a living and the chances of damage to rings is higher than with other jobs.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I have a six prong- I prefer that style because it makes the diamond look rounder to me. I suppose 6 prongs might overwhelm the diamond if they're large. One friend chose 4 prongs b/c she liked the square look but her boyfriend liked the round look, so that was their compromise.

 

[Mara]

I'm not into the 6 prong. I think it covers the diamond too much, needlessly, and I am not concerned about losing my stone because I have insurance on it anyway.




4 prong makes more of the diamond visible and is more flattering IMO.

But really it's a preference thing.




This Q gets asked all the time, run some searches and read up.

 

[fire&ice]

Four prongs here. Never lost a diamond. One setting is around 70 years old.

Also, if you rotate the prongs North, South, East & West, the diamond will not look as squared off in a four prong setting.

 

[laney]

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On 12/20/2003 5:34:46 PM Mara wrote:


I'm not into the 6 prong. I think it covers the diamond too much, needlessly, and I am not concerned about losing my stone because I have insurance on it anyway.


4 prong makes more of the diamond visible and is more flattering IMO.

But really it's a preference thing.


This Q gets asked all the time, run some searches and read up.

----------------

Sorry - should have run some searches first. Thank you kindly for all the answers everyone!

 

[fire&ice]

<---[/quote]


Sorry - should have run some searches first. Thank you kindly for all the answers everyone!
----------------[/quote]


Always a legitmate question that solicites unique perspectives!

 

[Manks]

4 or 6 get the ring checked out twice a year and have it repaired at the first sign of trouble and everything should be fine.
Or learn how to check it yourself.

What is the process of checking the security of a solitaire setting?

 

[canadiangrrl]

Laney, I chose six prongs, in platinum. I prefer the security of six, and I like the look of six better than four. To me, it makes the stone look rounder and bigger.

Manks, a ring should be taken to a jeweler once per year. He/she will check the security of the prongs and make sure that none are loose.

 

[hoorray]

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On 12/21/2003 1:56:07 PM canadiangrrl wrote:

Manks, a ring should be taken to a jeweler once per year. He/she will check the security of the prongs and make sure that none are loose.

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Agreed. And, a simple check you can do yourself is to hold it in your infgers and shake it near your ear. If you hear anything akin to a rattle, get it checked by a jeweler.

 

[strmrdr]

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On 12/21/2003 12:59:35 PM Manks wrote:




4 or 6 get the ring checked out twice a year and have it repaired at the first sign of trouble and everything should be fine.

Or learn how to check it yourself.


What is the process of checking the security of a solitaire setting?----------------

The best way is a jewelers loup study it when you get it so you know what it should look like.
You can get a loup at coin and stamp stores localy or on the internet from hundreds of places.
5x will work but 10x is standard for jewelery.
There is no need for an expensive one $5-$15 one should be fine.

You can also use a smooth faced wood clothes pin to hold the ring then have someone hold the pin steady against a counter or table and when looking thru the loup touch the stone lightly with a wooden or plastic tooth pick. Do this from both the top and a couple sides.
Look for movement.
Be gently and never pry at the stone or prongs,