4 thick or 8 regular

[Cehrabehra]

Okay I know we''ve seen the 4 vs 6 prong debate a thousand times... but which do you think would be more sturdy:

Four thick corner prongs or 8 more dainty prongs? (not "split" prongs)

Just looking at durability here... not asthetics. I know if one prong goes but one thick prong would be hard to move right? and 8 prongs you could lose one prong and still hold the stone but the chance of losing a prong goes up when they''re thinner... so... I really want 8 prongs set more old fashionedly... but as you know I want a hard to break ring also... and I''m meeting with the jeweler tomorrow!!

 

[lumpkin]

For an emerald cut, I definitely prefer 4. For a round, 6, depending on the setting and the size of the diamond.

 

[ladykemma]

i like the eight you have picked

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You can also have 4 with claws, which sort of looks like 8..the way Leon Mege does them. I guess if you''re considering durability, then the more the merrier! But you can''t ignore aesthetics altogether. I assume you still want to be able to see that beauty as much as possible!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/24/2006 8:56:49 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
You can also have 4 with claws, which sort of looks like 8..the way Leon Mege does them. I guess if you're considering durability, then the more the merrier! But you can't ignore aesthetics altogether. I assume you still want to be able to see that beauty as much as possible!

yeah the claws are pretty but that's not what I want... I either want four pillars that won't budge or 8 that really wrap around the corners, I just can't think of which is more *sturdy*.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/24/2006 8:56:49 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
You can also have 4 with claws, which sort of looks like 8..the way Leon Mege does them. I guess if you''re considering durability, then the more the merrier! But you can''t ignore aesthetics altogether. I assume you still want to be able to see that beauty as much as possible!

oop I ignored that last part! I can work creativity around anything to make it beautiful, but knowing what foundation I want to start with is kind of important lol

 

[ccuheartnurse]

I like the idea of 8 finer prongs, you will certainly still see that large stone of yours.

And if you get platinum prongs, they will be plenty tough to hold that stone in place. The prongs arent usually thread thin, there has to be some width there to be able to take the pressure when setting it. I think too that the double prong not only ehances the shape of the stone, just like a 6 prong would make a round stone look rounder, but adds some elegance to it as well.


Judy

 

[Scott Terence]

Well considering the shape of your stone, if you opt for a basket with 8 prong, depending on placement, you can influence how the visual outline is perceived, and I think that is a nice option! Oh and I think that the 8 will be stronger/sturdier. Then again you could always go for the quasi-bezel that used, but use 8 small ones instead of my corner hugging 4 for the girdle set of your dreams

 

[Modified Brilliant]

As far as the "sturdiness" issue...you would be fine either way. If the stone is set properly and securely than
I wouldn''t worry. It''s the folks who wear their rings every day for years and years without ever having it inspected,
that should worry. Some people act surprised when I tell them that they have a broken prong or that their prongs are paper thin.
Regular inspections by a qualified jeweler should help to eliminate any potential problems.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I like the regular 8

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I like 8, too, but I don''t like the #9 and 10 mini prongs on the sides of the yg one.

 

[pyramid]

Date: 9/24/2006 2:12:07 PM
Author: Modified Brilliant
As far as the ''sturdiness'' issue...you would be fine either way. If the stone is set properly and securely than
I wouldn''t worry. It''s the folks who wear their rings every day for years and years without ever having it inspected,
that should worry. Some people act surprised when I tell them that they have a broken prong or that their prongs are paper thin.
Regular inspections by a qualified jeweler should help to eliminate any potential problems.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

Aside from the fact that someone could lose their stone if the prongs are worn or broken does it affect the durability of the mounting in the long run if these things are not taken care of promptly? I mean if the prongs are paper thin at least they have had good wear out of them! Does tipping them regularly make the head of the ring last longer? I suppose getting prongs retipped would be cheaper than getting prongs renewed or a new head but then if this needs done say every year that would add up to the cost of the new head on a ring. Ofcourse, the fact they could lose the stone is the main reason why it has to be done regularly I know and prongs sometimes just need to be retightened which should be done straight away.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/24/2006 6:04:49 PM
Author: Pyramid

Date: 9/24/2006 2:12:07 PM
Author: Modified Brilliant
As far as the ''sturdiness'' issue...you would be fine either way. If the stone is set properly and securely than
I wouldn''t worry. It''s the folks who wear their rings every day for years and years without ever having it inspected,
that should worry. Some people act surprised when I tell them that they have a broken prong or that their prongs are paper thin.
Regular inspections by a qualified jeweler should help to eliminate any potential problems.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

Aside from the fact that someone could lose their stone if the prongs are worn or broken does it affect the durability of the mounting in the long run if these things are not taken care of promptly? I mean if the prongs are paper thin at least they have had good wear out of them! Does tipping them regularly make the head of the ring last longer? I suppose getting prongs retipped would be cheaper than getting prongs renewed or a new head but then if this needs done say every year that would add up to the cost of the new head on a ring. Ofcourse, the fact they could lose the stone is the main reason why it has to be done regularly I know and prongs sometimes just need to be retightened which should be done straight away.

every year? no way! I had my mom''d 16th birthday ring retipped back in the early 90''s so it was like 30 years old and it needed retipping *badly* but it definitely wasn''t a yearly thing!! I seriously doubt my mom had ever had it done.

The way I understand it, gold wears and platinum bends.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Prongs generally don''t need to be retipped unless they are visibly wearing thin. In some cases, if most of the prongs are too thin,
then a new head would be more sensible. You don''t want one or two retipped prongs and the rest thin.
Wearability depends on how tough one is with their jewelry. It''s possible that prongs will never need to be repaired or retipped.
It''s still a good idea to have your prongs inspected at least annually.

 

[pyramid]

Thanks Modified Brilliant.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/24/2006 5:23:12 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I like 8, too, but I don''t like the #9 and 10 mini prongs on the sides of the yg one.

LOL I don''t think those are prongs - I think they''re the tips of the ring shank... I''m sure from the side they look right LOL