6 prong vs. 4 prong

[missmg9]

Hi Everyone!

I''m new to this forum, but I''m helping my boyfriend pick out an engagement ring. Needless to say, I am VERY excited! I think we''re going to make it custom (we fortunately know a jeweler who is willing to help us). I know generally what I like - a matching wedding set of eternity style .05 diamonds all the way around, and on the e-ring I just want a 1.25 round cut, but I can''t decide - 4 prong or 6 prong setting?

Will you all show me your settings and help me decide? There are so many beautiful rings on this site. You are all so helpful! Thanks in advance. I can''t wait to see beautiful pics...

 

[angeline]

HI there and welcome!

Have a look at the thread at the top of this forum, the ''Forum Engagement Ring Folder/Eye Candy''.

Its got about 102 pages of all the PS rings! You will find LOTS of pretty pics in there to help you out!

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[snlee]

I vote for 6 prongs. It keeps the diamond looking round and is safer than 4. With a 1.25 diamond, 6 prongs won't overpower the stone. Here's a picture of my 1.23 solitaire. I wear it was my eternity band with 3 pointers (my avatar).

 

[amy_dub]

I vote 4 prongs because I personally do not like 6 prongs, double prongs, or fishtail prongs. But I really think it''s a matter of personal preferences. The only way you''ll ever decide is to go into a store and try both on. It doesn''t have to be a store you actually plan to buy from, but it will give you a good idea of how they will look on your hand, plus it''s an excuse to try on rings! Like Snlee said, 6 pongs can be over powering, but with a stone that size they shouldn''t, unless they are extremely thick prongs.

 

[surfgirl]

IMO, 4 prongs can tend to make a round look squarish in certain settings, and depending on the size of the stone...and that's not necessarily a bad thing. OTOH, 4 prongs, if delicate, are less obtrusive in the overall setting and look of the set stone. 6 prongs can enhance the roundness of a round stone, but if not done delicately, can also be more obtrusive in the overall look of the stone. That's just my personal opinion based on what I like.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

It is such a personal thing. I used to prefer 4 prong but recently I have fallen in love with 6 prongs. Have you tried some on to see what *you* like?

 

[Odilia]

Date: 12/12/2007 9:24:22 PM
Author: surfgirl
IMO, 4 prongs can tend to make a round look squarish in certain settings, and depending on the size of the stone...and that''s not necessarily a bad thing. OTOH, 4 prongs, if delicate, are less obtrusive in the overall setting and look of the set stone. 6 prongs can enhance the roundness of a round stone, but if not done delicately, can also be more obtrusive in the overall look of the stone. That''s just my personal opinion based on what I like.

Ditto to this. I have seen many beautiful 6-prong rings on Pricescope, but personally I prefer 4-prong for the reasons cited above. I actually like that it can make the round stone more ''square'' looking, and I like that you get more of a side-view of the diamond than you do with a 6-prong.

 

[grapegravity]

Here''s a pic of my 4-prong, 1.20 carat...

I like 4 prongs better because it shows more of the diamond....

 

[grapegravity]

Here''s another pic...

 

[04diamond<3]

I agree with grapegravity! I love four prongs because I feel they show more of the diamond....mine for the time being is going to be a six prong (my avatar...) my boyfriend just got the ring today...and I have to wait about a week to see it...but he says that it looks really big....so we''ll see...but my vote is def. 4 prongs!

 

[risingsun]

A six prong setting...the prongs are very delicate and show a lot of the diamond. I threw in a little fire, too

 

[Pieface]

Here's a couple of my girls four prong. I agree with the others about four prongs "squaring" up the round.

I really like the more open side profile of the four prong.


Having said that a look at snlee's ring shows how stunning a 6 prong can be!!

If I could have gone to larger diamond ~1ct (this one is 0.56) we would have seriously looked at a 6 prong. If we had to look smaller, say .30, we would have looked at 6 prong again as the 4 prong feels a little heavy on the smaller stone.

*Edit*

Darn just re-read and saw you are looking at 1.25ct...would love to have your dilemma!

I think I would go 6 prong at that size. Again I would be worried about a four prong monstering the diamond with the necessary thickness to safely retain the diamond.

 

[96TL]

I think both 4 or 6 prong can be beautiful if done properly.

This is my 4 prong (flat style) LM e-ring. I am proposing on X-Mas.

 

[susi]

Just recently had this debate with myself on my remount. My stone has been in a 6 prong mount and for the same reasons as many of you I opted for 4 prongs this go 'round. Better view of stone and a squarish look from the top.

 

[susi]

Here is a pic of my former mount with 6 prongs. It''s a Stuller Bombay mount in Palladium, and I think it''s the medium height head. I always called it a Sherman tank ( the mount, NOT the stone

) ''cause I felt it could take any knock or hit and come out fine.

The stone is now in the process of being remounted...

 

[susi]

....side view of Stuller 6 prong.....

 

[Odilia]

I know 4 prong can be beautiful and not bulky on a large diamond, because I think it's Lynn B who got a gorgeous reset with beautiful 4-prong. I'll see if I can attach a picture:

ETA: Couldn't find a top-down view, but her thread is here. Her stone is 2.36ct.

 

[KimberlyH]

I changed my 6 prong to a 4 prong and don't love it; the new head is too bulky and the prongs are too big. I want to change it back but it's only been 6 months so I'm waiting, hoping it grows on me. DH likes it better this way and I haven't told him I don't like it yet.

I think both can be beautiful, if done well and it's simply a matter of personal preference.

 

[susi]

Here is another side view of the 6 prong Stuller....very secure but not much view of the stone from this angle.

 

[susi]

Hand view of 6 prong....

 

[sandia_rose]

Can I be really contrary and say "neither"?

What I mean is: Have you considered looking at a bezel setting?

These kinds of settings can be made very thin, but they provide more protection for a stone than prongs. They've got a really great minimal, "the stone is the star" look that will never be dated and that will go with everything you wear. They look great with eternity bands. And, if you're planning on having kids or if you babysit/work with kids, a prongless setting is a bonus. My engagement ring when I was married was very high and 6-pronged with side stones, and I felt sooooooo horrible when I scratched my then-infant son with it. I also play softball and am very athletic, and I was constantly worried about dinging the ring when doing something sports-related and then going home to find that I lost a stone. That won't happen with a bezel.

An example is below.

Bridget in Connecticut.

 

[beau13]

SUSI..your ring is beautiful, may I ask what kind of setting you are currently remounting that gorgeous diamond in? I think the view from the side is exquisite with that stuller head! I find so much of my diamond shows with th 4 prongs, and set so high, that it gets dirty faster, than it would with more gold covering the stone. I guess when you have straight hair, you want curly hair, and when its curly, you want straight! LOL

 

[susi]

beau13, thank you

The Stuller is like a tank....secure, hardy....the stone was well protected but I wanted something pretty...more feminine looking. It was only meant to be temporary, anyway, until I decided on something, and it''s taken 4 years to do so.

My jeweler and I have designed a mount with 4 prongs (split)...plat head, 18K yellow Euro shank, very rounded and smooth and comfort fit. It is almost finished and hopefully, will be on my hand by Christmas

 

[missmg9]

oh my GOSH, these rings are SO BEAUTIFUL!!! The rings you have all posted are making me go ga-ga.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I just can't decide!! I love the look of almost all diamonds. I am starting to go cross-eyed looking at rings and ring settings!!

You have been so helpful though - I think a delicate 4-prong setting might be the way to go... I just love the side views you have posted that show it almost suspended in midair! Hopefully it's a beautiful diamond and I go crazy every time I look at my hand.

If it's too tall, when we have a baby I'll make him get me a bezel set ring. Can't go wrong with having some options, right?

 

[missmg9]

Hi again everyone! I found a picture that my boyfriend is bringing to the jewelers for the first meeting. I''m SO excited! We''ll get some sketches back eventually I hope. I think this pic came from Blue Nile.

 

[mintve]

Date: 12/13/2007 8:52:57 AM
Author: Mysteryman2320
I think both 4 or 6 prong can be beautiful if done properly.

This is my 4 prong (flat style) LM e-ring. I am proposing on X-Mas.

Mysteryman2320, I am loving this ring! Do you have anymore photos? She is a lucky lady

Good luck w/ the proposal!!

 

[96TL]

Date: 12/14/2007 9:34:46 AM
Author: mintve

Date: 12/13/2007 8:52:57 AM
Author: Mysteryman2320
I think both 4 or 6 prong can be beautiful if done properly.

This is my 4 prong (flat style) LM e-ring. I am proposing on X-Mas.

Mysteryman2320, I am loving this ring! Do you have anymore photos? She is a lucky lady

Good luck w/ the proposal!!

Sure do.

And thanks, I need it. I''m very nervous about proposing. I don''t know why. I feel like I''ve known her forever, and can tell her anything. We''re been together 9 years. Now the day is coming (11 days) and my heart is racing just sitting here typing about it. LoL. Not sure why. Normal I guess.

 

[96TL]

Another angle.

 

[96TL]

Last one. I promise.

 

[96TL]

Sorry, I lied.