Chips under Prongs

[pyramid]

You know how a setter can sometimes hide a chip under a prong. Well if one found one there how would they know if it was caused by the prong in the setting process or was just hidden under the prong.

If it is caused by the prong would the prong have to touch the actual chipped area. If the prong is not touching the chipped area but just covering it, can it safely be said it was just hidden under the prong?

Can one of the experts comment?

 

[AmPm]

Hi Pyramid,
Unless you have seen the stone prior to it been set it's difficult to say if the chip was there before setting or caused during setting. Pressure put on the prong during the setting process could cause a chip if a clevage plane was under or near the prong. Whether the prong is touching the chip or over the chip won't determine when the chip occurred as different metals used for settings have the ability of recovering shape after been pushed therefore the prong may of touched the stone and slightly moved off the stone to be covering the chip and not actually touching it. Unfortunately it is possible that a prong could be placed over a chip to mask it, I do hope this is not the case for you.

 

[pyramid]

Thank you for your reply AMPM. The prong is to the side of the mark rather than on top of it - would that make any difference?

Also there is no mark at the top of the prong the mark covers the bottom two thirds of the girdle.