How to set side stone trapezoids - small prongs or half bezels?

[diamondhoarder]

Owners of 3 stone rings with trapezoids as side diamonds - how are your trapezoids set and how well do you think the setting style works for them?

I can see how this prong style would allow more light into the side diamonds:



I could also see how this kind of half bezel could add a bit of additional finger coverage. But does the extra metal dull the light return or cover up too much of the trapezoids?



I have a ring I'm thinking of re-designing a ring with trapezoids so it would be great to hear your feedback on how the different setting styles effect their look.

 

[headlight]

While I don't currently have a 3-stone, I have had 2 different 3-stones in the past: An all RB 3-stone, and a trill-RB-trill 3-stone. They were all prong set. The light return is predominantly from the top, so it really depends on the style that appeals to you. Prong-set is more "traditional", bezel-set more "modern", perhaps. Prong more "delicate, feminine", bezel "stronger, bolder". Both are great, no wrong choices, just which one resonates more with you. It's a tough call and I do not envy your position with the exception of the fact you will be wearing one of these and I will not lol!

 

[headlight]

... with all that said, I love your avatar ring. Are you just ready for a change?

 

[Niel]

Bezels?
This is not helpful but is my vote lol

 

[lydial]

I only like the bar/bezel if the band is a wider thicker band like you have pictured. Otherwise I would prefer the prongs.

 

[diamondhoarder]

... with all that said, I love your avatar ring. Are you just ready for a change?

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm probably erring towards the prongs because I do prefer a more dainty look on my rings.

I had forgotten that my avatar hasn't been updated in ages. I meant to change the avatar pic to my sapphire 3 stone but I haven't got round to it yet . I do still have this ring but its not this centre diamond I'm thinking of re-setting.

Here is a (not very good) photo of the centre diamond and trapezoids I am looking to re-set. The ring is a Tacori model but I don't like how the design has created gaps between the 3 main diamonds. I like straight sided diamonds to be set without gaps between them, I'm also not keen on the thick shank and tiny melee of the current ring.



The one positive about the gaps that this ring has is that it increases the finger coverage across the 3 diamonds. That's what got me thinking about bezels which could perhaps give the same finger coverage but the gaps would be replaced by high shine metal instead. However, I also wonder if there is more margin for error in the execution of bezels. I'm not looking to spend to a fortune on the new setting and want to avoid the risk of a less than refined look which I have had happen before with some bezel settings, depending on the quality of the finishing.

 

[diamondhoarder]

I only like the bar/bezel if the band is a wider thicker band like you have pictured. Otherwise I would prefer the prongs.

That is a really good point about the thickness of the shank. I would probably want to go with a slimmer shank than would be the width of the end bezels.

I suppose this could be a good compromise - bezel next to centre diamond, prongs next to the shank. But even in this stock photo, the finishing on the bezels does not look very precise to me. Unless the polishing leaves a strip of platinum that is completely even all along the length and with a mirror shine I think it would annoy me.



The other thing that I need to factor in is that the size of my centre is 6.7 x 5.2 and my trapezoids are not huge. I like that the centre diamond remains as the main event, and I like the proportions of the smaller side diamonds against the larger centre diamond. But I also like decent finger coverage as well - so I have been wondering whether to add some tiny short tapered baguettes on either end.
I'm not sure how well the 5 stone look with the tapered baguettes works with my size of centre diamond. I have seen some lovely examples with larger side diamonds. I'm not sure if my trapezoids are too small to work with even smaller tapered baguettes.

My other idea is a single line of 3 round melee in diminishing sizes down the shank starting where the trapezoids finish.

I'm not sure what other layouts could extend the east-west finger coverage whilst also keeping the design looking crisp. I'm open to ideas.........