Ideal diamond characteristics for a tension set ring?

[jwblue]

Are there any ideal characteristics for a round diamond being set in a tension set ring to prevent it from falling out of the ring?

What about ideal characteristics for appearance?

What about the girdle width?

I did a search on this board and someone mentioned that SI clarity diamonds can not be used in tension set rings?

Is this true?

Will a diamond be more likely to fall out of platinum tension set ring compared to a gold one?

Isn't platinum softer than gold?

This is the platinum tension set I am looking at with a 2ct. diamond.

Niessing Tension Ring Tapered



I will e-mail Niessing and find out what they say, but I wanted other opinions.

 

[kenny]

Re: Do I need a VG1 for a tension set ring?

You are smart to check with the company setting the ring first.
Higher clarity is better and a thicker girdle is better, but different companies may have different standards.
They may want to see the GIA report to make individual calls on borderline stones.

We have four tension settings, but all were high clarity stones and none had thin girdles.

I can't wait to see your ring.
2 ct in a Neissing! WOW!

Tension settings are so cool.
You see more of the diamond you paid for.
They let more light in and out and are a snap to keep clean.
Please post pics when you get it.

You asked for other options, so there is:
Steven Kretchmer
Gelin Abaci
Boonerings - but they only work in titanium.

 

[kenny]

Tension settings from these reputable companies are very beefy regardless of the metal chosen.
They use special alloys and processes that give the metal more ability to keep its shape.
Personally, I would only trust the four jewelers listed above to set my diamond.

Diamonds do not "fall" out of properly made tension settings.
It would take an enormous amount of twisting or pulling force to open up these rings, not very likely to happen without your knowledge.
You would know it if your hand was traumatized like that, and you'd probably end up in the emergency room.

Diamonds set with prongs are much more likely to "fall out" because an enormous trauma is not necessary to bend back those little delicate prongs.
All you have to do is reach into your pocket or purse or put on a sweater or gloves.

I've been reading here for 6 years and every time a diamond is lost the owner did not recall any traumatic even that would explain it, and it is always a diamond that was set in prongs.

Yet people have this idea that diamonds fall out of tension settings.

Next, people think diamonds are more likely to get chipped in a tension setting, but you can get them made so the diamond is set well into the metal.
Even with the tension settings that expose more of the diamond there is more metal hugging and surrounding more of the girdle than with prongs.

 

[jwblue]

Tension settings from these reputable companies are very beefy regardless of the metal chosen.
They use special alloys and processes that give the metal more ability to keep its shape.
Personally, I would only trust the four jewelers listed above to set my diamond.

Diamonds do not "fall" out of properly made tension settings.
It would take an enormous amount of twisting or pulling force to open up these rings, not very likely to happen without your knowledge.
You would know it if your hand was traumatized like that, and you'd probably end up in the emergency room.

Diamonds set with prongs are much more likely to "fall out" because an enormous trauma is not necessary to ben one of those little delicate prongs back.
All you have to do is reach into your pocket or purse or put on a sweater or gloves.

I've been reading here for 6 years and every time a diamond is lost the owner did not recall any traumatic even that would explain it, and it is always a diamond that was set in prongs.

Yet people have this idea that diamonds fall out of tension settings.


Next people think diamonds are more likely to get chipped in a tension setting, but you can get them made so the diamond is set well into the metal.
Even with the tension settings that expose more of the diamond there is more metal hugging and surrounding more of the girdle than with prongs.

Good info. Thank you Kenny.

Yet people have this idea that diamonds fall out of tension settings.

Another preconceived notion that is false?

I have never heard of that.

 

[kenny]

What about ideal characteristics for appearance?
Isn't platinum softer than gold?

Pure gold is softer than pure platinum but neither is used pure, especially for tension settings.
They get alloyed with other metals to give them better properties for use in jewelry.
18K gold is an alloy that is 25% other metals, and platinum alloys that are used in rings are typically 5 or 10% other metals.

It is these other metals and processing that determine hardness of the resulting alloy..
Not every jeweler uses the same alloy and I believe tension setters have specialized alloys.
Ask your ring maker which is softer, or which of their alloys they recommend if your concern is durability.

Your tension setting gives you a perfect side view of your diamond.
When gem labs grade clarity they only look down into the top of the diamond.
They ignore inclusions that are visible from the side.
For a tension setting I'd pick a diamond that was eye clean not only in top view, but also in side view.
90% of the time I look at my diamond I see a side view.

If a diamond has side-view visible inclusions only in one area (or two on opposite sides) you can tell the jeweler to set the diamond so the inclusions face the metal, not the gap.
That way you may get a larger stone at more affordable price and still get a side view that is eye-clean.