Pendant basket size

[CedarPointOH]

Hi all,

I am using some spare round diamonds to assemble diamond pendant necklaces. The round diamonds are about .17-.20 ct each and although they are hard to measure exactly (still in half bezel setting) I estimate they are approx. 3.5mm in diameter.

My question is, when buying empty pendant necklace baskets and I can't exactly measure the diamond's diameter should I select a pendant setting slightly larger or smaller than what I estimate the diameter to be?

In this example for a 3.5mm diameter should I buy 3.0mm or 4.0mm?

I understand there are 3.5mm baskets out there, but I am more interested from a jewelry construction stand point is it better to have a setting slightly larger or smaller setting than what's going in it?

 

[stracci2000]

I think this is a case by case situation.
You would need to drop the diamond in the setting to see what will work.
Sometimes the prongs need to be adjusted, or the basket needs to be filed to accommodate the stone.
But overall, in my opinion, you can spread the prongs a little more, and the stone will look ok. If the basket is too big, then the prongs need to come inward, and sometimes this isn't a good look.