Prong Metal Question...

[susiegrneyes]

Does anyone know what metal James Allen uses for their prongs in their settings? I have already e-mailed them, but I figured someone here might know. The setting in question is 18K gold, but I know that is considered too soft for prong material.

Thank you,
Susie

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

There are many alloys of 18k.

Most 18k white gold is harder to bend than most platinum alloys.
Diamonds have ben set in yellow gold for thousands of years, and white gold has been even more popular since its invention after WWI

Platinum is longer wearing.

 

[AndyMN]

Platinum prongs are actually softer than gold, but much more dense therefore won''t wear down like gold. Our goldsmiths really like working with platinum because it doesn''t have memory like gold does and therefore stays put where as gold naturally wants to pop back to it''s original position. That said, adding to Garry’s comments, WG prongs, taking an impact are harder but may be more likely to break instead of bend like platinum.