Prong set versus shared prong?

[melpla]

I''m hoping you all can help me out. We are on the verge of buying our wedding bands for our June wedding, and I still don''t know what style I want. I would like a diamond wedding band...but I''m trying to balance durability, looks, and cost...

One question I have is: are prong set diamonds a lot more secure than shared prong ones?

I went to a local B&M today to get some ideas. With the size I''m looking for (around .30-.50 total carat weight, at times I couldn''t really tell that much difference in looks between prong set and shared prong---all I saw was sparkliness. Do the two look a LOT different at this size? With all the rings I saw, I just got more confused. And they didn''t any of the rings in the tcw I wanted, so I still don''t know how they''ll look on my finger.

I''m considering 2 rings right now from on online vendor. One is a shared prong and the other is prong set. Which do you guys like best? The prong set is a little less expensive, which is nice, but also less tcw. If it''s a lot more secure to get prong set, I may go with that...

This is my engagement ringhere


Here is the prong set ring. It''s 18kt white gold and features 12 fine, full cut round diamonds, G-color, VS clarity, weighing .40ct total weight.

 

[melpla]

This is the .50 tcw shared prong ring, made in 14kt white gold and features 15 fine, full cut round diamonds, G-color, VS clarity,

Does this one seem nicer, even though it''s 14kt?

 

[mrssalvo]

i''m not sure i understand what you are asking. both rings you posted are shared prong. the first ring is a basket setting eternity band which is why the profile of the ring is different than the scallop profile of the second ring you posted. personally, I like the basket style setting, that is the style of the Tiffany eternity bands.

 

[melpla]

Oh, I see what you''re saying. I''m just not that knowledgeable about the different types of shared prong rings. The vendor''s site simply said "prongs" with that one, and "shared prongs" with the other one, so I assumed the first one wasn''t. But, it does look like it''s shared, which is why I couldn''t figure out the difference!

I didn''t know the basket style was like Tiffany''s. I like it, too. Does anyone else have an opinion about the basket-style versus the other? Do you think .40 one will be good with my .77 cushion solitaire?

Thanks so much for the advice. mrssalvo has already taught me like tons in just two sentences!!

 

[cwj]

I really like the basket setting. I am looking at some now myself.
cwj

 

[Sparkles22]

I think they both look nice.

0=diamond :=prong.

So here is shared prong~ :0:0:0:0:0:0:

Here is not shared prong~ :0::0::0::0::0::0: meaning each diamond would have all 4 prongs to it self. At least that is my understanding.

I like the look of the shared prong, because it has less metal (more diamonds showing

)! I think either of the 2 you posted would look nice with you ering. As for 14kt vs 18kt, I would probably stick to the same metal you ering is made out of JMHO.

 

[mrssalvo]

mara''s rings are 4-prong....here''s a pic to see the difference:

 

[melpla]

Thanks for all of the replies so far! I have a couple of questions about the basket-style setting maybe you all can answer. Does the basket style tend to stand taller than the other shared prong settings? My e-ring setting isn''t too low, but not too high either. And do you think the basket style setting present less or more issues with rubbing against a neighboring ring?

Anyone else prefer the basket-style setting? Is .40 tcw a good, proportional match to my e-ring, which is a .77 solitaire?

Thanks you guys!

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 3/10/2008 8:09:56 PM
Author: melpla
Thanks for all of the replies so far! I have a couple of questions about the basket-style setting maybe you all can answer. Does the basket style tend to stand taller than the other shared prong settings? My e-ring setting isn''t too low, but not too high either. And do you think the basket style setting present less or more issues with rubbing against a neighboring ring?

it depends on the design/maker. the tiffany version is low and memoire makes their bands very low but not all jewelers can or do make them that way.