settings - protecting the stone

[Cehrabehra]

I''ve done searches here on ''prongs'' and ''settings'' but haven''t seen what I''m looking for in the way of advice. After reading about mrssalvo''s OMC and I think it was mara or matatora''s stone that had a chip, I''m already concerned for ''my'' diamond that I haven''t even chosen!

Now aside from 4 vs 6 prongs to help hold a ring in... what sorts of settings are best to protect a stone from chips etc? I was taking clothes out of the washer to put in the dryer and my ring bangs against the spinner thingy a lot and I was gripped by fear that I''d damage my ring/stone. I plan to wear my ring 24/7 (except when making meatloaf lol) and I want to protect the stone very well... what should I be looking for? A bezel? Is that my only choice? Unfortunately I like the look of ''naked'' stones... how can I reconcile this? Advise?

 

[Lorelei]

Blimey - tough one......

If you want to be as safe as possible then the bezel setting is the best choice. Next comes the six prong for security IMO. I think the best thing is to choose what you want, bearing in mind that chipping is rare, but make sure you are insured for damage. There are many here who have happily worn 4 prongs and had no problems, but if it truly worries you then get the 6 prong if the bezel is a no go. Also get a pro to check your diamond when you find it to make sure there aren't any durability issues with it ands avoid very thin girdles. Above all, remember there are no guarantees - buy your diamond and enjoy it and have adequate insurance! That is the best you can do. It was Matatora's diamond which was chipped and if I remember correctly it happened during a routine prong tightening, rare accident but it can happen. I think if I were you, I would plump for a 6 prong, it doesn't seem as if there are too many problems with those usually, and you have the extra peace of mind of the prongs cupping the diamond most of the way around, plus the solitaire look you want. I have also read where a 4 prong setting can have the prongs rotated to a NSEW position to make them a little more secure around the diamond.
Here is an older thread you might find useful - 4 prongs or six?

 

[mrssalvo]

bezal''s are the safest. OEC''s are prone to chipping b/c of the ex.thin girdle. OMC''s have thicker girdle''s I believe and therefore wouldn''t carry the same risk.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Cehra, millions of people have had diamonds set in 4 and 6 prong settings and have never had a chip. You get the setting you love and get insurance on the ring and stone. Then you don''t worry about it!

 

[mrssalvo]

hopefully and expert will jump in, but after the chips were discovered on my OEC i researched them further, i purchased that stone pre-pricescope. Anyway, I was told that most OEC''s have or will have tiny chips, it''s just the nature of the ex. thin girdle and if you''re wearing it 24/7 in a 4 or 6 prong setting, it''s very likely that it will chip. you can have the stone polished and loose little weight my Rich advised me against it at the time b/c it wouldn''t affect the appearance or performance of the stone. I''d probably steer away from an OEC that isn''t in a bezal or halo if you''re worried about it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I didn''t realize she was specifically looking for OEC''s. I was assuming she knew to avoid very thin girdles on any stone. So I''d revise my advice to add this!!!

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 7/17/2006 10:16:40 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I didn''t realize she was specifically looking for OEC''s. I was assuming she knew to avoid very thin girdles on any stone. So I''d revise my advice to add this!!!

it''s ok DS..she started
this thread about old cuts and I assumed that''s what she was figuring out how to set. I think we''re both right

 

[KristyDarling]

Halo, or bezel. If neither then perhaps a 6-prong set as low as possible? I know the experts will have much better advice......

 

[FacetFire]

Not all OEC's have V. thin girdles, either. When I was looking, I actually saw everything from thin to thick. And within a stone, there is some variation also. My BF purchased an OEC for my engagement ring, and we are having it set in a four prong ring. I am not that worried, to be honest. I liked bezel settings, but he didn't. And I had trouble finding any six prong settings that I was drawn to. I say, take care, as you would with anything that costs a good amount of money, but also set it as you would enjoy it. Seems silly to spend thousands of dollars to find the perfect stone then put it in a setting that you don't really like.

 

[firebirdgold]

I know someone with an OEC in a modern bezel setting and it's gorgeous! But everyone has their different tastes, like I wouldn't have wanted a halo for mine either.
If you're going for an OEC how about a fishtail type mounting like Selkie has? That looks really secure and safe.
Here are the relevant links:
Sapphire in a fishtail mounting
Victory! My sapphire 3-stone ering
Cross jewelers, where selkie got her setting made, specializes in settings that protect the diamond so a woman can wear her e-ring 24/7


ETA: as far as bezels where you can also see the diamond, their golden gate design is awesome.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 7/17/2006 10:16:40 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I didn''t realize she was specifically looking for OEC''s. I was assuming she knew to avoid very thin girdles on any stone. So I''d revise my advice to add this!!!

actually I''m leaning more toward an OMC but from what I''ve read their performance is similar and I wanted to attract as much descriptive power as I could!!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 7/17/2006 12:37:47 PM
Author: IndieJones
I know someone with an OEC in a modern bezel setting and it''s gorgeous! But everyone has their different tastes, like I wouldn''t have wanted a halo for mine either.
If you''re going for an OEC how about a fishtail type mounting like Selkie has? That looks really secure and safe.
Here are the relevant links:
Sapphire in a fishtail mounting
Victory! My sapphire 3-stone ering
Cross jewelers, where selkie got her setting made, specializes in settings that protect the diamond so a woman can wear her e-ring 24/7


ETA: as far as bezels where you can also see the diamond, their golden gate design is awesome.

I definitely want a low profile ring... so I imagine those sides will be fairly protected, I guess I worry about the sides that go toward my finger and toward my hand. I have yet to see a very dainty bezel though... they''re all pretty big, bigger than I''d prefer. Cross was a great link btw!

 

[Selkie]

Date: 7/17/2006 3:44:33 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

I definitely want a low profile ring... so I imagine those sides will be fairly protected, I guess I worry about the sides that go toward my finger and toward my hand. I have yet to see a very dainty bezel though... they're all pretty big, bigger than I'd prefer. Cross was a great link btw!

Just wanted to chime in and say again how happy I am with my Cross setting that IndieJones posted. I am a HUUUGE clutz, and I wear my ring all the time. At least twice a day I manage to bang my hand on something, and it's usually the part you mentioned (the "north" and "south" in ring orientation terms). The girdles of all three stones are exposed on 3 or 4 sides, so there is plenty of stone visible, but the prongs stick out further than the girdle and wrap over the corners. It doesn't have that "naked" stone look you like, but the setting has it's own charm, and I like it much better than bezel set, which seemed my only other option.

Plus, there's always insurance. I'd be VERY unhappy if I had to replace any of my stones, but at least I know there's always the option if they break.

ETA: I also wanted to repeat what a fabulous experience I had with Cross Jewelers. Even though we had to do everything over the phone, and they don't even have email, let alone web ordering, they were always very helpful, responsive, and non-pressuring. They've been around for ages and the experience shows. When we finally managed to visit the store in person, they took the time to talk to us about the process of making the ring and to show us many options for wedding bands even though they knew we weren't buying that day.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 7/17/2006 6:54:20 PM
Author: Selkie

Date: 7/17/2006 3:44:33 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

I definitely want a low profile ring... so I imagine those sides will be fairly protected, I guess I worry about the sides that go toward my finger and toward my hand. I have yet to see a very dainty bezel though... they''re all pretty big, bigger than I''d prefer. Cross was a great link btw!

Just wanted to chime in and say again how happy I am with my Cross setting that IndieJones posted. I am a HUUUGE clutz, and I wear my ring all the time. At least twice a day I manage to bang my hand on something, and it''s usually the part you mentioned (the ''north'' and ''south'' in ring orientation terms). The girdles of all three stones are exposed on 3 or 4 sides, so there is plenty of stone visible, but the prongs stick out further than the girdle and wrap over the corners. It doesn''t have that ''naked'' stone look you like, but the setting has it''s own charm, and I like it much better than bezel set, which seemed my only other option.

Plus, there''s always insurance. I''d be VERY unhappy if I had to replace any of my stones, but at least I know there''s always the option if they break.

ETA: I also wanted to repeat what a fabulous experience I had with Cross Jewelers. Even though we had to do everything over the phone, and they don''t even have email, let alone web ordering, they were always very helpful, responsive, and non-pressuring. They''ve been around for ages and the experience shows. When we finally managed to visit the store in person, they took the time to talk to us about the process of making the ring and to show us many options for wedding bands even though they knew we weren''t buying that day.

Thanks! I could do without web ordering, I feel better talking to someone anyway Yes, insurance will be a must, but after all I go through to find this right stone, I don''t know how replacable it will be. What I''m looking for is definitely not common LOL

What I imagine in my non-reality of living, is a stone that is flush, but mostly naked n/s so you can see the profile of the diamond. I''d like a longer stone set east/west if I can work it but the regular way will work too if I can''t. If I can find a tiny bezel, a very thin one, I think I might do that... otherwise I''ll do six prongs kind of like what you have. Or maybe both so to support a tiny bezel that protects the girdle.

 

[Cehrabehra]

For whatever it''s worth... this is a setting I could buy right now and be relatively happy... Ideally I''d make some changes like moving the bar that goes around the diamond higher toward the girdle, and MAYBE giving up the diamonds to make it thinner... also adding metal underneath so that the actual part on my finger was round.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Here''s a top view... I think that looks like it would protect the stone pretty well east/west... and if the bezelly thing were just a wee bit higher, I think it could protect it n/s as well

 

[Selkie]

I was going to ask if you''d thought about half or partial bezels, and it looks like you are.

 

[JulieN]

Date: 7/18/2006 12:05:37 AM
Author: Cehrabehra
For whatever it''s worth... this is a setting I could buy right now and be relatively happy... Ideally I''d make some changes like moving the bar that goes around the diamond higher toward the girdle, and MAYBE giving up the diamonds to make it thinner... also adding metal underneath so that the actual part on my finger was round.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-with-danhov-pave-setting.47998/

Seems like Dahnov will customize.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 7/18/2006 1:22:51 AM
Author: JulieN

Date: 7/18/2006 12:05:37 AM
Author: Cehrabehra
For whatever it''s worth... this is a setting I could buy right now and be relatively happy... Ideally I''d make some changes like moving the bar that goes around the diamond higher toward the girdle, and MAYBE giving up the diamonds to make it thinner... also adding metal underneath so that the actual part on my finger was round.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-with-danhov-pave-setting.47998/

Seems like Dahnov will customize.

Funny, I saw that thread/that ring and didn''t even recognize it as the same! I think it''s because I think it is MORE handsome from the side view than the top (not that the top isn''t gorgeous) but what attracted me was the profile. The site did list that it was good for round and cushion... I saw that stone on one of my cushion searches LOL I liked it immediately, but didn''t even recognize it was this same setting until you pointed it out! lol!