Why martini earring is such a favourite here?

[tinv]

I know the ladies here love martini setting for earrings but when I got my wife a pair of diamond stud earrings, went with 3 prongs double gallery basket type. Since the basket is flat, when the diamonds are set low (as close to the post) as possible, it probably does not droop. The 3 prongs will give the earrings a round shape as oppose to square for 4 prongs.

Now I am getting my mother a pair of earrings. I am thinking about the martini setting. What I don't understand is - if you take a cone and put the pointed end down on a table, it will for sure tip over. How is is this not droop for an earring. I see arguments that since it's pointed, it digs into the earring hole and that's how it stay up. But then I see a martini setting from Brian Gavin that has a donut to prevent it from sinking into your ears - Now I am confused. Would the ladies here explain this to me?

 

[lioness]

Physics. Think of a fulcrum and lever. The backs act as counterweight and keep the stone/basket from drooping.

 

[tinv]

With a degree in Engineering, your answer confuses me even more I can understand the balancing thing if the person stand complete still, otherwise it would rock up and down as you walk?

The low profile basket with a flat base on one side of the ear lobe and the large back on the other side push tight against the ear lobe. That has to be more stable than counter balancing martini setting?

 

[VRBeauty]

I like a martini style because I like the low profile and the earring is less likely to droop than with a larger basket. Part of what counteracts drooping is that the "point" of the martini sinks into the piercing a bit, so you really have the circle around the three prongs resting against the earlobe. Don't ask me to explain it beyond that, because I can't. I have .78ctw studs and for this size I'd definitely get the 3-prong martini again. If I were getting studs in the 1.0 - 1.5 ctw range however I'd consider a 6- or 8-prong martini setting. Anyhow, there have been numerous basket vs. martini threads here and in SMTB... I'll see if I can find one.

ETA - just use the search term "basket vs martini" in the PS search and you'll get several pages of threads to wade through.

 

[kenny]

Martini's have 3 prongs, not 4 o 6.
Less mass = less droop.

Also 3 prongs cover less diamond than 4, letting you see a it more of what you paid for.
All other things being equal, 3 prongs is less strong than 4 but earrings are not subject to the mechanical stress that rings are.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I personally do not want the martini base to sink into my ear hole and possibly stretch it. So I always go for very low set 4 prong baskets like Tiffany does. I'd prefer 4 prongs regardless of the style just for visual symmetry.

 

[alene]

Personally, I absolutely hated martini settings, they hurt and did droop in my ears. I now have the same settings as Diamondseeker and think they're perfect. Perhaps it just depends on the ear shape?

 

[baby monster]

I think martinis are popular because the pointy end fits into the piercing to reduce drooping so your point that having a donut sort of defeats the purpose is correct. Martinis also have less metal showing which people like. I have martini settings and actually aren't crazy about them. If I ever upgrade, I'll switch to a setting that DS posted.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I like change and therefore have been through most all versions of stud settings--except for bezels. Next!

cheers--Sharon

 

[AprilBaby]

I bought martini settings and they just dropped like crazy. I prefer a three prong basket set.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I had mine set in martini settings but didn't care for them. Mine didn't droop but they set so low into the ear that they weren't as noticeable. I changed back to a four prong basket setting and like them so much better.

 

[tinv]

I think you can't go wrong with a low profile basket with the diamond set as close to the post as possible with culet almost touching the post. I will also have the alpa post in place of the fiction/screw post.



It is stronger and safer if the diamond rest on top of the gallery and and the prongs push down on the diamond. The setter might have to go with a larger setting to allow the diamond to be set low.