Engagement Rings and Settings

Often in the excitement of searching for types of engagement rings that will symbolize your love, diamond ring buyers completely forget about the practical aspects of the rings. Keep in mind that diamond engagement rings are going to be exposed to a lot of wear and tear, so finding one that is beautiful but also well constructed is going to be important over the long run.

Engagement ring settings come with several different types that are sometimes referred to as mountings. These settings or mountings form the way in which the diamond is held securely to the ring and can be very visible and part of the overall design or they can be hidden and out of sight on the ring. Each option has its benefits and it is really a matter of both personal taste and overall ring design .

One of the most popular and classic types of engagement ring settings is the prong setting. Like the name suggests the prong setting uses metal prongs or filaments to hold the diamond into the base of the setting at the band. They have a hooked top that clasps the top surface of the diamond, holding it into the setting base. Prong settings are generally only used on medium to larger sized diamonds or when the diamond is a solitaire in a setting .

Prong settings will vary in number on engagement rings based on the size and shape of the diamond. On square or rectangular shapes there will be at least one prong on each corner and sometimes one prong along each edge. This again will vary on the size of the diamond .

Round diamond shapes in engagement rings often have four or size prongs to secure the diamond. Unusual shapes such as heart shape, triangular shaped or marquis shaped diamonds will often have four to six prongs, perhaps more if the diamond is larger than average .

The prongs are not heavy on most engagement rings and are placed in positions to allow light to enter from the top and sides of the diamonds. Without this type of open structure there would be less brilliance and dazzle to the diamond. Often the prongs form a sort of a cradle or basket around the diamond, especially those that are raised high off the band  .

Square corners and square diamonds in engagement rings are secured using v-shaped prongs at the corners. This allows a smaller prong to secure the diamond in place without having to double the number of prongs. Raised diamonds will attract more light, but are also more likely to be bumped and hit, requiring additional support .

It is important to always have engagement rings checked on a yearly basis to ensure the prongs are all still secure. A jeweler can easily adjust the prongs in an engagement ring if needed, preventing the possibility of losing the diamond from the setting .