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Buying a diamond is often a very personal experience. Diamonds can be bought to signify love, significant accomplishments, or milestones in your life. Unlike when you buy clothing, electronics, or cars, the features of a diamond may not seem quite so obvious upon first glance. At London Gold , we would like to change that. The more you know about your diamond jewelry, the more confident you will feel when making your diamond jewelry choices. Take a moment to learn more about the 4 Cs and find out how they play an important role in making your diamond jewelry unique.

Shape

The shape of the diamond is often confused with the cut. London Gold carries diamonds that are Round, Radiant, Princess, Oval, Pear, Marquise, Cushion, and Asscher cut. Choose the diamond shape  that you like based on your style and you cannot go wrong.

What are the 4 C's of Diamonds?

Cut

The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance or sparkle. Each shape will be cut differently. Before a diamond is cut, the location of inclusions and flaws, the natural coloration, and the original shape of the rough stone are studied extensively. The stone facets are then mapped out and cut in a way that maximizes size, shape, and clarity. For optimal light performance, you will want a diamond that is cut neither too shallow nor too deep, like the stones that London Gold offers. (See Figure below)

Color

Diamonds are graded based on the amount of color they do or do not possess. The scale runs from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). An absolutely colorless diamond is rare and therefore very valuable.

Clarity

A diamond is distinguished by its natural characteristics, just as a person would be noted for her blue eyes or his brown hair. Notated as a diamond's clarity, these characteristics can be present on the surface (blemishes) or within the stone (inclusions). The clarity is judged by the number and types of these characteristics and is designated using a scale that runs from Fl, defined as flawless, to I3, defined as inclusions visible to the naked eye. A flawless diamond is truly rare. (See Figure below)

Carat Weight

The unit of measure used for the weight of a diamond is the carat. As a matter of reference, a carat is equivalent to .2 grams or .007 of an ounce. Carat weight can also be divided further by using points. There are 100 points in one carat. So a 1/4 (.25) carat stone can also be expressed as 25 points. When comparing two diamonds, please note that just because one is twice the carat weight of the other, it does not necessarily follow that it will appear to be twice the size.

The Ultimate Guide to Prong Settings

By

Tiffany Moore

A timeless prong setting is the most recognized, and indeed, the most popular method used for setting diamond rings. As well as offering wonderful security to the central diamond, a prong setting can be used in various styles of engagement rings and allows an abundance of light to hit the diamond.

Various Prong Finishes

If you are considering a prong setting for your engagement ring, this guide will cover all the details you need to make the best choice.

What is a Prong Setting?

A prong setting, sometimes referred to as a claw setting, is essentially a cradle for the diamond. Before the diamond is set, the prongs stick up vertically from the base. After the diamond is aligned into place, these rails of metal are notched and burnished firmly around the diamond to fully secure it.

Seating the prongs for the center diamond

Pressing the prongs into place

Finishing the prongs

These images show the detailed nature of creating a prong setting. Taken from our jewelry manufacturing education page , they show this fascinating step in the jewelry-creation process.

Although a popular setting choice, attention to detail is just as crucial in the seemingly-simple prong setting. The diamond should sit flush with the prongs and the prongs should not cover the diamonds table facet. The beauty of a properly crafted prong setting is that it showcases the diamond beautifully. Prongs that have been crafted incorrectly can make a diamond look small and gaps may compromise the wearability and/or security of the ring.

Prong settings can be cast in any metal. The most recommended metals for engagement rings are 14k gold, 18k gold and platinum. You can read more about metal alloys for jewelry purposes in this guide

The Benefits of a Prong Setting

There is a lot to love about a prong setting. Here are some of the highlights:

• Prong settings use less metal than other settings (such as a bezel setting, for example) this, combined with their open structure allows light to flood the diamond for a fantastic sparkle.
• Their popularity has led esteemed jewelry designers to create unique prong settings in a stunning array of styles.
• Prong settings can be adjusted to elevate the diamond or set lower to suit your taste. This is a skill of experienced jewelers that allows for slight customization.
• Classic prong settings are easy to clean; you can care for your jewelry at home with ease.
• Prong settings have proven themselves to be an elegant and sophisticated choice for decades.
• Prong settings are suitable for all diamond shapes.

Prong Setting Considerations

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A prong setting is an excellent choice for an engagement ring, but as with all jewelry styles, there are some small considerations to make to ensure they are the best choice for you or your intended.

• A high prong setting may catch on clothing and snag through plastic gloves. This can be solved by lowering the diamond in the setting. For those with hands-on careers/duties who wish to wear their ring every day, consider the height of the setting from a lifestyle perspective.
• Prongs can leave the girdle of the diamond exposed which can result in chipping. Avoid this by removing your ring during activities that can cause heavy wear.
• Certain prong styles, particularly those that are designed to sit higher than the diamond, can scratch. New mothers and nursery workers may choose to remove their ring to avoid accidental scratches to children. This is rare, but is worth considering.

Types of Prong Setting

Often thought of a monolithic, prong settings can in fact take many forms. Even the prongs themselves come in a variety of styles. Four and six prong settings are the most popular, but for diamonds of considerable carat weight, an eight prong setting may even be practical and add further security and peace of mind.

Various Prong Finishes

There are many different finishes for a prong setting as well. Below you can see examples of four prong rings with various finishes such as claw, petite claw, round, and tab prongs.

Claw Prong

Claw Prong

A pointed prong gives a claw-like appearance, hence the popular nomenclature. Pointed prongs are sleek and elegant, creating a steam-line effect.

Petite Claw Prong

Petite Claw Prong

This petite version of the claw prong is more delicate and covers less of the diamonds crown.

Round Prong

Round Prong

Round prongs are the most commonly used for engagement rings. Secure and discreet, they allow the diamond to dazzle while keeping it firmly in place.

Tab Prong

Tab Prong

Another distinctive look is the square or &#;tab&#; prong style. Not as popular as round or claw, a squared off prong can add a unique touch to the right ring design.

Double Prong

Verragio Parisian D-120 Split Claw 4 Prong with Rose Gold Shoulders Solitaire Engagement Ring

Double prongs may take a rounded or pointed appearance. They give the illusion of slimmer claws and are often used in split shank designs.

Corner or V-tip Prongs

Tacori 32-2PR Clean Crescent Half Eternity for Princess Diamond Engagement Ring

V-tip prongs (like those pictured above) secure and protect the corners of diamonds that come to a point or points such as princess, pear and marquise shapes.

High Prongs

Tacori RD Simply Tacori Pave Diamond Engagement Ring

High-set prongs can be used to bring drama to designs.

Shared Prongs

Diamonds for an Eternity Three Quarter Diamond Wedding Ring

Shared prongs are often used when setting diamond melee (smaller size diamonds). The diamonds share prongs to avoid using excess metal and detracting from the refined sparkle of the setting.

Four or Six Prongs?

As mentioned the most popular choices for prong settings are four and six prong designs . A couple of lines of thought are involved in making this choice. First, fewer prongs means more of the diamond is visible and more light can strike the diamond. But at the same time, six prongs is theoretically more secure. The thing to remember is that a four prong mounting is designed in a symmetrical way that ensures that in the unlikely event that you lose a prong entirely, the diamond should not fall out. So, in some ways six prongs is overkill from a durability standpoint. The larger the diamond the more six prongs makes sense based on both perspectives.

Classic 4 Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

Classic 6 Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

The other consideration that some people find six prongs aesthetically pleasing in that they accentuate the roundness of the diamond, whereas four prongs may make it look slightly squarish. This is a matter of personal taste completely.

How to Choose a Prong Setting

First and foremost, your own personal taste will lead the way when choosing a prong setting. Prong settings cover a huge variety of styles, allowing for personal expression to take the lead. Beyond this, lifestyle considerations may influence the height and style of the prong setting that you choose.

Think about carat size. The bigger the diamond, the more durable the setting needs to be. This is where six and eight prong settings become a fantastic choice. Similarly, if you are opting for a lower carat weight, the prong size needs to work proportionately, so as not to overwhelm the diamond.

Stylistically, some customers may request for claws to be polished down or made slimmer to improve the appearance of the setting according to their taste. We will always advise the best course of action to bring a balance of beauty and durability.

A prong setting is a fantastic choice for an engagement ring and this remarkable setting will never go out of style.

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