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Talk to me about 3 prong vs 4 prong for side stones.

stepcutgirl

stepcutgirl

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
1,746
So...I''m in the process of making a custom ring and at first i was going to go 3 prong martini set for the side stones, then I changed it to 4 prong for safety reasons...now I''m waffling back to 3 prong. I think 3 prong might look better as the shank will taper into the third prong and the 3rd prong would emphasize the taper but I''m afraid for safety reasons.

So tell me. How much safer are 4 prongs vs 3? Would a 3 prong martini setting still be pretty safe or not really safe at all?
 
About the same safety. Break one prong from either design and the stone will still fall out.
 
I wore a ring with three-pronged sidestones for six months with no issue, my new ring will have the same.


If you''re planning on sizable sidestones I''d re-consider four because three might expose too much girdle area to bang around for my peace of mind, but I wouldn''t start to worry unless they were quite big - 6mm or so.
 
My side stones are .30ct each...so not even close to 6mm. I''m glad you felt and still feel confident going with them Yssie. i really like your new ring! I really thought I had been told that if I lost a prong with a 4prong design that I would not lose the stone...I just asked again for clarification.
 
Depends on how you define 4 prongs.

I am looking at it totally from a standalone POV.

Look at it like this.

4 prongs evenly space around a circle, 90 degrees separation between each prong, loose one prong and on one side you will have a 180 degrees separation between 2 remaining prongs, that is half the circle open, the round can now fall out from that side.

3 prongs, 120 degrees separation between prongs, loose a prong, the largest gap between the 2 remaining prongs is 240 degrees, out falls the round.
 
Date: 5/1/2010 5:44:05 PM
Author:stepcutgirl
So...I''m in the process of making a custom ring and at first i was going to go 3 prong martini set for the side stones, then I changed it to 4 prong for safety reasons...now I''m waffling back to 3 prong. I think 3 prong might look better as the shank will taper into the third prong and the 3rd prong would emphasize the taper but I''m afraid for safety reasons.

So tell me. How much safer are 4 prongs vs 3? Would a 3 prong martini setting still be pretty safe or not really safe at all?
Click to expand...

YES! I adore three prongs on the side stones. And don''t worry about safety. Just insure your ring.
 
Thanks guys. I just don't know what to do. Here's how it was clarified to me. That yes, should a prong in a 4 prong setting be severed i would lose the stone but if only the top broke off or if it only bent or became damaged I would still most likely not lose my stone as the other 3 would keep in place. Whereas with a 3 prong if the single prong becomes damaged...the stone would most likely be lost.

I plan to insure the ring but if it's a risky setting choice I wouldn't want to keep replacing it. Maybe it isn't THAT risky?

ETA-I also was a little concerned about a 3 prong making the side stones look pearish.
 
bumping this up for more input.
 
Date: 5/1/2010 9:25:16 PM
Author: stepcutgirl
Thanks guys. I just don''t know what to do. Here''s how it was clarified to me. That yes, should a prong in a 4 prong setting be severed i would lose the stone but if only the top broke off or if it only bent or became damaged I would still most likely not lose my stone as the other 3 would keep in place. Whereas with a 3 prong if the single prong becomes damaged...the stone would most likely be lost.

I plan to insure the ring but if it''s a risky setting choice I wouldn''t want to keep replacing it. Maybe it isn''t THAT risky?

ETA-I also was a little concerned about a 3 prong making the side stones look pearish.
Click to expand...
I have never read a thread where someone lost a stone from breaking a prong in a three-stone setting. And most definitely have no read one where it happened twice
2.gif
 
Date: 5/2/2010 2:22:37 PM
Author: dreamer_d
Date: 5/1/2010 9:25:16 PM

Author: stepcutgirl

Thanks guys. I just don''t know what to do. Here''s how it was clarified to me. That yes, should a prong in a 4 prong setting be severed i would lose the stone but if only the top broke off or if it only bent or became damaged I would still most likely not lose my stone as the other 3 would keep in place. Whereas with a 3 prong if the single prong becomes damaged...the stone would most likely be lost.


I plan to insure the ring but if it''s a risky setting choice I wouldn''t want to keep replacing it. Maybe it isn''t THAT risky?


ETA-I also was a little concerned about a 3 prong making the side stones look pearish.
Click to expand...

I have never read a thread where someone lost a stone from breaking a prong in a three-stone setting. And most definitely have no read one where it happened twice
2.gif
Click to expand...
Yeah, I haven''t yet read of it happening even once. I''m just panicky over making the wrong choice. Do you think it might make my side stones look pear shaped? I have seen that with 3 prongs before.
 
Date: 5/2/2010 2:22:37 PM
Author: dreamer_d




Date: 5/1/2010 9:25:16 PM
Author: stepcutgirl
Thanks guys. I just don't know what to do. Here's how it was clarified to me. That yes, should a prong in a 4 prong setting be severed i would lose the stone but if only the top broke off or if it only bent or became damaged I would still most likely not lose my stone as the other 3 would keep in place. Whereas with a 3 prong if the single prong becomes damaged...the stone would most likely be lost.

I plan to insure the ring but if it's a risky setting choice I wouldn't want to keep replacing it. Maybe it isn't THAT risky?

ETA-I also was a little concerned about a 3 prong making the side stones look pearish.
Click to expand...
I have never read a thread where someone lost a stone from breaking a prong in a three-stone setting. And most definitely have no read one where it happened twice
2.gif
Click to expand...
I think with 0.3ct stones your choices are going to be pearish or squarish - it's hard to keep a small stone looking "round" without extra prongs, a half-bezel design or some serious manoeuvring. I did see one gorgeous LM wherein the 4prong sidestones did look round, I'll try to dig it up... I think he set them quite far fom the centre in that ring (so that the entire circumference was visible, no tucking under the centre)
 
Either will be lovely, but I think three prong would be especially gorgeous. Just get insurance if you are worried about loosing a stone.
 
Some others:

Diamond*Dana's:

3S Diamond-Dana.jpg
 
Dutchgirl''s:

3S-dutchgirl.jpg
 
babysteps'':

3S-babysteps.jpg
 
Oh wow, thanks Yssie!
 
Sure thing
1.gif
Can''t wait to see what you choose!
 
Pearish beats squarish to me, but it is your ring!
 
Thanks! I''m still unsure of which way to go. I asked for my cads to show one face up picture with one side 4 prong and one side 3 prong so I can directly compare them. Hopefully that helps!
 
Date: 5/2/2010 8:26:28 PM
Author: yssie
babysteps'':
Click to expand...
This one is also very DROOL-worthy!!
30.gif
30.gif
 
Date: 5/2/2010 11:18:57 PM
Author: stepcutgirl
Thanks! I''m still unsure of which way to go. I asked for my cads to show one face up picture with one side 4 prong and one side 3 prong so I can directly compare them. Hopefully that helps!
Click to expand...
I think that''s a great way to help you decide. It''s a totally personal decision. Go with your heart.

I wish I''d thought about this myself.
5.gif
 
Phoenix-Which way were your prongs done? Did you like them? Want to change them? It is in the end a personal choice and I think I''ve made my choice but I''d like to make my choice with as many opinions and input as possible.
 
Date: 5/3/2010 12:14:26 PM
Author: stepcutgirl
Phoenix-Which way were your prongs done? Did you like them? Want to change them? It is in the end a personal choice and I think I''ve made my choice but I''d like to make my choice with as many opinions and input as possible.
Click to expand...
Mine has 3 prongs on the side, martini-side. It is a very beautifully done ring, very fluid, but alas not to my personal style. My sides are pear-ish looking. I''d prefer it to be more like the LM posted above, where all the stones are round and sides are not tucked in under the centre stone.

Again, purely personal taste.

If you''re unsure, I''d recommend you go and try on as many 3-stone rings as possible. I''d have liked to have been able to do that but unfortunately where I live (China) they don''t have much in terms of jewellery, esp. diamond jewellery!
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Thanks Phoenix. I m having mine set so that the side stones are not tucked at all and are about a hairs distance away from each other but each stones full girdle is visible. I''ve asked for my CAD''s to include one face up picture showing one side with 4 prongs and one side with 3 so I can see them side by side to pick.
 
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