Tension Ring Setting and Prong Setting - Which is Safe?

[GreenAsaCountryEarofCorn]

hello all,

i just recently took the plunge and purchased a beautiful 1.31ct g/vs2 aca from whiteflash. now i am shopping for the perfect ring setting - i am finding this to be as much of a challenge as choosing the right diamond.

my wife (we) has already lost one diamond because one of the prongs failed in her engagement ring. with that said, i am giving some consideration to a tension ring setting instead. is there a greater risk for the diamond coming loose with a tension ring over a traditional prong setting? my wife is not interested in a bezel setting. are there any suggested sights which specializes in tension settings?

as always, thanks for your comments and help.

 

[Gypsy]

It's very rare that prongs just up and fail. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I'm just saying that often if you get your ring cleaned and inspected by a professional regularly if you don't have the skills to make the evaluation yourself, you will be much less likely to lose a stone again.

So before you worry about prongs: make sure you know how you practice responsible ownership because ANYTHING you get can result in the diamond becoming loose if you snag it or knock it the wrong way. Even a full bezel with a cup.

Tension settings are not good for those who knock their rings and hands about. If you are restless sleeper: take your ring off before going to bed. If you are clumsy, make sure you know how to use a loupe and how to tell if you stone is loose.

Prong settings, even the strongest hand forged or die struck settings can lose a prong if it snags on the right thing.

Most people would recommend a well made six prong setting as the safest route.

But please understand, you can still LOSE a stone in one and you NEED to learn to take care of your jewelry.

 

[kenny]

Which is safe?
A diamond can be lost or damaged in either, but IMHO tension settings are safer than prongs.
Here is my reasoning...
In a TS more metal grips the diamond continuously (not at only 4 or 6 points) and over a MUCH greater amount of the circumference,
We often hear of diamonds vanishing because prongs got bent with the owner having no idea when or how it happened.
Prongs can bend by just putting a sweater on or putting a hand in a pocket - and this can happen right after you just got your prongs checked.

Even the best-made prong is thinner, more delicate and comes to a smaller point than the hunky beefy metal of a tension setting.
To bend open a tension setting you would have to bang or smash your hand so hard that you'd probably end up seriously injuring yourself.
You'd also know to immediately get on your knees and look for your diamond.
Compare this to just taking off a glove and bending a prong without knowing it.

Next, tension settings themselves vary.
They can be more or less protective . . . the diamond can be set more deeply in the channel so the table is below the metal.
Also the thickness of the band can be greater than the diameter of the diamond for extra protection.
If you prefer the look of your diamond more exposed the table and girdle of the diamond can extend further out from the ring, which of course makes them more vulnerable to impact with objets.

I'll add that because special alloys and processes are required I'd only trust 4 companies to make a tension setting for me.
Steven Kretchmer, gold and platinum http://www.stevenkretchmer.com/
Niessing, gold, stainless steel and platinum http://en.niessing.com/jewellery/tension-rings/
Gelin Abaci, gold and platinum http://www.gelinabaci.com/
Boonerings, titanium http://www.boonerings.com/stone.htm

FWIW I've bought one platinum TS from Gelin Abaci and 3 titanium ones from Boonerings.

 

[Gypsy]

My personal favorite in the 'safer setting department is the Shodlt Semi Bezel:













More pictures: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-sholdt-semi-bezel-with-1-23ct-bgd-signature-h-a.139091/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-sholdt-semi-bezel-with-1-23ct-bgd-signature-h-a.139091/[/URL]

Where you can buy it: Ask for Julian and tell him PS sent you.

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/sholdt-jewelry/rings/08ZZ1/

 

[GreenAsaCountryEarofCorn]

kenny,

once again, tyvm for your non-lecturing, unassuming and objective reply. we just recently had her engagement ring tuned up at a trusted jeweler recently; we had been using this same jeweler for almost 20 yrs.

by choosing a tension setting i would definitely be going out of the box. personally, i kind of like a tension setting because it tends to shows off more of the diamond. i am familiar with the maintenance required for a prong mounted ring - is it safe to ASSUME the maintenance required for a tension style ring is the same?

thanks again.

 

[kenny]

... is it safe to ASSUME the maintenance required for a tension style ring is the same?

IIRC, Gelin Abaci wants you to bring the diamond back to their authorized dealer jeweler for periodic inspections.
Boonrings does not.

I confess I have not brought my Gelin Abaci ring in, ever, in 5 or so years.
FWIW, I often check myself with a loupe.

I cannot speak for Niessing or Steven Kretchmer since I have never bought from them.
BTW there are the most expensive of the four I listed.
I'd contact them directly.

I know they are not for everyone since tiny delicate rings are currently in vogue, but I really love to spread the word about tension settings.
To me it is like letting your diamond out from behind bars.
I'm into diamonds, not rings.
My ideal setting would be invisible and the stone would just magically hover in space.
The tension setting is closest to that ideal.

Light can get into and out of more of the diamond.
When driving in the sun with your hand on the steering wheel the light show from the side view is breathtaking.
More light can get into the top AND the bottom of the diamond.
It is not traditionally considered when evaluation diamond cut but tons of fire comes out of the pavilion.
It's like you get to enjoy twice the carat weight you paid for compared to other settings which are limited in that they give you an unobstructed view only of the top.

 

[stargurl78]

Did your wife's previous ring have 4 or 6 prongs? If she had 4 prongs previously and still likes the look of a prong-set stone, maybe she could go with 6 prongs for more safety. I also really like the semi-bezel ring that Gypsy posted.

 

[GreenAsaCountryEarofCorn]

stargurl78,

thank you for your comment. my wife's previous setting was a 4 prong which had failed. she and i do not like the 6 prong or any type of bezel type setting as we feel this will cover up her stone too much which was why i was inquiring about a tension setting.

thank you again...

 

[Dancing Fire]

... is it safe to ASSUME the maintenance required for a tension style ring is the same?

I know they are not for everyone since tiny delicate rings are currently in vogue, but I really love to spread the word about tension settings.
To me it is like letting your diamond out from behind bars.
I'm into diamonds, not rings.
My ideal setting would be invisible and the stone would just magically hover in space.
The tension setting is closest to that ideal.

Kenny
i'd love a tension setting and i'm sure they are safe,but its just a "mind thing" of how easy it is to lose a stone from this style of setting,i know,i know,i'm just a...