Most diamond engagement ring designs use four or six prongs to grip the center diamond. So four claws or six claws is better? This is a problem often faced by designers, shop assistants, and many customers.
Four claw ring setting
The four-prong style strikes a good balance between setting the stone firmly and highlighting the sparkle of the stone, and is the most popular choice.
Reason for its popularity:
• Four prongs give more character to the diamond than six prongs
• Fewer claws means fewer hard-to-clean spots.
Note:
• The prong design makes the diamond look more square, so it accentuates the quality of the square gemstone. The simple design style of the four claws is also very popular with round diamonds. But if you don't particularly like the square illusion, the six-claw design may be more suitable for you.
• Compared with six prongs, gems set with four prongs are of course not as stable, but it is still more than enough to hold the gem. What really affects the stability of the diamond inlay is the inlay technique.
Six prong ring setting
Fashion is an indicator of novelty and elegance for many jewelry users. The stones in the six-prong setting are extremely strong and have a timeless design.
Reason for its popularity:
• Two extra prongs than normal design, making an already well-set stone even more secure.
• The six-prong design makes round diamonds appear rounder. Round diamonds are just right for this design.
Note:
• More metal is used, which means that less of the diamond will be exposed. This is fine for larger diamonds, but if the diamond itself is small, the extra prongs can overwhelm a delicate diamond.
• More claws means more crevices for dirt to collect.
If my diamond is larger, do I need to increase the number of claws to six to ensure that the diamond does not fall?
If the diamond is larger, you may consider increasing the number of claws to six. But under normal circumstances, thanks to the symmetrical design of the four claws and four sides, even if one claw is loose, the gemstone can still be placed on the ring setting. But in extreme cases, such as when one claw is completely broken, the four claws cannot hold the diamond.
Direction of the claw
Although the four claws and six claws have their basic distribution, both of them can be modified according to the customer's requirements to highlight the style and aesthetic feeling that only belong to the customer.
Four-prong cross setting
In a normal four-claw design, the claws should be placed diagonally when viewed from above. But you can make the face of the gemstone look like a compass by adjusting the direction of the claws (claws pointing in four directions). These adjustments, though subtle, can make a difference in jewelry.
Six-claw rotating setting
Like the four prongs, you can reverse the orientation of the six prongs so that the middle two prongs line up with the ring of the jewelry. Sometimes it's these inconspicuous changes that make your jewelry "perfect".
