Have you ever wondered why a diamond can be securely and
snuggly mounted onto a ring with just a few claws? How can you check whether a
diamond has become loose? Let us address your concerns with our gemological
knowledge and experience.
There are multiple
ways of mounting a diamond (or commonly referred to as, setting a diamond on a
ring). The most common settings at all times are: channel setting, bezel setting,
prong setting, drill setting and pave setting. Prong setting is the most
commonly used, highly secure setting. Using 3, 4 or 6 prongs, a diamond can be
securely mounted on a ring. As the structure of prong setting allows more light
to go through and into a diamond, its brilliance and fire can be brought out
through the play of light scintillation. That explains why the most classic and
most popular engagement ring style usually features the famous prong setting.
Choice of Metal
Even though
only 4 or 6 prongs are used to set a diamond in a ring, it can still be
securely mounted if the craftsmanship is exquisite. Of course, prongs are
susceptible to usual wear and tear like any other metals, but with the right
use of metal and self-checking methods, you can be an expert in identifying
whether a diamond has become loose from the ring.
We recommend using 18K gold. Don’t mistaken 18K gold as the
traditional typical yellow type of gold. 18K Gold jewellery can appear in white (silvery), black, purple, blue or even rose-colours.
It is most commonly seen in white gold because of its strength to withstand
normal wear and tear due to its rhodium plating which is extremely hard and it
minimizes the jewellery’s vulnerability to scratches.
Platinum, often known as PT950, is a dense, malleable, ductile
precious, gray-white transition metal. Although platinum is hard in nature, it
is also extremely ductile and malleable which is not recommended for setting
jewellery with refined details or with a
valuable center diamond. Platinum is also vulnerable to daily wear and tear and
can be susceptible to scratches resulted from constant contacts with hard
surfaces.
Checking Methods
Treat your diamond ring as any
other piece of fine jewellery, which should not be worn to rigorous sporting activities
like swimming, racquet sports, etc. This can significantly reduce the risk of
damages that may occur from excessive contacts of hard surface. There are three
methods to know whether a diamond has become loose from its prongs.
1. Touch and Feel!
You can gently touch and feel a
diamond with the tips of your fingers to feel whether it has become loose from
any of the prongs. If there is any slight movement, it is imperative that you
bring the ring to fix immediately.
2. Slip it through!
If you are still not sure whether
the diamond is loose, try slipping a piece of regular paper into the space
between the tip of the prong and the diamond. If the paper can easily slip
through that tiny little gap, your ring may be prone to movements. At this stage, the diamond may not have come
loose yet, but it is best that you bring the ring to a reliable jewellery to
have it checked.
3. Shake! Shake! Shake!
The easiest method to check whether
a diamond is becoming loose is to shake it three times against your ears
closely. If you hear some twinkling sounds, the diamond may have come loose
from the ring. Stop wearing the ring immediately and have it check by a
jewellery for quickest solutions.
Other than
the three methods mentioned above, using a microscope or a magnification loupe
is the most comprehensive method to check whether a diamond has indeed become
loose. For instance, magnification loupes can identify whether a diamond is
loosening from its bezel set and channel set where it is not easy to test its
stability using the stated methods above. Another important piece of take away
is not to store your jewellery together in unprotected environment with other
pieces. Always baggage each piece of jewellery with at least a small plastic
bag to avoid damages of the prongs.
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