Don't Get Cheated: Top 5 Tricks Jewellers Use

Buying a diamond ring can be a long journey. The last thing you want is to get hustled by your jeweller.

Several of our clients have shared with us their stories of these cases that happened to them. This happens more common that you think! I've compiled the 5 most common tricks that jewellers do.

Shop safe!

- Casey Lai

Customization Part I: How many prongs on a ring?

A diamond ring is a little sparkly thing that adorns a lady’s hand, mostly to signify that soon she’ll be one with her better half. Despite its modest size, it contains many little details that are carefully designed to symbolize your love and marriage.

In my next few blogs, I will discuss in detail all the possible customization ideas that can be done, from the very minor detail up to the dramatic ones. If you have more suggestions to add, please feel free to leave your comments below. Who knows, it might help some readers to complete their own dream proposal ring :)

Let’s start from the top – The Crown!

If you ever wonder what difference does the number of prongs make, this would be a perfect read up for you!

• Half bezel (that looks like 2 Prongs)
  
  With its thick metal on either side of the diamond, it will help protect and secure the stone while still being able to see some parts of it.
  
  The side profile allows you to see more of the diamond, giving it a clean and ''prongless''' look. It keeps the top view simple, without any prongs or tips covering the diamond.

• 3 ProngsThis is generally offered for fancy shape diamonds such as pear or heart. It's rarely used for round or square shaped diamonds due to safety reasons. 

• 4 Prongs
  
  It can be set either 4 corners or NSEW orientation. While both would show more of the diamond while viewed from the side, they differ in the look when they are face-up. 4 cornered orientations give a more square-ish feel to the diamond while NSEW can help to make the diamond look rounder.
  
  The over-all impression you want to achieve will boil down to your preference on whether you want a more squareish or roundish feel.

4 Prongs setting is also the recommended number of prong to showcase a Cushion Brellia and the Octagon D’Amor.

• 5 Prongs
  
  It is not as popular as the others due to it being unsymmetrical with the band, where 3 of the prongs will be on one side and 2 would be on the other. But some ladies prefer it due to its distinctiveness and rarity. Also, some find that it represents a hand (5 fingers) holding onto the diamond or it gives a star shape.

•  6 Prongs
  
  This is one of the top picks of guys who want to keep their proposal ring simple and classic. Although 6 prongs will hide more of the diamond from the side profile, it will give the diamond a more rounded effect when viewed from top.

Although some would prefer to go over 6 prongs, I would recommend otherwise maintaining the limelight on the diamond and not the prongs.

If you're not a fan of the protruding prongs, don't worry, you can still go without the prongs. 😱
Relax! Your diamond will still be secured.

You may also check out this video below, where my colleague Casey did a video of 4 prongs Versus 6 prongs.

• Full bezel
  
  This setting would completely surround the diamond to hold it in place; it gives very good protection to the girdle of the diamond. However, it may conceal significant parts of the diamond from the side profile view.

Aside from the beauty that the Crown offers, its also meant to keep the diamond secured. No matter how many prongs or what type of bezel you go for, rest assured, we've got you covered!

Watch out for my next blog post, where I will discuss about the different type or prong tips you can customise!

Cheers!

-Joy Barcelona