4 Prong vs 6 Prong Setting – Which Is Better?
This is an aged old question that gets many people confused over the choices to make. Are there any differences between a 4 prong vs. 6 prong ring setting? And if one is seemingly better, why are both choices offered by jewelers? Why not have just one kind of design to begin with?
Well, it turns out that both 4 and 6 prongs settings bring about various benefits as well as drawbacks. We’re going to discuss the differences between these two settings and I’ll let you be the judge to decide which is best.
Why Should You Choose a 4 Prong Design?
With four prongs spaced evenly apart, it will create a boxy looking appearance as the prongs function as “separate corners” of a squarish outline.
A box-like appearance created by even prongs placement.
One of the benefits that the 4-prong setting is that there is a lesser amount of metal coverage on the diamond. This allows more light to enter the diamond and enables a well-cut diamond to perform at its best.
If expressing power and showcasing the capacity of your diamond is essential for you, 4 prong settings are great choices for consideration.
For the same reasons, the 4 prong setting is recommended when the size of your diamond is small (less than 1 carat). You don’t want the additional metal prongs to look overbearing and make the diamond appear even smaller than it already seems.
The main drawback of 4 prong settings is that they are less secured compared to 6 prong designs. In the event that you break or bent a prong accidentally, there is a heightened risk of losing your diamond.
The Orientation of the Prongs Matters!
The traditional setup for a 4 prong setting involves placing prongs at the 2, 4, 8, 10 o’clock position and this creates a somewhat squarish look to the ring.
However, did you know that the prongs could also be mounted in a north-east-south-west (NESW) orientation? This is sometimes referred to as a kite mounting and are frequently found in settings with square cut diamonds.
When used with a round diamond, this particular orientation creates an illusion which makes the diamond appear larger than it is. For people who want to “cheat” with a bigger looking solitaire diamond ring, consider setting the center stone in this manner. On this note, do keep in mind that a kite mounting will make it harder for a wedding band to sit flushed next to it.
The kite mounting on the left offers the benefit of a larger looking stone.
Why Should You Choose a Design With Six Prongs?
In 6 prong settings, the individual prongs are generally lighter and thinner in order to minimize the area where prongs cover the diamond. When six evenly-spaced prongs are placed on a round diamond, they form a hexagonal shape. This makes the diamond look rounder and bigger when viewed from a distance.
My general recommendation is to opt for a six prong setting when your diamond is large enough (i.e. > 1 carat). Also, if you know beforehand that the recipient is going to be rough with their jewelry, sacrificing a little bit of brilliance in favor of better security would be a wiser move.
A hexagonal look created by six prongs on a round brilliant cut.
Video Comparison of Four Prong vs Six Prong Round Diamond Rings
If you are interested to see full specifications and details of the individual rings, click here for the four prong design and click here for the six prong design.
Here, I want to point out that the setting only compromises part of an engagement ring while the bulk of the cost usually lies with the choice of center stone. This in-depth guide to selecting diamonds will enable you to shop like a professional and find the most beautiful diamonds within any given budget.
Ok, What About For Fancy Shape Diamonds?
If you were buying a fancy shape diamond like a princess cut or an oval cut, how many prongs should the diamond ring have? Well, the answer is it depends on the shape and outline of the diamond you are looking at.
For example, the princess cut has a squarish outline and pointed corners. Almost every setting design for princess cut diamonds would utilize four prongs that are placed symmetrically at the corners to protect them.
4 nicely placed prongs create a well-balanced appearance.
It would be extremely hard for a princess cut diamond engagement ring to utilize a six prong setting without looking “off” or lopsided. This is the reason why 4 prong settings are obvious choices if your chosen center stone is square (e.g. princess) or rectangular (e.g. emerald) in shape.
With elongated shapes like the pear or oval cut, the prong placement and orientation would have a big impact on its appearance.
In my opinion, a 6 prong placement for an oval diamond would alter its visual outline and make it appear like a marquise shape instead. The addition of the 2 prongs on the north and south position would make it appear like pointed tips.
4 prong vs 6 prong oval diamond engagement ring comparison.
On the other hand, the 4 prong placement would help it retain its ovalish and curved outline. If I’m shopping for an oval diamond engagement ring, I’m definitely sticking with a 4 prong layout.
That’s because if I wanted a football shaped outline, I would have purchased a marquise diamond instead.
Is There A Clear Winner When You Compare 4 Prongs Against 6 Prongs?
As you can see, there isn’t an obvious choice between which is better and it boils down to what you value more. Do you prioritize safety or aesthetics more?
For people who want to get the best of both worlds, consider choosing a 4 prong design made with a platinum head. Platinum is much more durable and resistant to wear-and-tear compared to other common metals like white gold or silver.
Whatever your decision and choice of mounting, I recommend that you inspect your jewelry regularly and try to identify any potential problems early on. If you aren’t sure about doing your own checks, then it is best to bring your jewelry to a professional jeweler every 6 – 12 months for routine checks.
I hope this article has been useful in helping you visualize the differences between 4 prongs vs 6 prongs diamond ring settings. If you were shopping for an engagement ring, which would you pick and why? Leave a comment below to let us know!
<< Prev PageRelated Articles
About The Website:
Leave A Comment
Latest Posts From Our Blog
Join Us On Social Media!
Visit The Gallery For Ideas!
28 Comments
Thanks for the thoughts. I am trying to find the right engagement ring. I have heard several differing opinions on 4 or 6 prongs. I think your advice for the added security of the 6 prong may be wise. That may be the right decision for me.
I just reset my grandmother’s 80 year old , 3 carat diamond ring. It was in a four prong square setting, but ring was round. It is now in a round setting and has loosened twice. I want to put in 6 prongs. Your thoughts please? Karen
Look for a trusted jeweler who can do the job for you. A six prong setting is definitely better for such a huge stone.
I tell clients a diamond set in a six prong setting rounds out the diamond whereas a four prong setting square’s it off. For the look it really depends on your customer.
I heard mixed reviews on 4 and 6 prongs for a 2ct round diamond. Does the number of prongs affect how much sparkle is given off? Someone told me that a 6 prong ring will not sparkle as much because there is more metal…is this true?
That is somewhat true especially if the prongs are bulky and gaudy. This effect is usually more pronounced in small carat sizes. For a 2 ct round diamond, I recommend going for 6 prongs as it gives you a better peace of mind.
How about a 7.5 platinum setting with a .5 or .6 carat? Should I go for 4 claws or 6 claws diamond ring? Please help me.
Depends on personal preference. I would say go for a 4 prong as it better showcases the diamond.
Please help me. Yesterday I bought a beautiful brilliant diamond at a chain jewelry store to have set in an anniversary band. The diamond is by Swana and its report is by IGI which says it is a 0.51 carat round modified brilliant natural diamond, color G, clarity VS 1, polish/symmetry very good, proportions excellent, measurements 5.14 – 5.18 x 3.15 mm. I paid $4320 for it. After reading your articles I felt I had made a big mistake. Also none of the local jewelers I have called have ever heard of Swana. I would truly appreciate your advice.
You did make a mistake by buying a diamond with an unreliable grading report. The “Very Good” polish/symmetry are a tell tale sign of poor finishing and craftsmanship. Send the diamond ring back and get a refund for it.
I am looking to customize a ribbon-design ring with 4 prongs and was told that without the support bar between the prongs, the prongs would have to be thicker whereas if there is a support bar in between the prongs, the prongs can be thinner.
personally i would like to go without the support bar, to maximize diamond exposure. i understand that i should go with my personal preference but I want to seek your insight on this support bar between prongs design thing.
Can you provide a CAD or drawing of the ring design you are trying to create? Without understanding or seeing the design, I cannot offer any constructive advice or provide any diagnosis.
Your website has been a lifesaver! The thorough info you’ve provided is amazing and helped me narrow down the diamond search a lot! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Despite your great help, however, I am still a bit torn between a few diamonds and would love your opinion. I am thinking of a six-prong comfort classic solitaire setting in platinum and can’t figure which of the below diamonds would be the best one to go with it. I’d really appreciate your help with making this choice.
Also, do you think a 4 prong ring would be better for the carat size I am looking at?
Thanks a bunch in advance!
Az
The finalists:
1. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3983295.htm – This one is a bit less than a carat, which is the only thing giving me pause about it. I can’t quite gauge how big the diamond should be so that it looks proportional to her fingers without it looking too big, or in this case – too small.
2. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3968194.htm – This one is a little over a carat and still great clarity/color IMO but I am a little spooked by the difference between the actual ASET image on the Whiteflash website and the AGSL image on the certificate linked from the website. On the certificate there are a lot more blue (contrasting areas) near the center, so I wonder if they’d make the diamond a bit darker in the center.
3. https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3961912.htm – This one was originally the frontrunner but I’ve been wondering more and more if the I-color would be visibly yellowish given that I’m thinking of putting it on a platinum solitaire.
4. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.20-carat-h-color-if-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4665996 – This one seems almost too good to be true but it’s from James Allen, whose satisfaction guarantee doesn’t seem as robust as the Whiteflash one and in terms of delivery might cut it too close in terms of arrival date.
Would really appreciate your thoughts – thanks again!
The color differences in intensity between the ASETs are not an issue. It is a matter of photography setting instead of a performance difference. Think of it as 2 of the same TV in different houses. The color settings are slightly different and look slightly different. But this doesn’t mean the quality of the TV is different.
Do you know what’s her finger size? 1 ct diamonds should look perfectly fine for size 4 – size 7.5. Going to a 1ct is more of a psychological thingy instead of a proportionate issue. Most women do like their rings to hit the 1ct weight.
All 4 diamonds are extremely well cut for light performance and are eyeclean. They are consistently top notch in cut quality and are identical.
This would be my top pick from White Flash.
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3961912.htm?a_aid=recommended
I looked at this diamond and scrutinized it: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.20-carat-h-color-if-clarity-true-hearts-cut-sku-4665996?a_aid=recommended
It’s a well cut diamond and I would put it on par with White Flash’s diamonds. Price wise, it’s fantastic.
If there is a setting you like at James Allen, this would actually be my top choice as it offers the best value for money.
What are your thoughts on a 3 prong setting for a pear cut stone? I recently just picked up an engagement ring that has 3 prongs with 1.6 carat pear cut center stone and the beauty is definitely there, but I fear the stone may not be safe with only 3 prints. What do you think?
It depends on how well the ring is made and how the prongs are crafted. For a large 1.6ct diamond, I generally would like to see more prongs for protection and security.
Thank you so much for a really helpful website.
Having followed your advice I went to James Allen and selected the relevant shape, carat, cut, clarity, and colour. However, I was then presented with about 40 different diamonds (all meeting the specification), ranging in price by about $800. Why are the prices so different? Should I just pick the cheapest?
Best,
Donald
No. There are intricacies to diamond prices and it doesn’t necessarily mean that cheaper is better. Likewise, I want to be clear that a more expensive diamond doesn’t translate into a better diamond as well. You need to look at details. If you want to, you can let me know what are the stones you shortlisted and I can give you a 2nd opinion or let me know the specifications of the diamond you are looking at.
Thanks for all the helpful insight! What were the ct weight of the diamonds, and the shank/band width of the rings in the video? Again thanks sooo much for the information.
-Tim
The carat weight of the diamonds are roughly 0.6ct each and the shanks are about 2mm in thickness.
Hi, I am deciding between 4 or 6 prongs for a 1.43 carat diamond solitaire ring. I plan to have it set with a single row pave (1.9mm thk ring). What’s your thoughts on the number of prongs? Thanks!
Go for 6 prongs for such a large diamond.
Have you ever seen a 5 prong ring? What would be the drawback to that?
If you are talking about round cut diamonds, then I seldom come across five prong settings for them. I’ve only seen one in person before and the ring’s appearance looks star-like because of the 5 prong placements. Nothing wrong with that if it is a look you like.
I purchased a SWANA diamond which has 89 facets pure brilliance sent to GIA and specs came back identical to the IGI cert that diamond came with The Swana diamond is from Botswana South Africa
I noticed a comment you made about the Swana diamond as negative because you have no knowledge about this diamond You need to do your research before you give negative advice on any diamond!
Please educate me on how overpaying for an IGI graded diamond that has mediocre polish/symmetry ratings is good for the consumer. You should also share the GIA grading report number as well as the corresponding IGI report number of the diamond. And why is it that the consumer has to be the one sending the diamond to the lab in the first place?
Good morning! I just purchased a 9mm 3 carat diamond that I will be having set in my wedding set (I lost my original stone and entire setting in an automobile accident). I’m wondering if I should go 4 prong or 6. What are your thoughts?
Thank you,
Shanna
For such a big carat sized diamond, I would recommend going for a 6 prong setting for better security.