JEWELRY EDUCATION > GLOSSARY > Prong
Prong
The setting that is most often used to hold a solitaire diamond. It puts the emphasis on the stones and not the metal. The purpose of any setting is to hold the stones securely in the mounting and at the same time allow light to enter the stones (especially diamonds) for maximum brilliance. Thus, there must be a balance. The more metal used to hold the stones, the more secure they are, but the less metal used, the greater the chance for the stone to reflect light. In this type of setting the prongs are attached to the central setting of a ring, known as the head or basket. Each prong extends upward and outward form the head, arching over the gemstone to form a secure claw-like grip.
