Experience with Tension Set diamonds, anyone? - YouLookFab Forum

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Experience with Tension Set diamonds, anyone?

Carole

Veteran

During our move a terrible thing happened.......the center diamond in my wedding band was lost. I looked down at my hand and thought my ring didn't look right but because my vision is so bad I had to put my readers on to see that the diamond was gone:( it's my own fault, I didn't have the prongs checked often and was wearing it crashing and bumping into everything while we moved.

My husband wants to replace the diamond and I'm looking at a new style, after all it's been 31 years and it would be fun to have something new. I found very fe that I liked and have focused in on a tension set style shown below...the tension set is tricky and only certain few jewelers offer this style.

I'm worried about the security of the setting and also the practicality of it as it can't be sized in the future. Do any of you have any thoughts or experience about this style?

Thanks for reading my sob story!

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Echo

Peri

Veteran

Just in case, have you looked in your purse? I lost a stone in a moissanite ring once and I remembered banging it against the door frame on the way out the door, it wasn't until later that I noticed it was gone, and went into a panic...not diamond but not cheap either!

Then later I thought to look in my purse because I thought maybe my hand went in there to fish out keys right after the banging incident...sure enough, the little stone was hiding in the bottom of my purse. Wishing such a happy ending for you.

Those rings are beautiful, but they also scare me. I don't know anything about them though.

deb

Veteran

I have a tension set green tourmaline. I have had it for years and had it custom made by a jeweler in Scottsdale. It had held up well and I have put it through a lot.

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abc

Veteran

No experience but those pics make me worry! I can tell I am less of a risk taker than you

Carole

Veteran

Peri, thanks for your helpful suggestion...I think I did rummage through my purse in a panic because it was when I went to get my wallet to pay for something, I felt my ring catch on something. Definitely getting insurance on the new ring!

Deb, that's a beautiful ring, so classy and unusual. I'm happy to know you have had no issues, it seems to be repeat her unusual and of corse all the Jewelers that don't do this type of setting make it seem risky, but I'm wondering if that's just a sales tactic!

Carole

Veteran

ABC, I know, they look scary, right?

Echo

Veteran

I am so sorry about your diamond. I hope it was insured.

Tension settings are quite secure and will generally only risk losing a stone with a fairly huge amount of force exerted on the ring. That's something that is hard to miss, unlike prongs wearing away over time. Of course, any setting can fail, but tension settings are certainly no less secure than prong settings.

That said, the average tension setting exerts THOUSANDS of lb/sq inch, so regardless of the quality of the diamond you buy, have it insured prior to having it set. And although some jewelers claim to be able to resize a tension setting, it is not recommended; it is usually suggested you have the setting re-made in the proper size.

Something that could give you a similar look and equal security, along with being something more jewelers would be comfortable working with would be a bezel or semi-bezel. Many semi-bezels look a lot like tension settings, too.

Echo

Veteran

Beautiful ring, deb! And unusual, too, as most jewelers won't set anything under a 9 on Moh's scale in a tension setting!

abc

Veteran

Looks like Echo has a lot of knowledge. Good luck and keep us posted.

Carole

Veteran

Sadly, no insurance

Carole

Veteran

Sadly, no insurance but I won't make that mistake again, that's for sure. And wow, Echo, you seem really educated on tension mountings! You must have experience, that's evident! It seemed the sizing issue was the main negative and not sure if that's really an issue....do people need to resize their rings. I never had mine resized in 31 years...perhaps that changes when you get older.

I have seen a few bezel settings but to be honest this is the only style that I have even felt excited about, I've been to 6 stores!

deb

Veteran

My ring was made specifically for my finger so there may be something to the sizing issue.

bj1111

Veteran

if i were to get married again (which apparently is the only way i will get a new ring according to hubs) i would go with the three that you've posted.

jackiec

Veteran

I am SO sorry you lost your diamond. It happened to me once when I was making the bed and my finger/ring got stuck under the mattress/bed. Fortunately I heard it "ping" onto the floor and had it repaired.

No advice on the strength of the setting. Mine is kind of like that in that it appears to be floating but it is attached only at the top with prongs. I love the look.

The rings you've shown are gorgeous. I hope they will work out.

Anonymous

So sad! I hope your stone turns up. The tension settings look both modern and scary to me, but it sounds like Echo knows her stuff.

I have a Moissonite stone in my engagement ring now (long story) and I love it. Like Peri said, they are not cheap, but a fraction of the price of a diamond.

Susie

Veteran

When I got married for the second time (9 years ago), I seriously considered a tension set ring because I think they are gorgeous- unusual and very cool. I ended up with something different because I decided that I preferred more of a band look than a single stone. (I only wanted to wear one ring).

I don't think that I would be more concerned about the security of tension vs prongs. I'm sorry that you lost your stone but I'm glad you get to pick a new one! Please let us know- and show us!- what you decide on.

MsMary

Veteran

If you think there's a chance you lost it at home, try going through the vacuum cleaner bag or filter. My mom lost her diamond and my dad found it when he sifted through the stuff from the vacuum.

I would be way too petrified to get one of those rings! LOL

Carole

Veteran

BJ-lol! It's not worth the hustle, I'm mean hassle,trust me!

Jackie, so lucky you found your diamond!!!!

Claire, thanks...I've never heard of Moissonite...need to check into that.

Susie, thanks for your input...part of the reason for my choice is my very large hands and long fingers...most rings look lost on me or too dainty...need big stone (gulp) and a band with some substance.

Mary, I've searched high and low and took extra care vacuuming to see if I could stir it up from somewhere, but I think I lost it in the mall, maybe the parking lot:( it's probably adorning some groove in the pavement somewhere.

Anonymous

A tension setting holds the diamond in place with a compression spring and a diamond is hard enough to handle it. A nice thing about the tension setting is that a lot of light shines through the diamond. As long as the bench jeweler is competent in wirking with this setting you should have no problems.

I once tried on a semi bezel and really loved the look, but in the end went with 6 prongs instead of 4. You know there are different prong styles as well you could look into.

If you want to check out different settings including tension settings try http://www.jamesallen.com or whiteflash.com even Blue Nile. I just like to visit these sites and just drool over the bling!

MsMaven

Veteran

I'm reading this with great interest--it's time to have my 40 yr old diamond reset. I've just begun to think about new settings.

My Mom lost her diamond while casting during a fishing trip. I can imagine some lucky person came along later, caught a nice trout, and slit it open to find a diamond inside.

Insurance quotes for my ring have been quite expensive. If I had insurance, by now I would have paid in the replacement cost a few times over. If I'd lost the ring early on I guess I would have felt bad, but it didn't happen. Ask your agent for a quote before you buy a new diamond. I remember for my ring it was $1,500 a year and this was 20 years ago.

deb

Veteran

Aw, drool worthy jewels. Here is the jeweler that made my ring. His store is fabulous.

http://www.jewelrybygauthier.com/

I have also ordered loose stones from this site because my local jeweler was unable to get what I wanted for the ring below. I replaced broken opals.

http://www.africagems.com/

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Carole

Veteran

Lara, thanks for the helpful suggestions and input! You seem very educated in jewelry, also:)

Msmaven, oh your poor mother. No hope of finding that bugger. At least for awhile I felt it might just show up but I've been waiting since April and it hasn't knocked at my door yet:( and I had no idea the insurance was so expensive, good heavens, that is definitely something I need to consider. Geez it's not the hope diamond, right?

Thanks, Deb! Your jeweler is de finely talented...I guess that's another route...to have something custom made but I always like to know exactly what I'm getting! Beautiful ring! So unusual! I love the amethyst (is that what they are?) such a fun style.

Echo

Veteran

Wow, MsMaven, my insurance isn't that expensive, and it includes coverage for "mysterious disappearance". Of course, most coverage is also different today in that the insurer will cut a check to the jeweler you choose to replace your stone or ring, and they will not cut a check to you like they did in the past. I don't know if that would make a difference in the cost of coverage, but I do know that insurance through reputable agents and companies is nowhere near that price for my ring. Then again, if your ring is worth ten times the cost of mine, then perhaps coverage is appropriately higher (though mine wasn't inexpensive)!

ETA: The cost through Perfect Circle for a $100,000 ring with a $0 deductible would be $1,500/year.

Carole

Veteran

Echo-well that's a relief. I was beginning to think maybe I should skip the whole thing all together. I'm anxious to check with my agent now!

Echo

Veteran

^ That's definitely the best approach. The cost of coverage can vary according to the area you live in, as well. And be careful of simply adding a rider to your home-owner's insurance, as many people run into issues with that if they lose their diamond/ring anywhere other than home, or they find out that it only covered up to $X amount when they should have had coverage for more.

Of course, many people do NOT insure. Basically, the insurance company is betting you will not lose your ring, and they couldn't afford to insure you if they were wrong very often. Still and all, I think it's a good policy to insure anything that you could not easily afford to replace if it were stolen or lost.