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It’s true that diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring material known to man, but that doesn’t mean diamond rings are invulnerable to damage. When it comes to minerals, hardness and toughness are different traits, and while diamonds are famously hard, they’re not terribly tough, especially when they’re cut in certain ways.
That’s why it’s important to consider the kind of wear and tear a diamond ring will face when you’re selecting the style and cut. In this post, we’ll look at some of the factors to keep in mind as you choose a ring. If you already have a ring, the following information will also inform you as to what precautions you can take to protect it.
Some diamond shapes (such as marquise, pear, radiant, princess, trillion and triangular cuts) have pointed corners and are prone to chipping if the points hit a hard surface like a kitchen counter.
Jewellers often set these diamonds with “V” shaped claws to protect their edges, but a hard blow to a claw at the corner of a princess cut diamond may still result in a chip. In order to protect these vulnerable edges, some jewellers use a unique new cutting technique called “chamfering.” This technique places a tiny flat facet on each of the corners, which blunts any blows and prevents chipping.
Nearly all diamond shapes come to a point at the bottom, and this point is called the “culet.” Since the culet is usually a sharp point, it is susceptible to chipping. In most settings, however, the culet is protected by the setting. Be cautious about any setting that leaves the culet exposed. Another problem is that if a stone is set too low, the culet can dig into the finger, making it uncomfortable.
A diamond’s girdle is the thin perimeter of the stone that divides the crown (the top) from the pavilion (the bottom). Diamonds with thin girdles are more prone to chipping than diamonds with thick girdles.
Princess cuts are especially prone to damage if they have thin girdles, and you’ll want to be careful with marquise and emerald cuts as well. The setting you choose can help to protect diamonds with thin girdles.
Some settings leave stones vulnerable to chips and cracks while others are very good at protecting the stones. Bezels, partial bezels and settings with V-shaped claws offer more protection than many other settings. If you’ve chosen a diamond with pointed corners or a thin girdle, you may want to consider one of these setting styles.
Tension settings, on the other hand, may put your diamond at risk because the mounting constantly exerts pressure on the stone. If you accidentally hit the side of the ring, the girdle will experience even more pressure, leaving the exposed sides vulnerable to even casual wear.
Anytime your ring snags on your clothing or knocks against hard surfaces, it could suffer damage. Therefore, you may want to avoid cathedral settings, which position the stone so high that it easily catches on things.
For maximum security, you may consider a diamond with rounded sides, such as a round or an oval or cushion. Without corners or sharp edges, your stone will be much less likely to suffer from chips and cracks.
As for the setting, look for a design that keeps the stone as close as possible to the band. Bezel designs are perfect for people with an active lifestyle who are concerned about the safety of their diamond rings and are also popular with young mothers.
If you choose a setting that features prongs, opt for a 6-prong setting rather than a 4-prong setting. The addition of just two prongs will reduce the likelihood that your diamond will be damaged or lost.
Then there is the other approach. Choose what you love and leave the risk to us. If a ring is well made, the risks aren’t eliminated but reduced. It then becomes our problem if you insure with us.. When your diamond ring is covered with Q Report jewellery insurance, you can always return to your original jeweller for repairs or replacement. Get in touch with us today to find out how easy it is to protect the things you love.
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