3-Prong (Martini)
Three claws in a shallow V, like a martini glass. The stone sits low and close to the ear.
- Good
- Sits flat, snags less, shows a lot of the stone.
- Watch
- Slightly less metal holding the diamond than a four-claw.
Setting
What is a diamond setting, and which one should I pick?
The setting is the metalwork that holds the diamond. Claw (prong) settings lift the stone into the light for maximum sparkle, a bezel wraps a protective rim of metal all the way around it, and a halo rings the centre stone with smaller diamonds to make it look larger.
People shop for the stone and inherit the setting, which is backwards — the setting decides how the diamond catches light, how large it looks, how likely it is to snag on a sweater, and how often you will need to have it checked.
The core trade-off is light against protection. The more metal touching the diamond, the safer it is and the less light reaches it. Claws are mostly air, so the stone glitters from every angle but sits exposed; a bezel is a continuous wall of gold, so nothing can catch it but its edge is hidden.
Match the setting to the life it will live. Hands in and out of gloves, keyboards, small children and gym bars all argue for a bezel or a low three-claw martini. A piece worn on occasions can afford a raised six-claw.
Every setting, drawn
What holds the diamond, and what each choice costs you in light or protection.
4-Prong (Basket)
The classic. Four slim claws lift the diamond so light enters from every side.
- Good
- Maximum sparkle, and the stone looks larger for being raised.
- Watch
- Raised settings catch on knitwear; check the claws once a year.
6-Prong (Tiffany)
Six claws, the most secure of the open settings, and a rounder outline.
- Good
- The safest way to hold a large or important stone.
- Watch
- More metal over the stone means a fraction less light.
Bezel
A continuous rim of gold wrapped fully around the diamond's edge.
- Good
- The most protective setting there is. Nothing to snag — ideal for hands-on lives.
- Watch
- Covers the stone's edge, so it can read slightly smaller.
Halo
A ring of small diamonds circling the centre stone.
- Good
- Makes the centre stone look considerably bigger, and adds fire.
- Watch
- More small stones means more settings to check over the years.
Channel
Diamonds set in a groove between two walls of metal, flush with the surface.
- Good
- Very secure and completely smooth to the touch.
- Watch
- Harder to resize a ring once a channel runs around it.
Pavé
Tiny diamonds set side by side in beads of metal, so the surface looks paved in light.
- Good
- Continuous sparkle across the whole piece.
- Watch
- The smallest stones can loosen over years of hard wear.
Choose by the life it will live
The right setting has far more to do with the wearer's hands than with the diamond.
Worn every day, hands-on
Bezel, or a low three-prong martini
Nothing stands proud to catch on clothing, hair or door handles.
Worn every day, desk work
Four-prong basket
The classic compromise — plenty of light, sensible security.
Occasions only
Six-prong, or a halo
Maximum presence; the exposure matters less when it lives in a box.
Large or important stone
Six-prong
More claws, more insurance against the one knock that matters.
Wants it to look bigger
Halo
A ring of small stones can add the appearance of half a carat.
Sensitive or active ears
Three-prong martini, screw back
Sits flat against the lobe and cannot work loose.
Looking after a setting
A setting is the only part of a piece of jewelry that wears out. Two habits are enough.
- Have the claws checked once a year if the piece is worn daily. A jeweller can re-tip a worn prong in minutes; replacing a lost diamond is a different conversation.
- Clean it with warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Most of what dulls a diamond is skin oil and soap film on the underside, where light enters.
- Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming pools. Bezel settings forgive this best; raised claws forgive it least.
Common questions
What is the most secure diamond setting?
+
A bezel setting, which encircles the diamond's girdle in a continuous rim of metal. Among claw settings, six prongs are more secure than four, and four more than three.
What is a martini setting?
+
A three-prong earring setting where the claws taper down into a shallow cone, like a martini glass. It sits low and close to the earlobe, shows a lot of the stone, and snags less than a raised basket.
Does a halo setting make a diamond look bigger?
+
Yes, noticeably. A ring of small diamonds around the centre stone can make it appear up to half a carat larger, because the eye reads the whole cluster as the stone.
How often should prongs be checked?
+
About once a year for a piece worn daily. Prongs are thin and wear down with contact; a jeweller can re-tip them in minutes, and it is far cheaper than losing the stone.
Which setting is best for everyday wear?
+
A bezel, or a low-set three-prong martini. Both keep the profile close to the skin so there is nothing standing proud to catch on clothing, hair or door handles.
Last reviewed August 2026