The purchase and selection of engagement rings is always a very emotional time. Most men purchasing rings or most couples looking at engagement rings look only at the overall appearance of the ring, not necessarily as to the exact way that the stone is attached to the ring itself. Keep in mind that diamond engagement rings are going to be exposed to a lot of wear and tear, so finding one that is beautiful but also well constructed is going to be important over the long run.

Mountings or settings are the parts of the ring that hold the diamonds into the bands on engagement rings. Some mountings or settings are very visible and are part of the ring design while others are almost impossible to detect. Either option is great, it is just important to understand the differences when selecting a ring.

One of the most popular and classic types of engagement ring settings is the prong setting. Like the name suggests the prong setting uses metal prongs or filaments to hold the diamond into the base of the setting at the band. They have a hooked top that clasps the top surface of the diamond, holding it into the setting base. Prong settings are generally only used on medium to larger sized diamonds or when the diamond is a solitaire in a setting.

The size of the diamond as well as the shape of both the diamond and the engagement rings will have an impact on the number of prongs required. Typically square or rectangular diamonds will have at least four prongs, one on each corner. Larger diamonds will have additional prongs along the sides.

Round diamond shapes in engagement rings often have four or size prongs to secure the diamond. Unusual shapes such as heart shape, triangular shaped or marquis shaped diamonds will often have four to six prongs, perhaps more if the diamond is larger than average.

While the prongs have to be sturdy enough to secure the diamond they aren't heavy, thick or bulky. Prongs need to be able to allow light to enter into the diamonds on engagement rings to allow the stone to really shine. One way that prongs are kept small is to have them form a basket that the diamond sits in, providing maximum support all the way around.

To minimize the number of prongs and increase the area where light can enter into the setting and the diamond, jewelers use a variety of prong styles. V-shaped prongs are used on corners of diamonds in engagement rings to minimize the number of prongs and maximum light area.

To avoid loosing diamonds from engagement rings have the ring checked by a jeweler once a year. He or she can easily adjust prongs on any style of engagement ring to ensure the diamond stays secure in the setting.