If your prongs get so low that you can't feel them anymore, then
beware! It won't take much to hit that prong on something and break it off. I've seen customers bring their rings in for a retipping and their
prongs will be low and broken. And I'll be shocked that they're still wearing their rings.
Why would anyone wear them in that condition? It amazes me.
Don't they realize how close they were to losing their big beautiful Diamonds?When you run your fingers over your prongs you should be able to feel the little domed nubs sticking up. If you can't tell, visit a local jeweler. Have them check it out. Prongs wear down so slowly over time that most people don't notice it. I would advise getting them retipped about every 7-10 years. It all depends on how often you wear your ring and what finger you wear it on. Rings on the pinky finger and index finger take a little bit more abuse and wear down quicker!
What ever you do, take it in for a cleaning and inspection. It won't cost you anything for the jeweler to make sure your prongs are strong, straight and holding in your stones. They'll scope it and check for cracks or stress marks. They'll also make sure the prongs aren't lifted and raised above the stones. Prongs should lay flat and flush on top of the stone's surface. Prongs that are raised or lifted will tend to get caught on gloves, sweaters and hair. Eventually lifted prongs will bend back and snap off. And if that happens, there's a good chance you'll lose your Diamond!
Have your local jeweler retip your prongs when they're low. Normal pricing is about $10-15 a prong. And here's something you won't think about... when you have them retip your low prongs, make sure they retip ALL of the prongs regardless! WHY? Because if you only retip a couple of the lower prongs, they will be built up to a normal prong height. But the other prongs will still be a little low. If that happens, you'll be able to spot the difference between the prongs. It won't look great. Get them all retipped at the same time and same height and your prongs will all look alike.
Get your prongs checked a couple times a year. Prongs take a lot of abuse. People are always knocking them and catching them. I'm surprised they hold up as well as they do. Having your prongs regularly checked is NOT a guarantee, but it will give you peace of mind!
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