{"id":8345,"date":"2019-01-27T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2019-01-27T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=8345"},"modified":"2019-01-27T09:07:27","modified_gmt":"2019-01-27T14:07:27","slug":"what-are-tension-set-mountings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/what-are-tension-set-mountings\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT ARE TENSION SET MOUNTINGS?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tension<\/div>\n

“I’m so tense!”<\/h2>\n

\nTension settings are very interesting types of mountings (see some great examples HERE!<\/a>) <\/p>\n

\nThey are pretty popular, but for the life of me, I can’t tell you why.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can you tell I’m a big fan?<\/h2>\n

\nI believe the ladies like the look of tension set mountings because they’re very clean and attractive. The diamond seems to magically float in the mounting<\/strong>, suspended by nothing but air.<\/p>\n

\nThe diamond isn’t surrounded by bezels, prongs, heads, channels or even baskets… Just the diamond and the mounting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSimple as that.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But…<\/h2>\n

Tension settings are usually wider and taller<\/strong> than most settings are because they have to be deep enough to hold the entire solitaire in its grip (see picture). <\/p>\n

\nThe diamond is usually stuck between two heavy pieces of mounting and the mounting itself is what does all the magic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The mounting has little notches or grooves cut into the sides<\/strong> of it so that the edge of the diamond can rest into it (like a slot machine for your girdle). The edge of your diamond goes into those grooves and the mounting is pushed together locking your stone securely into place.<\/p>\n

Tension and pressure…<\/h2>\n

But tension settings are not easy mountings to work with<\/strong>. They’re called “tension<\/strong>” settings for a reason. <\/p>\n

\nJewelers feel the tension while setting diamonds into the mountings…<\/p>\n

\nThe mountings have to be pushed together with the diamond in between them with just enough force and pressure<\/strong> so that the diamond doesn’t turn or spin in the mounting. <\/p>\n

\nBut, at the same time, not so much pressure<\/strong> that it chips, cracks, or breaks the edge of your pretty little diamond.<\/p>\n

Visualize this:<\/h2>\n

\nPut an egg in your hand and squeeze as hard as possible<\/strong> without<\/strong> breaking it. <\/p>\n

\nTense?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nNow picture that egg is worth thousands of dollars. See the pressure jewelers are under? Precision, talent, accuracy and luck is what it all boils down to.<\/p>\n

It’s not something that I would want to do. I can’t even watch the jewelers as they’re doing it. I have to cringe and look away<\/strong>. The last thing you want to hear is that “crunch<\/strong>” as the diamond breaks… <\/p>\n

\nAfter all, the girdle is the weakest part of the diamond<\/strong>, so if something’s going to give, that would be it. <\/p>\n

\nIt’s not for the faint of heart.<\/p>\n

The real question is: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Are tension settings right for you?<\/h2>\n

I say sure! Why not? They look great. They let tons of light into a diamond<\/strong>. There’s little maintenance to be had. Nothing to get caught or snagged… <\/p>\n

It sounds awesome, right?<\/h2>\n

\nBut is it? Yes, as long as you keep a few things in mind<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If your stone comes loose<\/strong>, the jewelers will have to once again squeeze your mounting back together again to tighten it and possibly crack your stone.<\/li>\n
  2. If you need your rings sized or repaired<\/strong>, the jewelers have to make sure that the tension in the mountings are still strong enough to hold your diamond securely.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \nYou see, sizings or reshapings can weaken the structure of the ring<\/strong>. Even simple cleanings and polishings could put too much pressure on the mountings and loosen them. The mounting always needs to be checked for durability<\/strong> and the stone checked for tightness.<\/p>\n

    \nLet’s keep going…<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. If you accidentally <\/strong>hit your diamond, the diamond could come loose, spin in the mounting, fall out (or be knocked out), and possibly chip the edges of the diamond<\/strong> in the process.<\/li>\n
    2. If you catch your setting and pull it back<\/strong> from the diamond, more than likely you’ll lose your stone.<\/li>\n
    3. Tension settings tend to make your diamond look a little smaller<\/strong> because parts of it are covered up with heavy mounting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      So here’s my advice:<\/h2>\n

      \nIf you like tension settings, buy them. <\/p>\n

      \nJust be careful you don’t bump your diamond<\/strong> (it leaves the edges of the girdle open and vulnerable to strikes), and if you do notice that your diamond spins or rotates in the setting, then take it to a local jeweler and have them tighten it up again (and cross your fingers they don’t chip the stone).<\/p>\n

      You just never know. There are no guarantees in life<\/strong>. If you do buy a tension set mounting…<\/p>\n

      Get it insured!<\/h2>\n

      \nYou may never need it. You could wear it for 80 years and never have to do a thing with it… But every now and then…<\/p>\n

      “CRACK!”<\/h2>\n

      \nCan you take the pressure?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \nCheers! :)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      “I’m so tense!” Tension settings are very interesting types of mountings (see some great examples HERE!) They are pretty popular, but for the life of me, I can’t tell you why. Can you tell I’m [Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,3,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diamond-guide","category-diamonds","category-engagement"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8345"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8345\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}