Thinking about the practical aspects of buying engagement rings may not be romantic but it is essential in protecting your investment. Since engagement rings are worn all the time they need to be well made and the diamonds securely anchored in the setting to avoid losing a diamond or damaging the ring.

Engagement ring settings come with several different types that are sometimes referred to as mountings. These settings or mountings form the way in which the diamond is held securely to the ring and can be very visible and part of the overall design or they can be hidden and out of sight on the ring. Each option has its benefits and it is really a matter of both personal taste and overall ring design.

Prong settings are typically more closely aligned with the barely noticeable types of engagement ring settings. The simple gold, white gold or platinum hooks are most typically used with solitaire stones, stones in groups or large sized diamonds. These prongs are located at the edges of the diamond and actually hook over the surface, pulling the diamond into the setting and holding it secure. Engagement rings with prong settings are by far the most common.

Engagement rings will have different number of prongs depending on several factors. Generally there will be a prong at each corner on shaped diamonds but there may also be others down the length of the diamond.

Shaped diamonds such as hearts, pear shapes or marquis diamonds will have evenly distributed prongs on the ends and sides. Typically most engagement rings will have four to six prongs for each diamond.

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.

It is important to always have engagement rings checked on a yearly basis to ensure the prongs are all still secure. A jeweler can easily adjust the prongs in an engagement ring if needed, preventing the possibility of losing the diamond from the setting.