Frequently asked questions:
Are tension set mountings safe?
Of course! Just like anything in life you get what you pay for. There
are many companies that claim to sell tension set mountings but really
they are not manufactured in a way a true tension set ring should be
made. A true tension set ring will hold a diamond more securely then
most 4-prong rings, and is just as secure as a 6-prong ring. If a prong-set
ring was hit with a high enough force the prongs would become loose
and the stone would fall out. In our tension set rings, the stone would
need to be hit with a force exceeding 100lbs (such as a very heavy hammer)
at a specific angle to become loosened. The stone is more likely to
be shattered in the ring before coming loose. And because tension set
rings use such heavy gauge metal to hold the load, the ring is nearly
impossible to deform.
Who manufactuers these tension rings and how do they compare to others?
There are only 3 manufacturers in the US that make high quality tension
set rings, and they are Steven Kretchmer, Gelin & Abaci, and Danhov. All 3 are very reputable designers that advertise in many of the major bridal and fashion magazines such as Vogue, Modern Bride, Town & Country, etc. However none of them created the concept of the tension ring. In 1981 a German-based company called Niessing invented the tension ring. If you saw one of Niessing's original rings it was like a giant intertube of solid metal around your finger and it was very heavy because a lot of metal was needed to keep the ring in tension. Steven Kretchmer was the first to bring the design to the US and perfect the work hardening process. This allowed the tension ring to drop some weight without sacrificing strength. Later Gelin & Abaci got into the tension ring business later followed by Danhov a few years later. Currently Gelin & Abaci sells the most tension rings as far as volume but Danhov has the strongest tension rings in the industry.
How are modern day tension rings manufactured?
It’s not enough to put a ring in tension to hold
the stone. You need to use exotic alloys mixed with the gold or platinum,
it needs to be heat treated and hardened, and it needs to be able to
withstand extreme loads. These tension rings manufactured by Danhov feature some of the most modern advances in work-hardening and alloys in the jewelry industry which is why they hold more load then anyone else.
What is the diamond quality used? Can I get a stone larger
then 1 carat, a different quality or a different shape?
The center diamond is SI1-clarity, G/H color, and side stones (if any)
are SI1-VS2 clarity, G/H color. For other diamond qualities, larger
stones or to select a stone from our loose diamonds selection, please
call us toll free at 866-659-1666 or email us at sales@dyjewels.com.
For different shapes, many of our ring designs can be made to hold a
diamond of a different shape. Please contact us as well for these requests.
What kind of alloys are available?
We have 14K and 18K gold in all colors (yellow, white, pink) as well
as 950 Palladium and 950 Platinum. If you are considering a white metal
alloy, do yourself a favor and pick palladium or platinum. Palladium
is in the platinum family of metals and is just as beautiful as platinum
but not as heavy. It is a very expensive metal like platinum and is
being used more and more by high end jewelers. Platinum and Palladium
are both pure white metals and do not need to be rhodium plated for
added whiteness. White gold does need to be plated due to the fact there
is gold in the alloy which is naturally yellow and then mixed with white
metals to give it a whiter appearance, but it still needs to be rhodium
plated and may need to be touched up from time to time by a local jeweler.
We always recommend a pure white metal alloy such as 950 Palladium and
950 Platinum which are 95.0% pure.
How much tensile load does the ring hold?
This varies on each design of course, but generally our tension rings
are designed with a clamping force of around 42,000-50,000psi. Our nearest
competitor only uses somewhere in the order of 13,000-20,000psi in their
rings. Other manufactures claim their rings are tension set when in
reality they only hold about 3,000-5,000psi and would not be suitable
for daily use.
How is the ring designed?
Every single tension ring is custom designed using CAD/CAM software
for your specific diamond and ring size. Detailed measurements are made
of the diamond itself, and the profile of the girdle portion of the
diamond that’s being held on each side is carved out by computer
for an exact match. This is done so that every single little facet of
the diamond where it's being held makes the best possible contact to
evenly distribute the load placed on the diamond. This is why our tension
set rings can hold so much more load then our competitors. We even determine
the optimal position of where the diamond should be held for the best
possible fit.
What stones can be placed in the setting?
Because of the extremely high compressive forces on the stone holding
it in place, the stones used typically have to be of a very hard material
and fairly clean. A diamond is of course the hardest substance on earth
with a hardness of 10, sapphire and ruby can also be used provided
there are not any major flaws or internal cracks that would cause the
stone to shatter. Most diamonds of I1 quality or better never have any
issues. The highest loads exerted on the stone is during the manufacturing
process, so if your stone was set in an invisible tension ring, rest
assured it will be safe for a very long time.
Can you set my diamond for me?
At this time we do not set diamonds purchased elsewhere. Tension set
rings can not be set by your local jeweler either since we use very
complicated manufacturing processes to set the diamond. Also because
we warranty all tension rings against defects and stones against loss,
this would be impossible due to liability.
What kind of warranty do I get against the loss of my diamond?
We’ve never had a diamond lost due to a manufacturer’s defect,
but should this happen you are fully protected against loss. For more
details, please read our lifetime
warranty page (scroll to bottom for tension set rings).
Can my ring be sized later on?
Yes! But please do not take it anywhere to be sized. We will happily
resize it free of charge for you. You just pay $38 for shipping here
and back. Please email us at sales@dyjewels.com and we will mail you
out a shipping label.
Can my ring be polished?
Yes. Your local jeweler can lightly polish the ring to remove surface
scratches from time to time, however we still recommend sending it in
to be polished. If the jeweler should put any excessive heat on the
ring (over 250 degrees F) this could compromise the ability of the ring
to maintain its tensile load. However this is not usually the case with
a simple light polish and steam cleaning.
Can I place my ring in an ultrasonic machine to be cleaned?
Yes. Ultrasonic machines have no effect on our tension set rings.
What is the return policy of the tension set rings?
Because so much design and labor goes into making these rings they are
considered custom made and do have a 20% restocking fee if returned.
We are happy to exchange the ring for you at no charge for full value
towards anything else of equal or greater value.
Will she love the ring?
Of course! Everyone always does! Tension set rings are the most beautifuly
designed rings with clean modern lines and have a timeless look and
if done correctly are some of the most durable mountings that will last
many lifetimes.
