Creating Common Prong Tips

By Joel McFadden

What exactly are prong tips? Tips are the parts of prongs that show on top of the table of a center stone. There are four primary types of prong tips: round, tab, claw, and petite claw. In some cases, the tip shape is determined by the length and shape of the prong, but different techniques can be used to alter those shapes. Prong tip choice is usually an aesthetic preference except with shorter prongs, which often require round tips be used due to not having enough metal to fold over and properly secure the stone.