Bubble bands, with shared prongs securing diamond accent stones, are a popular wedding band style. We also get requests for engagement rings with bubble bands, like the below. People love this style because it looks delicate, like the diamonds are almost strung along the band and floating. But unfortunately one of our most-used adages at Hera applies here: if it looks delicate, it probably is delicate.
Why are bubble bands so delicate? The diamonds are only held in by one shared prong at either end, which isn't enough to properly hold them in. These bands are well-known to drop a lot of stones as a result.
I wouldn't generally recommend using only one prong at either end of any stone, but shared prongs compound the problem. They're responsible for holding in two stones rather than one, which means the setter has to cut a seat into both sides of the prong to set the two diamonds. This leaves very little metal in the center of the prong to actually do the work of holding the diamonds in place.
One of our specialties is helping our clients achieve the look they're going for, while also ensuring that their ring is truly built to last. When clients come to us interested in a bubble band setting, we suggest either encasing the accent stones in thin bezels or adding additional prongs at the top and bottom of the stones to better secure them. Here's an example of a bespoke marquise wedding band we made for a client who was originally interested in a bubble band. The extra prongs keep the ring much more secure, but the look is still delicate.
Interested in collaborating with us to turn your bubble band inspiration into a durable ring? Come hang out with us for a complimentary consultation!
