4 vs 6 Prongs on a Round Diamond Tulip Basket
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio, Toronto · Updated October 4, 2026
Short answer: On a round diamond in a tulip basket, four claw prongs need a hidden halo or a gallery rail underneath to hold the prongs together. Six claw prongs turn into six tulip petals that support each other all the way around, so there is no room, and no need, for a hidden halo. Four prongs plus a hidden halo, or six prongs with six petals: that is the choice.
If you want a round diamond with a tulip basket, this is the decision you will make first. Here are both side by side: a 4 carat round on four claws and a 2 carat round on six.
Read the video transcript
If you want a round diamond with a tulip basket, this is the video for you. This is a four carat round diamond with four claw prongs. This is a two carat round diamond with six claw prongs. From the side profile, if you're going with the four claw prong, you need a hidden halo or gallery rail holding it together. Here we have a hidden halo. If you're going with the six, you can only do six tulip petals all around the stone. There's just not enough place at this carat size for a hidden halo. That's the difference: four claw prong plus hidden halo, or six claw prong, no hidden halo, only six tulip petals. Which one are you gonna pick?
What do four prongs give you on a round diamond?
From the top, four prongs show more of the diamond and give a round a slightly squarer, more modern outline. From the side, four prongs need something tying them together. That is either a hidden halo (a rail set with small diamonds) or a plain gallery rail. In the video the 4 carat round has a hidden halo.
What do six prongs give you?
Six prongs hold the stone at six points, so it looks rounder and softer from the top, and every prong has a neighbour close by if one ever takes a knock. Underneath, the six prongs become six tulip petals all around the stone. On the 2 carat round in the video the petals fill the space, so there is no place for a hidden halo at that size.
How do 4 and 6 prongs compare?
| 4 prongs | 6 prongs | |
|---|---|---|
| Top view | More diamond showing, squarer | Rounder, softer |
| Underneath | Hidden halo or gallery rail | Six tulip petals |
| Support | Rail ties the prongs together | Petals support each other |
| Feels | Clean and modern | Floral and classic |
Which is more secure?
Both are secure when they are built properly. Six prongs give more contact points on the stone. Four prongs with a hidden halo or rail get their strength from the rail. We go deeper on this in is a tulip basket more secure?
Should you choose 4 or 6 prongs?
Pick four if you want to see as much diamond as possible and you like the sparkle of a hidden halo from the side. Pick six if you want the most flower under the stone and a rounder look from the top. If you cannot decide, we show you both in 3D renderings before anything is made.
Not sure which one suits your round?
A free 30 minute video call with Clint or Karina. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.
Book a free callGet a 60 second estimateQuestions we get about this
Do 4 prongs make a diamond look bigger?
Slightly. Fewer prongs cover less of the stone, so a little more diamond shows from the top.
Can a six prong round have a hidden halo?
On larger stones it can. On the 2 carat round in the video, the six petals take up the room a hidden halo would need.
Is a tulip basket only for rounds?
No. It works with every shape. See all six in our tulip basket guide.
How much does a round tulip basket ring cost?
A fully custom ring from us starts at about $4,000 USD, and most of the rings we build land between $4,000 and $5,000. Our Ready To Order settings start at $1,299 CAD, plus the diamond. The centre stone moves the price most: in September 2026 a 2 carat lab grown diamond ran about $2,500 CAD and a 3 carat about $2,700 CAD. Hand engraving, a hidden halo, a split shank and gemstones in the petals each add bench time. Real numbers are in our cost guide.
Are round diamonds coming back?
We think so. A round in a tulip basket looks classic from the top and completely new from the side.
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