"Prong setting" refers to the use of metal projections or tines, called prongs, to secure a gemstone to a piece of jewelry. A prong setting is one component of what is known in the jewelry business as a head; a claw-shaped type of finding (typically 3, 4, or 6 individual prongs per head) that is welded or soldered to a jewelry item in order to mount a gemstone to the jewelry item.

The head can be hand made, cast or die struck, and it is made from some type of precious metal, such as gold, silver and platinum.

Heads used to prong set a gemstone come in a variety of sizes and shapes, depending on the shape of the gemstone, the size of the gemstone, or whether or not the gemstone is faceted or cabochon shaped. Common shapes of heads used in stone setting include round, oval, emerald cut, princess cut, marquise cut, pear shaped and trillion cut.