Prong setting/identifying stones?

I haven’t done prong settings but I want to give it a go. I have a cheap ring from China that claims to be topaz and no emotional attachment to keep me from trying to saw it apart for practice. Is there anything that I should be testing on these mystery “gems” to prevent disaster?

I’d be more concerned with the shape of the stone and the type of metal the prongs are made of. Round CZs in a silver setting might be an affordable media for practice.

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They’re ovals. One of those 5 stone styles so I have two pairs to play with and larger one. They’re definitely dyed so likely fake as well which is why I figured the costume jewelry bits might be good starters because they are decent sized. If I get good I have some stray earrings and a loose diamond I can reset.