2 mm band for 4.6 carat, and bench in San Francisco

[rogue]

Hi all, two questions! I'm waiting for a stone to be set in a pretty typical 2 mm platinum comfort fit 4 prong solitaire setting. Mainly to wear around a bit and make sure I'm good with the stone's performance. But if I am, and if the setting is well done and grows on me, do you think 2 mm for a 4.6 carat round is wide enough?

Alternatively, do people have recommendations for a bench in San Francisco who could make a custom solitaire (if I did custom, I'd probably do a basket setting and would make it 2.25 mm wide).

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[LLJsmom]

If you want a basic, solid well done setting, nothing super fancy, try Derco's at the Gift Center. They do custom pieces, using CADs, but I am not one to trust myself to dictate and provide sufficient specific instructions on mm for a CAD, not to say you aren't. I have seen some of their pieces, and they are perfectly capable of doing delicate claw prongs. You just need to specifically request it.

I do think 2mm is enough for a 4.6 carat, if well and properly done. Some of Victor Canera's settings for solitaires are 2mm or just a tiny bit below, and I trust the integrity of all his pieces.

 

[rogue]

Yes I suppose that's all I want actually - a simple, solid well done setting, where prongs are symmetrical, hug the pavilion and are seated appropriately and resting against the crown without sticking up, culet appropriately low. It's amazing how hard that is to find.

 

[Aurora26]

Are you adamant on using a bench in SF? There are other vendors that are highly recommended for custom work, with David Klass in LA being one of them. I am working with him on a custom 6 prong setting for a 2.72ct OEC. Personally, I am requesting a 2.2mm shank as I tried on 2mm in stores and it's quite delicate. So for a 4+ct stone, personally I would even consider 2.5mm just for security's sake. Are you choosing platinum or gold? Either way, his prices are extremely reasonable. He has numerous examples on his Instagram that may fit your requirement of a simple, streamlined design, or you could even pick and choose elements from each. He has been very receptive towards my feedback on the CAD that we are working on - https://www.instagram.com/davidklassjewelry/

 

[tisfort]

A friend had her wedding set custom made at La Bijouterie in FiDi and it looks beautiful and sturdy. I met with the owner, Set, for a project and he was knowledgable and professional.

https://www.instagram.com/labijouteriesf/

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

I had my 3.6ct set in platinum and 2.3mm and am happy with it. It is still thin enough, but feels solid. You will have to determine what you think for yours once you get it in the temp setting.

 

[dmack]

Have you considered a tapered band where the shank on the palm or underside of your hand is slightly thicker and then narrows as it meets the stone? With such a large stone, this could help with spinning in case that would bother you.

 

[Cerulean]

Have you considered a tapered band where the shank on the palm or underside of your hand is slightly thicker and then narrows as it meets the stone? With such a large stone, this could help with spinning in case that would bother you.

This is what I would do.

I have a 2.4mm band and it comes to a beautiful, trim taper that gives the appearance of a thinner band. I have a 3-stone ctw ~2, and it is also platinum...my ring doesn't really spin at all unless my fingers shrink from the cold.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

2mm is fine, but I might do 2.2mm for a stone that size. Tapering in toward the stone is another good idea.

 

[Ionysis]

Have you considered a tapered band where the shank on the palm or underside of your hand is slightly thicker and then narrows as it meets the stone? With such a large stone, this could help with spinning in case that would bother you.

I do this with all my rings, it really works. Best of both worlds.

 

[rogue]

Great ideas everyone, thank you. So just to be clear, is it the taper that helps prevent spinning versus the wider band? For example, if I did a 2.3 mm band all around, would that actually spin more than a band that is 2.3 mm on the bottom and tapers to 2.1 mm at the stone?

Derco's looks promising, thank you @LLJsmom!

 

[Ionysis]

It’s the wider bottom. Hugs the finger better and also stops it wobbling back and forth on the finger as well as stopping it spinning.

 

[rogue]

Thank you again everyone for your thoughts. The prong work is really quite good (so much better this time than with the first stone I tested), so I’m going to keep the setting for the foreseeable future. It does in fact spin a bit but I’m going to see how much that bothers me. Some pics!

 

[LLJsmom]

Thank you again everyone for your thoughts. The prong work is really quite good (so much better this time than with the first stone I tested), so I’m going to keep the setting for the foreseeable future. It does in fact spin a bit but I’m going to see how much that bothers me. Some pics!

Where did you end up going?

 

[rogue]

Brilliant Earth. I know about the reputation on here but I had a connection and bit of a deal. It was a good experience overall, though I agree with some of the reviews I’ve read that their benchwork is erratic - same setting style with the two stones I tested, and the second was much better done than the first.

 

[LLJsmom]

Brilliant Earth. I know about the reputation on here but I had a connection and bit of a deal. It was a good experience overall, though I agree with some of the reviews I’ve read that their benchwork is erratic - same setting style with the two stones I tested, and the second was much better done than the first.

As long as it worked out for you and you're happy, that's what matters. Happy for you.

 

[rogue]

I got some good arrows on my iPhone so wanted to post! Also a nice black diamond pic in direct sun.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

I got some good arrows on my iPhone so wanted to post! Also a nice black diamond pic in direct sun.

Nice photography skills there! I have yet to master the art of catching arrows with a camera. And your ring looks great btw! So huge!

 

[Kim N]

It is beautiful and huge on you! Would you mind sharing the diameter of the stone?

 

[rogue]

It is beautiful and huge on you! Would you mind sharing the diameter of the stone?

Thank you! It’s around 10.8 mm.