3 stone gem ring help

[packrat]

Sooo this is the 3 stone that I am coveting. I have a 3 stone sim (starts w/M) and I think I''m going to sell it and put it towards this project. I know this isn''t everyone''s taste, but from the second I saw it on Leon''s site it was calling to me. I never ended up w/a quote from him, and after Boom''s unhappy tale, I don''t want to take the chance (or quite frankly, spend that kind of money).

I''ve emailed Dana for help on the stones and cutting, and also contacted the lovely and much sought after Julia Kay Taylor.

Dana said any cut I like, he can duplicate. So, I''ll tell you guys what I''ve been tossing around and then you can tell me if I''m on the right track or not.

White metal, either white gold or Argentium silver. (I figure the silver would be less expensive, and I''ve seen on here that it''s beautiful) I just want plain metal bands, not pave-pretty as it is, it''s just not "me".

The stones, I was thinking something light/pale, like blue or yellow or even mint green. Rose cut ovals like the diamond in the picture, or maybe rectangular french cuts.

I want it to be delicate and pretty and different than a regular 3 stone. Do these ideas sound ok?

 

[Kismet]

Are you planning on 3 stones of the same color or 2 different colors? I''d go with the oval shapes personally. I think square shapes may look a bit off in the curvy bands.

 

[Fly Girl]

I like this idea a lot, packrat. Do you want the stones to have a lot of sparkle? I''m thinking something like topaz or zircon in the shades you like. Perhaps a pale yellow citrine for the sides, and white topaz for the center stone.

Lots of possibilities here. Maybe tourmalines for some pretty colors?

 

[LaurenThePartier]

What about some silvery/colorless spinel with some blue zircon sides?

Though, I''m loving the cabochon sides on Leon''s ring. Pretty combination of stones!

 

[litebrite]

I think it''s really pretty. Are you thinking rose cuts for all the stones or would you do cabs for the sides?

I could see a white topaz as the center as packrat says and amethyst or garnet sides if you go the cab route. I think part of the appeal of this 3 stone is not just the color contrast but the cut contrast. For some reason my gut says if you want to do more pastel side stones, I would keep to all rose cuts, and I would opt for baby blues and mint greens instead of a yellow because that''s a greater contrast, but that''s me. If Dana has any more of the Columbian emerald stuff in ovals, it''s a gorgeous shade.

Ditto Kismet on the ovals for this curvy design over rectangular and square cuts.

 

[packrat]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I was hoping no one would say ew that''s an ugly idea-but then again, heck I''d want to know if my taste sucks too!

I was actually thinking to do the same cut/color for all 3 stones but have the proportions like the LM-bigger in the middle and one smaller on each side. I never even thought about doing 2 colors! I know I want it to be sparkly! Maybe a white stone in the middle and pale blue for the sides?

I wondered about the whole square cut in a curvy band thing too-I couldn''t figure out how it would work, so I''m glad you guys mentioned it. I''ll stick w/the rose cuts I think!

Dang, now you''ve got me thinking about the whole visual impact part of it-LM''s having the big color contrast and all..maybe doing a light color and having all 3 be the same color won''t be as pretty?

I''m leaning more towards either blue or yellow (whether it be all 3 the same or for the side stones, or even as the center stone) rather than green right now I think. I think of the sun and sky and water and those colors really remind me of my kids for some reason.

I even thought about using my opal and having rose cut sides, but it''s like 9mm I think, so even on my index finger I think it would be too big. It probably will end up as a pendant.

 

[Stone Hunter]

I like this idea. I do think that they need to be ovals and that the sparkly stone needs to be in the center.

The PS designers are right about all they''ve said. Now all you need are some stones. Oh and a jeweler.

 

[Kismet]

I think blue zircons would be pretty or maybe those pale yellow grossular garnets or maybe mali garnets.

 

[arjunajane]

Hey packrat,

I really like the idea - in a way it''s similar to my JKT 3 stone (split shanks, etc).
One thing to note - I''ve never seen Julia do prongs, and I know she prefers bezels. I''m sure you could ask her to do prongs, but just fyi.

I also agree with others about using oval/round stones.
Sounds like it will be very pretty!

 

[packrat]

Ooo more replies!

AJ, good call on the prong/bezel thing..when I convo''d her, I asked if it would be better to bezel/semi bezel the stones rather than prongs, and she said we''d figure it out when I''ve got the stones and she can see them. I love bezels so it''s no problem either way. I wasn''t sure either, if she did prongs since everything we''ve seen is bezeled..it''s funny too, the similarities between this one and yours! Plus I''m hoping to have my own JM this winter..jeez I''m a big ole copy cat!!

Stone Hunter, I talked to Dana and he said whenever I figure out what I want for stones he''d do it for me, and Julia Kay Taylor will be doing the ring!

What would you guys recommend for pale blue or yellow? I see zircon and grossular and mali garnets mentioned so far. I''d like sparkly and not over the top expensive.

I''ll do some searches and look at some colors!

 

[arjunajane]

Exciting packrat!
Honestly, you''re not a copy cat - we both just have impeccable taste

I''m wearing my 3 stone today, I''m sure you will love it!

I don''t have anything original to add on the gems, except it may be nice to do all beryls - an aqua and 2 heliodores (yellows)?

 

[ma re]

If you''ll go with rose cuts I''d suggest high R. I. materials like sapphires, spinels, garnets, zircons, chrysoberyls... to make the most of the cutting. If you use "less sparkly" stones they might just let light go through, without reflecting much of it. I''d also keep the outlines of stones curvy, and maybe even suggest pear sides - they might work well with this design. Blue and yellow sounds like a nice combo, maybe a mix of ceylon-blue and unheated "buttery" yellow sapphires would look good.

 

[oddoneout]

I like the setting and I think it''s a great idea to get it replicated but add your own spin on it.

 

[pwendyp]

Date: 9/29/2009 3:54:45 AM
Author: ma re
...maybe a mix of ceylon-blue and unheated ''buttery'' yellow sapphires would look good...

This sounds lovely for this ring idea, and I love the whole shape and design of this ring. I think you are spot on packrat, with wanting just plain ''rails'' on the sides - it will look simple, but beautiful.

Something green might work for the centre stone, but in keeping with ma re''s idea, buttery soft yellow sapphires on the outers would be stunning. And, I love the rose cut in an oval - very unique.

Exciting project!

 

[packrat]

Thanks for the continued input everyone!

I''m still stuck between doing all blue or yellow or doing blue w/white sides and now Ma Re suggested blue and yellow together and that sounds pretty as well!

This is a blue color I like, this sapphire from Master Cut Gems. I''ve got a couple other pictures of colors too, to show. I thought about doing 1 each pale blue, yellow and green, ala AJ since those are the 3 colors I''d thought about to begin with, but I think it would be a chore to find 3 that looked great together, you know?

 

[packrat]

Here''s a pale yellow sapphire

 

[packrat]

oh heaven''s that yellow one was king kong size-sorry!

I did look for greens but they''re hard to find the right color I think! I tried to find a limey green like the color in some flower pictures I have but ''twas difficult! I could always post the flower pics and see if it''s a doable color or not!

This is a chrysoberyl

 

[packrat]

Really pale pale blue sapphire. It made me think of LTP''s suggestion of silvery/white.

 

[litebrite]

I did a bunch of mockups in paint of the various options. I am liking the buttercup yellow sides with blue center stone best so far of my amateur drawings. But I am sure that Dana will have a variety of stones and colors to suit your needs which will far outshine anything I can accomplish in 5 minutes. (Sorry for the pun, slow work day.)

I feel like doing a 3 stone in yellow with white gold, it will probably get lost. Agreed with Ma Re on high refractivity in whatever stones you pick.

If you follow the yellow and blue idea, I''d pick blue topaz or some aqua-colored blue stone and pale yellow sapphire like packrat''s photo.

 

[Novel]

Oooh, what a neat project! I''ve been liking that sapphire at MasterCutGems, too. Yellow and blue sounds fantastic.

Litebrite, your drawings are great!

 

[packrat]

Litebrite, thanks for the paint mock ups! Dang I wish I had some sort of program so I could play around too.

I don''t know if this link will work, but it''s a bridal canvas I did when I was planning on having us renew our vows. canvas

My spinel is similar to the purple flowers on the left. The yellow callas top left, blues middle right (hydrangeas and something else) and the greens above and below are kinda what I''m looking for.

I think if I were to do all one color I''d do blue. 2 colors, I''d do blue center and yellow sides. If I could find 1 of each color that went well together I''d think about that too. I don''t see us being in the market for me to have several rings made, so maybe in order to get all the colors I want, doing all 3 in 1 might be the way to go..if the right colors can even be found of course!

 

[ma re]

Sorry packy, didn''t mean to confuse you further with my suggestions

But when you said "blue or yellow" I must''ve understood "blue and yellow", since that is a combination I see used quite a bit in jewellery, and it can look nice. You could even use blue, green and yellow, but it''s tricky and would require a good eye to make it a balanced and visually pleasing piece. In that case I''d suggest not only going with three colors, but also going with three different shapes and sizes. For example a light blue oval center with a light green heart and yellow pear sides. If you make the pear a bit slimmer, and heart a bit larger, with oval being the biggest of the three, it could look nice. I''d also use colors of a similar tone (darkness), and that both blue and green are cooler shades, cause those might be easier to mix in such colorful arrangements (...than purply blue or yellowish green) in white gold. All in all, there are sooooo many possibilities.

P. S. I suggested unheated yellow sapphire because those are usually light yellow in shade, while heated/treated ones are more vibrant colors which are not as easy to mix and match (pastels almost never clash).

 

[arjunajane]

Hey pack, I''d love to try to help!

Tbh, I''m really digging the yellow and blue idea - I would love to make a piece with those colours - but they are the colours of our state''s AFL team, so I immediately think of everything football, lol..not suitable for high end jewellery ! (where I live) - for you, you don''t have that silly concern, so I think it''d be beautiful!
I''d definitely do blue in the middle and two yellows on the sides.

I don''t know what budget you''re looking at, but if you can''t do sapphs I suggest tourms for sure - here is a pic of a blue, yellow and green tourm for you:

 

[arjunajane]

If you wanted to do three different colours, how about a bright sunny yellow like the one above in the middle, but a pale blue (think aqua) and a pale minty green (garnet or tourm?) on the sides?



Here is another photo that is more "out there" - same as above but with a pink tourm this time..I know it wouldn''t be for everyone, but I reckon it works

Am I correct you want to stay away from the red/pink/purple area?

 

[cindygenit]

AJ, a fan of the eagles eh??

I really like the design of that LM ring.

Blue and yellow would be great, but IMO they both have to be very striking blue and sunshine yellow.

If you don''t like sunshine yellow, a soft creamy yellow or a more neutral beige or earthy tones (light brown) might work.

If you''re game, go bright/mismatched colours.
If you''re not, choose a neutral colour as one of your two colour options.

 

[Lovinggems]

I like the blue centre and yellow sides idea.

 

[packrat]

I''m at work so am being sneaky!

Ma Re, I would rather have all the same shape..would it look funny if it were 3 colors and the same shape/cut? I do really like the blue/yellow idea tho, so thank you for adding that!

I''m not sure about my budget either AJ! I might just check with Dana and see what he has and talk about prices and go from there..do tourmalines come in light blues? Like sky blue or powder blue? I can''t recall seeing one...doesn''t mean they don''t tho.

I like the sunshiney yellow colors, like AJ''s stone..the pillbox one, I forget, is it a heliodore? But for this I''d like softer paler blue/yellow/green I think.

Oh, AJ, yeah, I think I''d like to stay away from the red/pink/purples..I think my spinel covers that area..(well, the pink/purple part anyway), of the colors I like the most.

I''ve got some pictures saved, the ones above for starters, so I can send them to Dana and maybe we can go from there.

Thanks for your continued help! It''s so nice to get ideas from everyone!

Gotta get back..my cohort prolly thinks I left her! I''ll be back on this evening!

 

[AustenNut]

What an interesting project! I decided to do a little browsing around and came up with some different color combos to look at. All the pictures were pulled from gemselect.com.

On top I have a buttery/champagney beryl with a bluish purple sapphire which reminded me a lot of French/Provencal style.

Next, I have a possible combination if you wanted to have each stone be a different color (yellow, blue, & green).

Third combo is yellow and blue, with a bit of a more bright and vibrant blue.

Lastly, there''s another yellow and blue combo, with softer blues and yellows.

 

[packrat]

bwahahaha Austen that''s too funny-I spent some time this evening doing the same exact thing! I don''t know how to do it all fancy like you did, so I just copied the pictures of the ones I posted above and pasted them into a word document. I wish I had a program to alter them to ovals or something similar to what I want anyway, cuz I''ve got 1 oval and 2 step cuts haha. Still, it helps to get a better idea of colors together. I''ve got other colors saved too..boy I get all involved in playing like this and that''s all I''ve done this evening..bad Missi!

Thanks for adding the color combos Austen-I appreciate it!

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 9/28/2009 10:58:40 PM
Author: packrat

Stone Hunter, I talked to Dana and he said whenever I figure out what I want for stones he''d do it for me, and Julia Kay Taylor will be doing the ring!

What would you guys recommend for pale blue or yellow? I see zircon and grossular and mali garnets mentioned so far. I''d like sparkly and not over the top expensive.

I''ll do some searches and look at some colors!

So you have a stone vendor and a jeweler nailed down. Way to go!

Garnets are sparkly and so are Spinels! I''d mix the two of them for hardness (well the spinel) and sparkle! HTH