Anniversary Upgrade!! Mark Morrell Flame (w/BGD stone) w/matching Band by Mark Morrell :)

[CaliSun]

Flame and wedder together. They feel very comfortable together

 

[CaliSun]

Here''s my first attempt to re-create the awesome photo that BGD sent in real life!! I should have used a tripod - doh!

 

[CaliSun]

Okay, here''s the last one (for now!!

) I know, I got a little carried away, even with the camera battery dying on me tonite.

But I still need to get some fire shots and flower pics!! Yay fun!

Hope you all had fun looking

 

[KawaiiMira]

OMG! What a GORGEOUS set! I''m droooling over here!

 

[princessplease]

What AMAZING rings!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DiamondCat]

WOW what a beautiful and stunning set!!

The basket of the Flame is so beautiful and intricate, I loove it! How wide is the shank on the flame? It looks thinner than I thought it would.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Wowza! That is gorgeous

 

[CaliSun]

Thank you all for your sweet comments!! I got to wear my new pretties for the first day today - I didn''t get much work done, but it sure was fun!

Date: 12/23/2009 9:03:20 AM
Author: DiamondCat
WOW what a beautiful and stunning set!!

The basket of the Flame is so beautiful and intricate, I loove it! How wide is the shank on the flame? It looks thinner than I thought it would.

It really is delicate, isn''t it?

When I was making the difficult decision between the Torchiere and Flame, I came to realize that what I really love about the Torchiere is how it is slightly thinner than the Flame. But I love how the Flame is the same width all around (non-tapering).
I discussed this with Mark, and he confirmed that he uses the same crowns for both the Flame and the Torchiere. So, then, I really needed to decide which band I preferred...

Mark informed me that for the Flame, with a stone of about 6mm, he will craft a band at about 2.3mm wide. Above this size, he will craft a band at about 2.7mm wide or above. The main thing to keep in mind, is that Mark doesn''t want to ship out anything that is not well made. So if he feels that a wider band is warranted, he will recommend it depending on a particular circumstance. He''s a true perfectionist and intends for his settings to last for years and years.

For my particular stone (6.9mm), I asked him if he would be willing to go no wider than 2.5mm for the band on the Flame as long as it wouldn''t compromise the integrity of the setting - and left it up to him. I was pleased that he agreed.
I asked him to craft the wedding band to match the width of the Flame.

I think that the reason they both look so thin and dainty is that the Flame has a triangulated band, and Mark crafted the wedder with this same form in mind (wider bottom, thinner top) so as to diminish the rubbing against the woven elements of that spectacular crown.

Okay - - super looooooooooooooong answer to your question, but I hope it was helpful!

 

[Kelli]

So gorgeous! Love them both!

 

[vc10um]

CaliSun, they''re STUNNING! I''ve been in love with Mark Morrell''s work for a couple of years now, and he never disappoints! That BGD stone is also amazing! I''m just in awe!

Congratulations on your upgrade (and your anniversary)!!!

 

[qtiekiki]

Gorgeous!!!
Happy Anniversary.

 

[CaliSun]

Kelli - Thanks! Your ring is sooo beautiful - I''ve admired it many, many times!

vc10um - How sweet, thank you! I can''t tell you how many times I played that MWM Flame video from GOG''s website... Have you seen it? It''s mesmerizing! Ooo so pretty! His work is just so amazing.

qtiekiki - Thanks, I''m over the moon! (as if you all couldn''t tell!)

I adore your avatar BTW - so cute!

 

[DiamondCat]

Thanks for getting back to me! I read in another thread that the shank is 2.7mm and I felt that this was too thick for me but its great to know that Mark makes it thinner for smaller carat sizes

 

[CaliSun]

Well, the camera battery is fully charged now!!
We had a beautiful sunny day here in California today, so I took advantage of it and got some fire shots

I have to say, the stone from BGD is a real ball of fire!! And, the wedder Mark made is incredibly sparkly as well. The stones he used are F-G and are very fine, super super sparkly!!

 

[CaliSun]

This one is a fun one - I was lighting up the walls all day and tried to capture the fire

 

[CaliSun]

Finally, a hand shot in better lighting, with a fully charged camera that is not blurry!
Unfortunately, my nails have worn down due to the holiday hub-bub and my kitty cat didn't get the memo to ease up on the scratching. Little stinker

This is the last one for a while.... still need to take some flower shots

Just let me know when you all get completely sick of my pics and I'll give it a rest!

 

[vc10um]

Date: 12/25/2009 9:02:34 PM
Author: CaliSun
Finally, a hand shot in better lighting, with a fully charged camera that is not blurry!

Unfortunately, my nails have worn down due to the holiday hub-bub and my kitty cat didn''t get the memo to ease up on the scratching. Little stinker

This is the last one for a while.... still need to take some flower shots

Just let me know when you all get completely sick of my pics and I''ll give it a rest!

NEVER!!! We will NEVER be bored of seeing this stunner!

 

[icekid]

Date: 12/18/2009 11:31:24 PM
Author:CaliSun
I am so excited!


My husband promised me an upgrade for our 5th anniversary and I took him up on it

I like your husband''s style...

Gorgeous set!

 

[sparkle_zo]

gorgeous set, very very pretty!

 

[Skippy123]

Happy Anniversary, gorgeous Set!!! love it

 

[honey22]

Sheer perfection. End of story.

 

[Siamese Kitty]

Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous upgrade! I have been in love with MM''s work since I first joined PS and as a former owner of a BGD stone, I know that stone is a stunner.

Congratulations on 5 years- here''s to many more!

 

[CaliSun]

vc10um - Tee hee!! Thanks for sharing my excitement! I''ve been getting carried away - but they''re so photogenic and it''s fun!

and hello there, icekid, sparkle_zo, Skippy123, honey22 and Siamese Kitty

- Thank you all for your kind words and your anniversary wishes! I''ve never been big on wearing jewelry so you can all imagine what a big change this is for me. Never in my life did I ever dream I would own anything so beautiful - I really feel so blessed.

 

[loriken214]

Happy Anniversary and Congratulations on such an AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS gift.....I''m in awe!!!

Lori

 

[belgian_mussels]

Happy anniversary.

It is a shinning and stunning set. Love the wedder.

 

[motownmama]

came back to see if handshots were up and I was NOT disappointed - wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Blackpaw]

Droooooooool

no seriously, can someone please come here and clean me up...?

 

[CaliSun]

Hahahaa - - you're all too funny! Thanks so much for your kind comments!

I have to apologize, as I've really been a slacker posting better photos. I've been wanting to post flower shots and better hand shots (sans kitty scratches and poopie nails), but alas, time keeps flying by.... and my hubby hasn't surprised me with flowers lately, so I'll blame him

But I do have to share:
I just took the completed rings to be appraised (Nancy Stacy in Walnut Creek, CA) and she was impressed with Mark's work.
She has seen Mark's work before, but it had been a little while... In particular, she was very impressed with the craftsmenship on the prongs, the amazing white shiny polish he gets on his platinum finish and how incredibly symmetrical and precise everything is...
For example, on the wedder, there are 39 stones. ALL of them are ideal cut, and they are all of the same approximate grade, color and size.

When I relayed what I had in mind to Mark, other than noting that it would be a channel eternity, I told him that I envisioned a delicate row of sparkles - - With a perfect band of ideals - - he really delivered!!

I keep telling my hubby how worth the wait this was!

Okay - I really need to get some flowers and make this a better thread. Hopefully soon!!

 

[vespergirl]

Wow, the handshots are gorgeous - I love the set!!!

 

[Burk]

Gorgeous set!!