Bee pendant

[Upgradable]

I started a thread over in RT, but it grew and mutated into a gross thing. Since I feel so much more comfortable here in CS, I'm going to ask for your opinions and input. Realistically, I have no money to throw at this, but I can't get the idea out of my mind!

It is inspired by the Tiffany Garden Bee pendant. In my ideation it has a yellow diamond body, a ruby head, bead set diamond wings. The original has a rose cut pear body, which I love. But I feel strongly that I'd like the body to be a visible yellow (like an actual bee). I've also had a secret desire to own at least one yellow diamond in my life. The ruby head is due to my current obsession with rubies. White gold setting because my other go to pendant is yellow gold.

David at diamondsbylauren.com has agreed to create this for me.

 

[LD]

Absolute GORGEOUS!

May I make a suggestion - feel free to say it's rubbish! As you know I make my own jewellery and I love making butterflys/dragonflys and that sort of thing. Just an idea but how about above the yellow diamond having a bit more of a body? Maybe black diamonds around the top edge of the yellow?

Whatever you do, this will be an heirloom. Bees were very fashionable in Victorian jewellery and they symbolised inspiration and love

 

[minousbijoux]

Stunning. I am idealess at the mo, but know that you will come up with something great, undoubtedly!

 

[Kim Bruun]

It's fun and fresh, but if I were to say one thing, it would be that I don't quite see how the ruby plays into the bee theme. I would perhaps choose a black or brown diamond for the head...

And then you'd have an excuse to commission another piece of jewelry, to cater to your ruby obsession.

 

[LD]

Typically rubies were used for eyes if that gives you any other ideas. Sapphires and rubies were commonly used in bee jewellery. I've also seen an emerald in one that was amazing. Piccie attached

 

[innerkitten]

It's a very nice idea. I like the combination of rubies and yellow diamonds.

Speaking of rubies Are you getting a lot of wear out of those pretty ruby and high karat gold earrings?

 

[Upgradable]

LD, that emerald bee is amazing!! I also like the idea of tiny beadset black diamonds arched across the top of the yellow body.

And IK, I love those earrings. They're the best vintage jewelry scoop up ever!

 

[Enerchi]

I love your photoshopped bee! I hope you'll be very happy with the finished project - because its going to be STUNNING! I think that yellow pear is incredible and with a beautiful ruby --- PERFECT!!

Nice pendant coming up, Uppy!!

 

[Jereni]

That's pretty cool looking! It'd be some lovely pops of color! I sort of agree with Kim that a black or brown stone might work for the head, but then again, that would also be more typical and expected.

 

[junebug17]

I love it! I like the ruby head - and it's a good choice since you love rubies so much. I think it looks stunning.

 

[cellardoor433]

I like the design a lot - as a suggestion, how about two smaller rubies as eyes, instead of a large ruby for the head? Or maybe a smokey quartz for the head (I am boring and literal minded, so can only think of bumble bee colours....).

 

[Upgradable]

I'm attaching a picture of the Tiffany original in the event anyone would like to photoshop any options.

Also, JbEG has a J/K pear rose cut stone. Do you think that would make a body with enough contrast to meet my desire for a yellow body?

As I look at all the chopping I've done, I think I'm trying to do too many things. Would simple be better?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That rose cut stone is reflecting color from somewhere else. J/K isn't going to appear yellow. But I do personally adore rose cut stones!

 

[Enerchi]

simple is better! Its going to be classic and a timeless statement piece, rather than tooo busy that you could tire of in a little while. That's my opinion

 

[LD]

Honestly Uppy I think the pendant would look stunning with just a yellow body (rose cut or otherwise). I don't think it needs anything else. If you want a little more yellow how about having a paler yellow diamond for the head? So, all yellow with white diamond wings?

Sorry I can't help with photoshopping but I hope sombody does and gives you a few options because I'd love to see how different it can look.

 

[Upgradable]

So, maybe just the pendant as is, with the fancy intense yellow pear?

 

[LD]

So, maybe just the pendant as is, with the fancy intense yellow pear?

Yes. Another option is a pearl head?

 

[pinkjewel]

So, maybe just the pendant as is, with the fancy intense yellow pear?

Uppy- I like this the best of the options so far- it really is a beautiful pendant as is so maybe just adding the yellow pear would be enough. I thought of maybe black rhodium plating around the head, and maybe the body- but not sure how that would look...

 

[Enerchi]

So, maybe just the pendant as is, with the fancy intense yellow pear?

I do like LD's idea of a tinted yellow-ish (lower coloured) diamond for the head - may be an OEC??

What is it that is making you rethink the original plan you had?? Sometimes, if there is an uncomfortable feeling I get about a decision - its best for me to step back, look at the options, then walk away from it for a bit. Input from all of us is great, but it will be YOUR ring, so what do you see when you close your eyes? Do you prefer the ruby head? a whiter diamond for the head? or a tinted one?

I do love the yellow pear - I hope that remains consistent!

 

[chrono]

Uppy, without a cap on the budget, the design can either be simplistic or end up extremely detailed and ornate. Yes, I'm absolutely no fun but I can see this thread going the way of your RT thread and mutating as well.

 

[Upgradable]

My eagerness translated into trying to add too many elements to the piece. One of the beauties about this piece is the simplicity.

I do like the idea of the lighter yellow for the head. Have the body and head bezeled in yellow? With white wings? Or is that again getting too fussy?

 

[chrono]

The simplest is to leave it prong set. Yellow head, black thorax, and yellow abdomen to give you the yellow and black striped bee. I know you prefer to add rubies in there but they'll be incredibly tiny and don't quite fit in with the bee design.

 

[Upgradable]

Uppy, without a cap on the budget, the design can either be simplistic or end up extremely detailed and ornate. Yes, I'm absolutely no fun but I can see this thread going the way of your RT thread and mutating as well.

You're exactly right! Simple but distinctive. Budget max is $2000. David thought he could meet that.

 

[Enerchi]

If it were my pendant, and I erred above saying "ring", but I would have white gold wings w I/J diamonds on the wings. I'd have a lower colored OEC for the head and the yellow body, prong set, and if possible, to milgrain a detail on the head only....that's where I'd leave it. The bee becomes tonal but interesting.

David has a great eye or combining stones, I'd trust he'll find the perfect head stone (!!!yikes!!!) for your beautiful bee!

 

[LD]

You definitely want the body metal in yellow gold because that will emphasize the yellow. David is a master at this so he'll make that work. If you use a lower colour yellow for the head that again, a full yellow body and head would work.

For contrast, I would go for white metal wings and white diamonds.

Simple, elegant and beautiful letting the yellows speak for themselves!

 

[Fly Girl]

The simplest is to leave it prong set. Yellow head, black thorax, and yellow abdomen to give you the yellow and black striped bee. I know you prefer to add rubies in there but they'll be incredibly tiny and don't quite fit in with the bee design.

I keep thinking that the Tiffany bee is either missing a thorax or a head. I"m wondering if what Uppy likes so much about the Tiffany design is the simplicity of the head/thorax combo.

I'd stick with the bezel settings. I like the head/thorax ruby a lot better than a black diamond. The best part, of course, is the gorgeous yellow diamond abdomen.