Bench (setting) recommendation?

[chrono]

I've decided that I have sat on my hands (stones) long enough and it's about time to get a few set. The problem is who do I approach for this particular work? The design is simple and straightforward enough but the execution will be difficult. Any idea who will be best to bring it to fruition? I'd rather not go the 100% handcrafted route; cast is good enough for me but the details need to be there.

The center stone is a 8 x 10 mm colour shifting purple to blue Vietnamese spinel.
The accent stones are pale pink diamonds. Not sure of the size but the picture below will give you some perspective.

Not sure what metal colour yet but the bezels MUST be rose gold to amp up the pink FCDs.
Not sure what metal the flowers, shank nor basket will be.
Because the spinel is a blue to purple shift, yellow gold sounds great on paper but does a two toned yellow/pink gold combo sound odd?
I can't seem to find any profile pictures but the prongs will be double U prongs on the spinel.

ETA
Went back to view the sketch and it is obviously not to scale. LOL! Looking at the combo, the size of the each flower might end up almost the same height of the center stone.

 

[minousbijoux]

Who set your chrysoberyl? Weren't you happy with their work?

 

[chrono]

WF set my chrysoberyl (which I am wearing at the moment while typing this). While I am 100% satisfied with their work, I am not sure if they are capable of such an organic design. I've never seen their bench do anything even remotely close to being "flowery".

ETA
Does anybody have problems viewing the sketch in the PDF file?

Additional Note:
Just saw Kismet posting to me in a different thread notifying that WF no longer accepts outside stones unless they are GIA or AGS diamonds.

 

[minousbijoux]

I had no problems accessing the drawing.

 

[chrono]

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier but a cell phone picture might work better.

 

[T L]

Who is that guy that set some of Freke's stones with organic flowers/leaves?? Was that Patrick Erla (if I remember the name correctly)?

ETA: Here we go, perhaps something like this???

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82708420/hydrangea-stacking-ring-sterling-silver?ref=pr_shop

Here's a photo where he prong set a stone in the middle of a leafy organic thing (not sure if it's a flower).

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65239860/sterling-silver-hydrangea-with-blue?ref=v1_other_1

 

[VapidLapid]

For proportions

 

[NKOTB]

Green Lake might be worth an email, they have a ton of floral designs on their site, including with bezels. They do apparently charge quite a bit to set outside stones, but you could always at least get a quote.

http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery.aspx??

Beautiful stones, btw, and I look forward to seeing your newest project develop!

 

[T L]

I would love to see that made with a combination of purple, high karat yellow and rose gold.

 

[rikalovespearls]

I contacted Patrick Irla a few months ago, and he said he absolutely will not work with a customer's stones despite doing so in the past.

 

[T L]

I contacted Patrick Irla a few months ago, and he said he absolutely will not work with a customer's stones despite doing so in the past.

More and more benches are doing this, and it's a shame.

 

[Upgradable]

You could talk to Adzia.

 

[stargurl78]

Green Lake might be worth an email, they have a ton of floral designs on their site, including with bezels. They do apparently charge quite a bit to set outside stones, but you could always at least get a quote.

http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery.aspx?????

Beautiful stones, btw, and I look forward to seeing your newest project develop!

Some of Green Lake's stuff looks really pretty! Reminded me of this jeweler who has some pretty amazing stuff:
http://huntcountry.com/HCJ/productFwd.jsp?type=rings&page=1

They set Kelpie's gorgeous pink tourmaline:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/passed-around-pink-tourmaline-finally-set.150385/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/passed-around-pink-tourmaline-finally-set.150385/[/URL]

ETA: If it were me I would do white gold with the rose gold. But then again, I'm only a fan of yellow gold with green, yellow, and orange stones...

 

[Starzin]

I second the motion for white and rose gold or rose gold only. I also think Adzia is worth talking to based on her recent work and some of the designs on her site. She did a lovely job on Uppy's ring (despite the prong trouble).

 

[JewelFreak]

It's going to be a yummy ring, great colors. I'd go for rose gold, period. Don't see the need for 2 colors of gold & imo a rose gold shank would further enhance the warm hues. Love your design idea.

-- Laurie

 

[T L]

This looks similar to what you want, but they're pricey, and I don't know if they do two tone gold, with rose gold (rose gold might jack up the price since it's harder to work with).

http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery_detail.aspx?ImgID=S15161

 

[Mike R]

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier but a cell phone picture might work better.

I really like your idea.
My personal opinion is I think your correct, a little rose gold for the bezels on your pinks will be helpful in playing up their color.
I think if you were to do everything in rose gold the pale color (judged by your picture, they may be pinker in real life) of your pink diamonds would be swamped by all the pink, resulting in them getting lost visually in the setting.
Nothing brings out the pink in diamonds like putting them next to colourless ones, if the budget allows they would look great with a super fine three quarter halo of white diamonds around them and their bezels. You could have the outside edge of the halo scalloped to promote a flowery look.

Alternitivly you could get a similar look by using little platinum beads to form the halo, it would be best to use more/smaller petals almost like a sunflower, to keep the side proportions smaller than the center stone.
Again personally I would only run the petal detail around the outside three quarters of the bezeled diamonds, that way they can tuck in nice and close to your center stone.

I would recommend doing everything else except for the pink bezels in platinum, this way the pink bezels/diamonds will really stand out in contrast against all the white metal. If you wanted you could add a little more rose gold in the gallery, that way it wouldn't distract the attension away from your diamonds or spinel.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Kismet]

Michael E. could probably pull off that design.

 

[chrono]

I contacted Patrick Irla a few months ago, and he said he absolutely will not work with a customer's stones despite doing so in the past.

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess shops cannot be faulted for trying to make an extra profit by sourcing their own stones.

 

[chrono]

NKOTB,
I was actually inspired by a particular GreenLake design but had to make modifications because the center stone is very large and I don't have the finger real estate to carry it off. The originial design is $5K as listed on their website but even if I remove the added bezels and vines, I highly doubt the price will drop by half.

Stargurl,
Thank you for bringing up Hunt. Has anyone else worked with them? If so, please share your experience.

Uppy,
Do you think Adzia can handle the scalloped flowers? I looked through her past works and noted that while she did leaves (and very nice ones too), she has not done any flowers except for one but it was pretty simple.

To all,
I think I will make it a two toned ring. I worry that having an all rose gold setting will overwhelm the pink FCDs as they are quite pale. I don't like white gold so PT it will be. Yellow gold with rose gold doesn't seem right in my head. So the entire ring will be PT except for the pink bezels.

I did more thinking last night. The flowers will end up quite large in proportion to the centerstone; perhaps 3/4 of the size. I might have the finger real estate to pull it off but the ring might lose that delicate touch. I could substitute the flowers for leaves. The bezeled pinks will remain but instead of the flower going around it, there will be a leaf or two curled around the diamond. What do you think? This might be a lot easier for the bench to execute and also keep the delicate feel of the design.

 

[Arkteia]

I browsed several etsy websites

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63201027/moissanite-leaf-custom-design-with

This is one of many rings on his website. It is not exactly what you want, I just wanted to show the quality of his workmanship. He seems to be very polite and nice to deal with although I never came to setting anything due to lack of funds at the time.

I do not know if Baxter Moerman accepts custom orders, but the rings on his website look nice.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/26359697/18k-rose-gold-botanica-ring

 

[tsavvy]

Your design looks like it will be beautiful -- I haven't worked with either of the jewelers identified below, but they both appear to be extremely talented and have several pieces with detailed engraving that seems to demonstrate a level of skill appropriate to tackle the petals/leaves you mentioned for your design. I think each has been used by one or two PSers, as well.

Scott Schreiber - Two Claws Jewelry: http://schreibersjewelry.blogspot.com/
Seven Fingers http://www.sevenfingers.com/

 

[Kismet]

Your design looks like it will be beautiful -- I haven't worked with either of the jewelers identified below, but they both appear to be extremely talented and have several pieces with detailed engraving that seems to demonstrate a level of skill appropriate to tackle the petals/leaves you mentioned for your design. I think each has been used by one or two PSers, as well.

Scott Schreiber - Two Claws Jewelry: http://schreibersjewelry.blogspot.com/
Seven Fingers http://www.sevenfingers.com/

Seven Fingers made my opal ring and he did a fabulous job and at a reasonable price too. That being said, if you want a very specific design executed, I don't think he's the vendor for you. He doesn't do CADs or drawings. You tell him your likes/dislikes and he runs with it.

 

[chrono]

Tsavvy,
Awesome links! Thanks. I think I died and went to heaven when I look at works done by 7 Fingers. The level of detail and realism is amazing. Pricing doesn't seem into the stratosphere either.

 

[chrono]

Seven Fingers made my opal ring and he did a fabulous job and at a reasonable price too. That being said, if you want a very specific design executed, I don't think he's the vendor for you. He doesn't do CADs or drawings. You tell him your likes/dislikes and he runs with it.

Kismet,
Could you please elaborate? I don't think CADs are necessary if the design is very clear to both of us. Does it mean that he is not open to other ideas? I just want double U prongs for the spinel, bezel the pink diamonds in rose gold, and have either some sort of flower or leaves accents, I'm good. Would something like that fly with him?

 

[Kismet]

Seven Fingers made my opal ring and he did a fabulous job and at a reasonable price too. That being said, if you want a very specific design executed, I don't think he's the vendor for you. He doesn't do CADs or drawings. You tell him your likes/dislikes and he runs with it.

Kismet,
Could you please elaborate? I don't think CADs are necessary if the design is very clear to both of us. Does it mean that he is not open to other ideas? I just want double U prongs for the spinel, bezel the pink diamonds in rose gold, and have either some sort of flower or leaves accents, I'm good. Would something like that fly with him?

By 'very specific design' I meant if you wanted control over the exact placement of design elements and angles and such and really left nothing creative up to him. Giving him a list of elements you want and letting him combine them as he sees fit is how he seems to work, so I think your list would be fine, although looking at his work again prongs don't seem to be his forte. But by all means, call him up and ask. He's quite nice

There's no agreeing on a specific design before hand. You send him your stones, your inspiration pictures pointing out design elements that you like and don't like and a list of wants/do not wants. You will be taking a risk that his interpretation of your inspiration pics isn't your interpretation. On the plus side, if you really don't like it he'll take back the setting and won't charge you for his labor. All you'll be out is some time and the shipping costs of your stones.

 

[chrono]

I did note that he doesn't do any prong work but has done at least one half bezel which I'm fine with. For all the "risk" involved with the very open design process, he also offers a very generous satisfaction guarantee to off-set that "risk". Thank you for your opinion.

 

[Kismet]

Also, here's the thread on my opal ring. I posted some of my inspiration pics there so you can see where he went with what I gave him.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/opal-ring-from-seven-fingers-jewelry.166336/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/opal-ring-from-seven-fingers-jewelry.166336/[/URL]

 

[Starzin]

I did note that he doesn't do any prong work but has done at least one half bezel which I'm fine with.

While his work is impressive (and Kismet's ring is lovely!) I'm not sure the level of finishing, for the design you want, will be what I've seen in your previous projects. Look very closely at the bezels etc in the 4th row of his ring designs.

On the other hand I think Wrought Gold (Arketeia's above http://www.etsy.com/listing/45505016/pure-palladium-flowered-pearl) is definitely work a closer look - the bead work on these petals is quite astonishing and I think you could say he's got bezels "down" too. Any shape you want in fact


I also think Greenlake has the level of expertise with the kind of elements you want and we know Mike (http://www.rdgnz.com/index.html) has the skills, not to mention amazing design/inspiration/execution, remember Klewis' Phoenix ring? https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mike-robinson-making-the-phoenix-a-mini-series.152118/


Handmade/pierced work does not have to mean rough edges.

 

[Kismet]

@Starzin: Those two pictures from Wrought Gold are actually computer renderings and not examples of his finished work. He does have some neat designs; I've been eyeing up his amethyst vine ring for forever it seems.