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Bye bye surprise stones...

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Patty

Patty

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 7, 2003
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4,479
They''re gone...the surprise stones that I had put on my wedding ring head. See...I decided that the head of my ring was too high and I really wanted 4 prongs instead of 6. So I had a new platinum 4 prong Stuller Solstice head put on my existing wedding ring. I had two 7 point diamonds here left over from when I had my wedding ring made years ago so I decided to add those as surprise stones.

I have always loved surprise stones. I STILL love surprise stones! My heart goes pitter pat when I see surprise stones! But when I had them put into my new ring head they stuck out like Frankenstein''s neck bolts...
 
So I hated that look....

I took the ring back and the jeweler moved the stones in as far as he could so that they would not stick out so much. That look was a lot better but then I really noticed that my center diamond wasn't very pretty.
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So...I had a prettier diamond put into the ring:
 
Now, I loved that new diamond...thought it was just wonderful...but...but...but...

Everytime I went to look at my new diamond, all I saw was the surprise stones sticking out and detracting from my pretty new diamond.
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I talked to the jeweler and asked if he could just take off the surprise stones and leave the 4 prong lower head. No go.

So...while I was buying a new head for my ring, I decided to go back to 6 prongs. See, I THOUGHT I was a 4 prong kind of girl. I TRIED to be a 4 prong kind of girl. I LOVED being able to see more of my diamond with the 4 prongs. But...I missed the 6 prongs. I missed the roundness and the symmetry of the 6 prongs.

I also missed something else...the HEIGHT! Okay, I admit it. I'm an 80s kind of girl. Give me a big old yellow gold ring with a super high 6 prong setting and I'm happy.
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Actually, the new head is the Stuller Solstice medium height. It''s 7 mms high, but the total height from my finger to the top of the stone is 10 mms b/c the head sits on top of the existing gold.
 
Awww, poor Franky, I bet his bride thought they were sexy....
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THey look good from the side view but I can see how they stick out to far. I''m sorry.
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I love the Solstice head. It just is perfect for me. I love how it gently rounds upwards. So...yeah, in hindsite I wasted about $250 having the other head put on my ring, but it lead me to figure out what I really wanted, so it was worth it in the end.
 
Very pretty on your hand, what a rock! How big is that?
 
Sometimes that''s what you have to do to know exactly what you want. I like the new head the idea of suprise stones was nice, but they did look a lttle like big ol Frankenstien!! Glad you found what was right for you!!
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Patty, it looks awesome!
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I love the stuller solstice head! And you know what???? There is nothing wrong with being an 80s type of gal!!!!!
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Your ring is really very timeless and elegant. I love it! The surprise stones were nice once they were adjusted but with that awesome SuperbCert stone and pretty sidestones, you did end up with the most appropriate setting.
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Yes, Christy, Mrs. Frankenstein may be disappointed now, but I''m sure Frankie has other attributes that she still admires.
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My center stone is .95c. It''s an I, I-1 clarity. I think you can see the color a bit through the side in the one picture I took.

BTW, I''m getting a little better at this picture stuff, if I do say so myself. Don''t we all aspire to be like Jennifer or Nan or Mara when it comes to photographing diamonds?

Yes, Kaliegh, I guess sometimes we do have to mess up a bit before we figure out what suits us. Thanks!
 
Date: 3/19/2005 2:51
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5 PM
Author: Patty
Actually, the new head is the Stuller Solstice medium height. It''s 7 mms high, but the total height from my finger to the top of the stone is 10 mms b/c the head sits on top of the existing gold.
Click to expand...
I think it is perfect now!! Looks great on you. I too love yellow gold. You did a great job!
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Thank you Jennifer and Kaili! You know Jennifer, you are right. Once I got this pretty diamond, I did not want anything to detract from it.

This picture shows the reflection of my camera in the gold. Now, if they had just tucked the little surprise diamonds down into that spot, I would have been happy, but I guess it wasn''t possible.
 
Patty, I think the final outcome is just so fabulous. It really makes the center stone stand out so much more...I never realized how much the surprise stones, in the way they were laid out in your ring, really detracted from the center stone. (LOL about Frankenstein''s neck bolts...I would never have thought it till you said it, and then...so true!) The prongs just elevate it so gracefully away from the band now. It looks wonderful.

Sometimes it takes looking at where you''ve been to see where you''re really going!!!
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Thank you Firegoddess. You, if anyone, know what it''s like to get what you think you want only to realize it''s not the way you imagined it. Of course with your ring, they did not do exactly what you wanted in the first place!
 
Tacky Gold!! *duck* Alj says that while I scoff at YG...I secretly wish to be a YG wearing gal...
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I have to admit that there are a few YG pieces that do make my heart go pitter patter, but I just don't know!! My jeweler's wife's e-ring, like mine but in YG with 04 pointers was really stunning, the YG really set off the diamonds, much as your setting does here.

I think it looks fabulous! LOVE the Solstice head, that is what mine is, albeit a 4 prong...I like how it gently curves esp since WF stretched it out more to fit my new stone in the same head, love the way the prongs round to hold the diamond. It's funny because the Solstice is in no way a unique head or hard to find, it's rather inexpesnisve in fact but I just love it! Good for the budget.
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You are right about the Solstice head, Mara. It curves up gently just the right amount. And yes, your head looks great with the new stone in it! My old solitaire had a head that curved up nicely and I regret that I didn''t save it when I had the new ring made. I swear every time I see a picture of the Solstice head, I save it b/c I love it so much.

Aw, come on Mara...platinum is SOOOO 2003. Yellow gold is timeless and classic, LOL. (I know they say it''s coming back, but you''d never know it when you browse Pricescope!)
 
OH I LOVE IT! I think you sold me on going up on the head. I want it higher so I can see the culet more.

YAY!! I wish it had come faster.
 
I think your ring looks great! I did giggle when I read about the "neck bolts" but I have to agree, they definitely detracted from your center stone.

Now I''m a bit nervous about my new Memoire setting, because I''m going from the 6-prong Tiffany-style that I''ve worn for 10 years to a 4-prong. Hmm. I''ve been excited to see *more* of the diamond but what if I hate it? Ack!

Anyway, I''m glad you re-styled your ring until it made you totally happy! Beautiful ring.
 
i love the new stuller solstice head, what a beauty
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Patty, i just saw a beautiful rose gold eternity ring on Fay Cullen, stunning! while i am not a fan of YG for the most part, though it does look great on some people (not me), i LOVE LOVE rose gold...it''s so romantic.
 
Ryans band has an inlay of white, yellow and rose gold "swirled" together. He''s a very "redheaded" person and it looks great on him. I look good either way really, Im neutral that way, but I have never liked yellow gold. My mom adores it.
 
Oh wow. It looks FANTASTIC. Much better without suprise diamonds. I like suprise diamonds too.. but they just didn''t work in your setting! That setting belongs just how it is now! Its perfect. Maybe you can get an RHR with suprise stones
 
gorgeous stone and setting. It looks fabulous!!!

me likey!
 
Patty, your new head looks Juussssttt Riiiggghhhtt! It really suits the proportions of the ring perfectly, and I like it much better with out the "bolts".

I know what you mean about having to try things to figure out what you really want. I replaced the head on my ring when I upgraded to my current stone. Then I replaced it again recently to lower the stone and go from 6 to 4 prongs, 10mm high to 8mm high. Now, I''d really like to raise it up just a little to maybe 9mm high. DH will kill me if he sees me do that. He just can''t figure out why I''m not 100% happy and done for good. I''m going to live with it for now. Maybe there is a new setting in my future somewhere down the road... and maybe I''ll get it just right that time!
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Patty, congrats on the new look head and diamond. I sometimes yearn a little for the old 6 prong settings, then swing back to prefering the 4 prong. It''s a pity you can''t have interchangeable heads!
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I swing between my yg and my wg/plat pieces too(
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sings ''I love being a girl'' )
That''s why I have sets in both colours...
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I recently tried on two diamond set eternity bands (1ctw) one white gold/ one yellow gold. Hubby took one look and said '' the diamonds look more sparkly set in the yellow gold '' He was absoultely right. I think that the contrast makes the diamonds pop.
 
Patty, I love the new head!!
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It''s just sooo perfect! At least everything finally worked out and you only wasted $250!! I''m having second thoughts on my entire setting which was around $2000!!!!
 
Thank you all for your input and replies. Ya know, I DO think that it now looks back in proportion. The other head was way too square and low for this wide of a ring. And yes, Stretch, it was only $250, not $2k! I''ll have to check out your setting to see why you are uncertain.
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Ame, I think my head is the same height as yours now. Isn''t yours the medium height Solstice? I thought you said that yours came to 10mms since yours sits on top of your band. I don''t know if I can see all the culet in my stone or not. There does not seem to be any space under the diamond that shows the light.

bluedawg, yours will be FABULOUS in the Memoire setting. I love that setting!

lop, I can sympathize with you for sure. You want it to be "just right" and one millimeter DOES make a difference! Can they raise your head a bit without you having to get a new one all together?

Bagpuss, LOL at "I love being a girl!" I never was all that girly girly except for when it comes to my jewelry! I live in casual clothes and I''m most comfortable in hiking boots and jeans. But yup, I do have that girl thing going on here.

Mara, that ring is gorgeous in the rose gold! I do dream of yellow gold eternity bands. I''d have to have Signed Pieces make one or two for me custom, or check to see what my local guy can do for me. I sometimes wish I''d had my 12 stone band of 3 pointers done in yellow gold instead of white. It was nice to wear it with my sapphire/diamond 3 stone ring while my wedding ring was in the shop, but I really prefer to wear my 3 stone alone on my right hand. So I do not wear that ring as much as I thought I would.
 
It is but your''s looks a lot more "open" than mine so it looks higher. I don''t know. I don''t know if mine is a peg, Im starting to think it''s not. But I am insane so that''s ok.

I really dig yours like it is now!
 
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