Colombian Emerald ring - help with CAD

[Drizzle]

Guys, I've finally secured my center stone Colombian emerald (thread for the search)!!!

After shopping around and inquiring a ton, I decided to work with Leejewelry from eBay to make my setting. I was worried about working with an oversea vendor but price was a huge factor, and after seeing some positive reviews here and the gorgeous end product (@2Neezers @lovedogs I'm looking at you!) I decided to give them a try. I'll be using my stone vendor's bench (who is located in the States) to set the emerald into the setting once it's done.

I decided to go with one of their off-the-shelf designs, tailored to my center stone size. After a few back and forth with them, I felt that custom design wasn't seemingly their cup of tea. They've sent me the CAD today...and I feel like something is off but I don't know what.

I guess just for peace of mind, I wanted to see what you guys thought. I know the CAD always looks worse than the real product. I'm attaching both the photo used in their listing, and the CAD.

I've asked them to add milgrain to the bottom of the basket, so each of those long, spidery metal (that eventually connects to the prong), will have milgrain details. Thoughts?

 

[Drizzle]

By adding milgrain on the bottom of the basket, I used this photo as a reference...but they're not able to reflect that in the CAD. And I'm having a hard time picturing it.

 

[2Neesers]

This design is going to look fantastic with your emerald! I haven’t had a custom setting made from them and have always had a stock setting made to fit my stone, so I’m not sure how their CADs reflect the end product. I’m wondering if the wires will be too thin to milgrain? If they say they can do it, I think I would go for it. Are you working with Kyo? I‘m just curious, since they seem to have a few people running their different eBay stores.
If you haven’t asked already, I would ask for a quote to upgrade to their best diamond melee. Their standard melee is beautiful, but I have upgraded the diamonds on the last few pieces I ordered for a fairly small charge. Especially if the diamond melee are larger I think it’s worth it. The upgraded diamonds are gorgeous, white and sparkly!

 

[Drizzle]

Thank you so much for your advice @2Neezers!!

I'm working with someone named "Ary" - although I mentioned that I found them via Pricescope. I already asked for diamonds upgrade (good thing I read every post I could find on this vendor lol!!).

So you think milgrains on the wires is better than as is, right? I should go for it?

 

[2Neesers]

I would go for it they said the can do it. I think it will look pretty! II looked through my settings from their store and I don’t have any with milgrain on the gallery wires, but one has very fine milgrain on the band and it looks great. I can’t wait to see your finished piece

 

[chrono]

I would definitely upgrade the diamonds. As for milgraine, I prefer the smooth looks as everything seems to flow to my eye.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

Can't wait to see this ring. I have a pretty aquamarine that I wanted to set in this setting using white gold and upgraded diamonds. I'm not ready to do the project, but have been looking at the setting for a while. I think your emerald will look gorgeous in this. As far as the milgrain is concerned--I love milgrain, but I don't think it adds much to this setting, so I personally would skip it.

 

[voce]

I think you should get it without milgrain first. Imo you can always add it later if you want it. What's the ETA on this ring?

 

[Drizzle]

Thanks everyone for your feedback!! Aside from the milgrain, do you see anything else that should be modified with the CAD?

@voce that's a really good point - I was thinking having the milgrains first and smoothing it out at a local bench if I don't like it...but you think the other way around makes more sense?

I think the production time is like 10 days or something like that, plus international shipping.

 

[voce]

Thanks everyone for your feedback!! Aside from the milgrain, do you see anything else that should be modified with the CAD?

@voce that's a really good point - I was thinking having the milgrains first and smoothing it out at a local bench if I don't like it...but you think the other way around makes more sense?

I think the production time is like 10 days or something like that, plus international shipping.

It just costs more if you get the milgrain first and then smooth it out.

Good milgrain is applied by hand and adds to the cost of labor.

Machine milgrain beads are too large and not worth it.

We're suggesting getting smooth first so you don't have to pay labor twice, once to apply it, again to remove it, if you don't like it. I don't mind the milgrain look, but like others who have commented, I think it's not needed.