Designing my 20th Anniversary Ring

[Lookinagain]

@Lookinagain I noticed in an old thread I came across that you have a ring that is yellow gold and unplated white. What karat are the golds? And I wonder if you can comment on the look of unplated wg compared to platinum with your old cuts?

Sorry, I just saw this question. The golds are both 14k. The yellow is NOT the antique yellow. I tried to get a photo of the unplated white basket next to platinum for you. I think the fact that the unplated white is covered in milgrain makes it a bit harder to tell that it is in fact, unplated. And that stone is very warm, but I do like the unplated white with it and it really looks pretty white for it's color face up in those unplated prongs.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Sorry, I just saw this question. The golds are both 14k. The yellow is NOT the antique yellow. I tried to get a photo of the unplated white basket next to platinum for you. I think the fact that the unplated white is covered in milgrain makes it a bit harder to tell that it is in fact, unplated. And that stone is very warm, but I do like the unplated white with it and it really looks pretty white for it's color face up in those unplated prongs.

Thank you! You raise a good point about engraving and texture affecting how color is perceived. I will need to give that more thought.

 

[Lookinagain]

Thank you! You raise a good point about engraving and texture affecting how color is perceived. I will need to give that more thought.

I realize I didn't answer you question about unplated white vs. platinum with my old cuts but I don't really think I can comment as none of my other old cuts are as warm as this one, and also that ring is the only one I have with unplated white.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Here's where we are at with the CADs. I'm liking it a lot -- the bridge is beautiful -- and I won't make anymore tweaks until he has my stones so we know exactly what the baskets will look like...



But then I messed around and did this mock up and now I am having all kinds of confusing thoughts lol

 

[Dreamer_D]

I was also thinking about my diamonds more and contemplating whether the wonkiness and naturals/cavities on the girdles of two of the diamonds will be an issue. I know David will tell me once he has them, but I still like to think about these things for myself.

I did some photoshop and rotated the stones. Weird Rita and Sad Sally don’t look so bad!



I also think it will be possible to cover the girdle issues on Rita and Sally with prongs. Fingers crossed bc that would be nice.




One thing I noticed is that the table and stars are oriented differently on Miss Perfect. On all the others, the NS axis has a star point, so prongs can easily be set there (see above). But Miss Perfect has the table rotated so the crux between two points is aligned with the NS axis. Wondering if this is an OMC thing. And wondering how it will affect setting the diamond. I’m hoping that because the NS prongs are split maybe they can be seated on either side of the kite facet that is centered NS.

 

[bee24]

Here's where we are at with the CADs. I'm liking it a lot -- the bridge is beautiful -- and I won't make anymore tweaks until he has my stones so we know exactly what the baskets will look like...



But then I messed around and did this mock up and now I am having all kinds of confusing thoughts lol

Those baskets are fantastic! I love the shape/the prongs. Perfect! Would 5 stones give you total coverage of diamonds or would 7? I vote for whatever gives you total coverage. To be honest I haven’t read this entire thread so that may have been discussed!

I think DK will do what he can to set the stones how you want them. I had asked for N/S but he had to set it slightly off which I notice more in pictures than in person that could end up being a possibility for you but I do trust he will try to do what you want!

I cannot wait to see the final product, it’s going to be so fabulous.

 

[Dreamer_D]

@bee24 Five stones gives what can only be considered total coverage if we take this face in view into account! Barely a hint of metal is evident at the side.



And after sitting with it a bit I am confirmed that I want more of a ring look than a band look, and seeing a little bit of the metal band on the side of my finger is going to create the look I want. I am imagining engraving on the shoulders, too, and that wouldn’t be possible with 7 stones. Or wouldn’t be much point as it would be so far down. I think a graduated 7 stone is in my future but probably with smaller stones for a more band-like style.

And yes! I love the baskets! It looks like a beautiful old fashioned bridge. I want that architectural detail to really stand out as the design feature, which is why I am keeping the shank plain. I am considering using metal choice to highlight the bridge further. I may choose a less conventional combination of metals for two tone. Still pondering. Unplated white for the bridge (the warmest option alloy) and peach for the shank perhaps…

And I agree DK will make the best choice when setting the stones. I don’t plan to micromanage that process at all as he has lots of experience setting old cuts. But I will request him to choose the orientation where it looks best and where the inclusions are covered, if that is possible. He made the right choice with your stone!

 

[lulu_ma]

Here's where we are at with the CADs. I'm liking it a lot -- the bridge is beautiful -- and I won't make anymore tweaks until he has my stones so we know exactly what the baskets will look like...



But then I messed around and did this mock up and now I am having all kinds of confusing thoughts lol

Hi @Dreamer_D I totally missed your cad posts.

I did a measurement of my five stone. I believe it has less of a curve than your drawing.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Hi @Dreamer_D I totally missed your cad posts.

I did a measurement of my five stone. I believe it has less of a curve than your drawing.

What is that measurement lulu? The height of your stones? I’m not quite following what you are saying.

 

[lulu_ma]

What is that measurement lulu? The height of your stones? I’m not quite following what you are saying.

I was trying to get a measurement like this one:



Or did I misconstrue your question? Did you want the depth of the stones or the basket height?

 

[Dreamer_D]

It’s awkward to read but that 4.54 is the height of the table of the diamond as measured from the inside edge of the shank — imagine the lower black line extending all the way to the inner edge of the shank like this…



I think on yours the height of the stones must be greater than 4.5 bc they are huge.

But I think you are more commenting that your diamonds don’t follow the curve of your finger as closely as my drawing shows? Yours are like the right in this image and mine are like the left?

 

[lulu_ma]

It’s awkward to read but that 4.54 is the height of the table of the diamond as measured from the inside edge of the shank — imagine the lower black line extending all the way to the inner edge of the shank like this…



I think on yours the height of the stones must be greater than 4.5 bc they are huge.

But I think you are more commenting that your diamonds don’t follow the curve of your finger as closely as my drawing shows? Yours are like the right in this image and mine are like the left?

The basket height of the one of the smaller side stone is 6.5 mm (crown is puffy on this stone). I think that the stone is elevated, though.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The basket height of the one of the smaller side stone is 6.5 mm (crown is puffy on this stone). I think that the stone is elevated, though.

I did mess about to see how the curve varied on your ring, my CAD, and @oldcutclubmembers ring. You are right that your ring is more raised at the edges compared to OCMs and the CAD. I think given my large finger size the curve works ok. Your diamonds wouldn’t fit if they were curved bc they are HUGe!

The red line is the curve of your five stone. Top left is the current curve in my CAD and top right raises the curve to match your ring.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Speaking of HUGe five stones, I had a fever dream last night and realized the facet pattern on my loose 5mm diamonds is a very nice compliment to my 1.88ct. I’m not really sure what to do with that information, but as the person who coined the idea of “one ring to rule them all” here in PS my wheels are turning.







This is clearly what happens when you wait too long to set your diamonds.

 

[lulu_ma]

I did mess about to see how the curve varied on your ring, my CAD, and @oldcutclubmembers ring. You are right that your ring is more raised at the edges compared to OCMs and the CAD. I think given my large finger size the curve works ok. Your diamonds wouldn’t fit if they were curved bc they are HUGe!

The red line is the curve of your five stone. Top left is the current curve in my CAD and top right raises the curve to match your ring.

I like the curve in your CAD better. It flows nicely with your ring shoulders. My ring has that little cathedral element.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Speaking of HUGe five stones, I had a fever dream last night and realized the facet pattern on my loose 5mm diamonds is a very nice compliment to my 1.88ct. I’m not really sure what to do with that information, but as the person who coined the idea of “one ring to rule them all” here in PS my wheels are turning.







This is clearly what happens when you wait too long to set your diamonds.

May sound crazy but there can be amazing clarity in dreams! Seems that sometimes in sleep and dreams, what has perhaps been floating around in the mind, comes to the forefront. It's as if all the thoughts that run through our heads with daily life calms down and solutions become obvious. I never discount that clarity - it can be a gift!

 

[Mreader]

Speaking of HUGe five stones, I had a fever dream last night and realized the facet pattern on my loose 5mm diamonds is a very nice compliment to my 1.88ct. I’m not really sure what to do with that information, but as the person who coined the idea of “one ring to rule them all” here in PS my wheels are turning.







This is clearly what happens when you wait too long to set your diamonds.

Maybe a three stone w those as bigger side stones?

 

[Dreamer_D]

May sound crazy but there can be amazing clarity in dreams! Seems that sometimes in sleep and dreams, what has perhaps been floating around in the mind, comes to the forefront. It's as if all the thoughts that run through our heads with daily life calms down and solutions become obvious. I never discount that clarity - it can be a gift!

This is so poetic MGR! I am definitely thinking about it.

I hope this doesn’t mean my 15yo will actually sell his TV to buy a bunch of gaming furniture for his room as I dreamed last night

 

[Dreamer_D]

Maybe a three stone w those as bigger side stones?

This is also percolating. Lately I have been feeling a little put off by the MRB sides on my three stone. Or maybe I’m just ready for a change. But I do think a reset of my large diamond is in the future somewhere. I will put a colored gem in the current setting.

 

[Mreader]

This is also percolating. Lately I have been feeling a little put off by the MRB sides on my three stone. Or maybe I’m just ready for a change. But I do think a reset of my large diamond is in the future somewhere. I will put a colored gem in the current setting.

You could pop those two in there for the 3 stone and then shop two more for your five stone

 

[Dreamer_D]

You could pop those two in there for the 3 stone and then shop two more for your five stone

Yes they are so easy to come by I’ll just snap my fingers!

I actually have six 5mm stones so I’d only need 1.

ETA: I should say my current setting has 4.3mm sides so there’s no popping 5mm in there anyway!

 

[Mreader]

Yes they are so easy to come by I’ll just snap my fingers!

I actually have six 5mm stones so I’d only need 1.

ETA: I should say my current setting has 4.3mm sides so there’s no popping 5mm in there anyway!

Yes I mispoke; didn't mean pop them in the original setting. I should have said something different. I do love the look of the bigger OECs with your center.

 

[MissGotRocks]

This is so poetic MGR! I am definitely thinking about it.

I hope this doesn’t mean my 15yo will actually sell his TV to buy a bunch of gaming furniture for his room as I dreamed last night

No, I am sure it doesn’t! That is nothing that has been milling around in your head. It is the things for me that I ponder here and there, and sometimes wake up with some clarity about the solution. You have been working on this setting in your head for a long time; maybe you knew that the faceting in one stone mirrored the other. You just never really considered tearing the three stone ring apart. Now? Something else to ponder - lol!

 

[Dreamer_D]

The good news is that the postal strike appears to be coming to an end so I should get the newest 5mm diamond very soon and that might help clarify things.

 

[maryjane04]

The good news is that the postal strike appears to be coming to an end so I should get the newest 5mm diamond very soon and that might help clarify things.

Yay finally!!! And I'm just catching up on your project/s hahaha you can always collect more! What's one more? That's what I kept telling myself since the stones are cheaper than setting it lol. You're going to have such a beautiful 5 stone band.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Yay finally!!! And I'm just catching up on your project/s hahaha you can always collect more! What's one more? That's what I kept telling myself since the stones are cheaper than setting it lol. You're going to have such a beautiful 5 stone band.

Yeah the cost of metals in wild these days. Its easy to collect so many diamonds because each individual purchase is not so terrible, and then next thing you know you have amassed $2500 in small diamonds lol

I have been playing around with my CZs and I don't think I want to set my 8mm into a massive five stone. It just changes the entire aesthetic. So that would mean a new setting even if I want to upgrade the side stones.... so that's going on the back burner. I really want to set my five stone early in the new year. And then the next project on the list is setting a pendant with Yvonne that I have been collecting stones for over the last year. So if I want to upgrade my three stone I will just buy more diamonds! lol

 

[maryjane04]

Yeah the cost of metals in wild these days. Its easy to collect so many diamonds because each individual purchase is not so terrible, and then next thing you know you have amassed $2500 in small diamonds lol

I have been playing around with my CZs and I don't think I want to set my 8mm into a massive five stone. It just changes the entire aesthetic. So that would mean a new setting even if I want to upgrade the side stones.... so that's going on the back burner. I really want to set my five stone early in the new year. And then the next project on the list is setting a pendant with Yvonne that I have been collecting stones for over the last year. So if I want to upgrade my three stone I will just buy more diamonds! lol

I know how you feel haha that's how my little collection started (and then you start buying little tools and gadgets like a jewellery scale, calipers and whatnot). We all have priorities but you could definitely reset your three stone down the track. I like to think of it as a long term plan hahaha. I think we should start a thread for 2025 wishlist/projects!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think we should start a thread for 2025 wishlist/projects!

Yes!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Just for fun, here is a CZ layout showing my 8mm OEC with 5mm and 4mm diamonds, in a dive stone layout and in three stone layouts.

The proportions of my current three stone.


With 5mm sides.


I def like larger sides. I’ve been pondering going bigger for a while. I think between 5mm and 5.5 would be nice. Maybe a longer term project!

And just to being us back in track, this is how I’m considering doing the prongs for my five stone.

The semi-bezel at the end might meet the shank like this.

 

[Mreader]

Yeah the cost of metals in wild these days. Its easy to collect so many diamonds because each individual purchase is not so terrible, and then next thing you know you have amassed $2500 in small diamonds lol

I have been playing around with my CZs and I don't think I want to set my 8mm into a massive five stone. It just changes the entire aesthetic. So that would mean a new setting even if I want to upgrade the side stones.... so that's going on the back burner. I really want to set my five stone early in the new year. And then the next project on the list is setting a pendant with Yvonne that I have been collecting stones for over the last year. So if I want to upgrade my three stone I will just buy more diamonds! lol

My fave 3 stone ratio is 8mm with 5mm sides Sometimes I wish that is what I did with my 8mm. But like you said - you collect the small ones and then there are the setting prices - egad! So I agree that going with the 5 stone one first makes the most sense.

Edit - I also love the proportions of @Skymonkey2000 's ring and how she set it. I haven't seen her pop up here in a while. It's divine. https://www.pricescope.com/communit...one-ring-found-thanks-to-pricescopers.271991/