FCD Ring Design

[JewelFreak]

The third one is nice. I like the 2nd one best. Haven't had enough pieces made to have an opinion on a jeweler.

--- Laurie

 

[T L]

I like the first one the best. I really like the workmanship that went into the leaf, and how the stones are offset from each other.

 

[clairejune]

Hi, I'm a long time reader, but rarely post. Just thought I'd through in a suggestion...have you considered a conch pearl with those FCD? The colors are subtle, the juxtaposition of sparkle of diamond with the glow of exotic pearl is beautiful IMO. The difference in texture between the two really shows off diamonds. And your diamonds are so gorgeous! Also, I've seen this style of ring with exotic pearls and diamonds before. They are classic and lovely, very feminine. Just a suggestion.

 

[FrekeChild]

My kid seems to have stolen the darker pink, so it's orange instead.

 

[chrono]

Clairejune,
Thank you for chiming in. Hmmm....conch pearls are very rare and very expensive. You have expensive taste. Do you have any pictures or links of such a combination?

TL,
I am also strangely drawn to the first picture with the leaf. There is no additional diamond accents to take away from the FCDs and the detail of the leaf is spectacular. It has a wonderful 3D effect with ripple and grooves.

Freke,
I appreciate your design assistance. I'm not sure if I want additional diamond melees but I'll try to keep an open mind. Perhaps the leaf with the yellow FCD can be a plain metal? This design is also rather top heavy. Are the FCDs drawn to scale?

 

[minousbijoux]

I like the scrolly designs that you have shown and that Freke has drawn. I love the delicate tendril work and would love to see that translated to a beautiful ring for your FCDs, though without the worry of fragility in the ring.

You are definitely on to something here. I have nothing to add design wise, other than whatever you don't do with stones, you can supplement with pretty delicate metalwork. Oh, and of course, I can't wait to see how things come along. It will be quite a departure for you but sounds like it could be quite beautiful.

 

[T L]

Clairejune,
Thank you for chiming in. Hmmm....conch pearls are very rare and very expensive. You have expensive taste. Do you have any pictures or links of such a combination?

TL,
I am also strangely drawn to the first picture with the leaf. There is no additional diamond accents to take away from the FCDs and the detail of the leaf is spectacular. It has a wonderful 3D effect with ripple and grooves.

Freke,
I appreciate your design assistance. I'm not sure if I want additional diamond melees but I'll try to keep an open mind. Perhaps the leaf with the yellow FCD can be a plain metal? This design is also rather top heavy. Are the FCDs drawn to scale?

Barry has a conch pearl. It's very small, as to not take away from the stones.

http://acstones.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=4442

 

[clairejune]

Chrono, I'm having trouble attaching images. If you google image search antique conch pearl and diamond ring, many wonderful examples come up. The thing that really works here is that the subtle colors of the pearl enhance the color and sparkle of the diamonds. Someone mentioned earlier that the light dispersion with different gems in a ring can compete with sparkle of the diamonds in a strange way. The nice thing about pearl is that this will not happen at all with a conch pearl. Also the colors are gentle enough to enhance the colors of your FCDs.

 

[clairejune]

If your interested in looking at some conch pearls for sale, Kari Pearls is a great site, highly recommended by Pearl Guide. They specialize in all kinds of natural pearls.

I want to add...regarding the light dispersion of different gems competing in a strange way, I think this is especially the case with asymmetric rings. Different gems work well together if the design is more regular and symmetric because then it is clear what the focus of the design is. The danger, IMO, with asymmetry is not having too many competing design elements. What is the main focus of your ring? Is it the diamonds with an organic setting around them? Is it the intense contrast between the colors pink, yellow and green? If it's the first, then if it were me, I would choose a subtle third gem to tie these things together, like a conch pearl.

 

[FrekeChild]

Freke,
I appreciate your design assistance. I'm not sure if I want additional diamond melees but I'll try to keep an open mind. Perhaps the leaf with the yellow FCD can be a plain metal? This design is also rather top heavy. Are the FCDs drawn to scale?

It's just a direct translation of the third ring, just with the oval switched in for the bottom round, and adding the pear between the leaves. I think that the melee could be taken out of the equation and solid metal used instead. I did not draw them to scale, but that's because I wasn't sure how enthused you'd be about the idea. If you'd like me to try to draw it to scale, I could do that.

 

[Starzin]

Okay... so yesterday I had some time to have a bit of a think and play.

Clairejune,
Thank you for chiming in. Hmmm....conch pearls are very rare and very expensive. You have expensive taste. Do you have any pictures or links of such a combination?

Actually, at the size you would need ~3mm, they're not so expensive and Clairjune (welcome ) has hit on something with a non-sparkley. You would have a choice of pink or lemon/cream tone cabs - conch, pink opal, tourmaline or ruby (if you want to go darker). The conch I used below is about the right size, inexpensive, a bit paler than the one TL found and available.

Also I think stones are a bit like flowers - under 10 there should be an odd number. That means either 5 stones, with the fifth being either a white diamond or a cab OR an element such as the flower.

Obviously any melee ribbon etc below can be replaced with just plain or textured gold.

Ah well... FWIW...

 

[chrono]

My gratefulness to Starzin for the amount of time and effort put into the various photoshop work. It helps me visualize what I like and dislike more clearly. It seems I still gravitate towards the original 1st and 3rd pictures.

1st picture - the two larger pale pink FCDs seem out of place. Perhaps they should be removed with the focus squarely on the pink oval and yellow pear? A bit of softening up the overall design by angling the pear?

3rd picture - This one looks almost fully fleshed out. Perhaps the diamond leaves can be made smaller with more detailing like the leaf of the 1st picture?

 

[Starzin]

You're welcome - the truth is I had to get it out of my head!

I'll try and do the patch on the left one.

3rd picture - This one looks almost fully fleshed out. Perhaps the diamond leaves can be made smaller with more detailing like the leaf of the 1st picture?

I simply pasted the pink FCD over the existing stone in the version on the right and put the yellow in between the leaves - so you'll have to speak to the bench about the size of the leaves lady (The yellow may not be to scale here).

Back in a little...

 

[Starzin]

I did make the yellow a bit smaller after checking the size on the front page.

By the way, I'm not sure if you are aware that leaf is called an Acanthus leaf - very popular in Victorian design (wallpaper, textiles and jewellery) so it should be easy to describe to a designer.

 

[Starzin]

Just Googled these two for you.

 

[chrono]

By the way, I'm not sure if you are aware that leaf is called an Acanthus leaf - very popular in Victorian design (wallpaper, textiles and jewellery) so it should be easy to describe to a designer.

I did not know this. Thank you! It looks different from the usual design, perhaps because it has greater detailing. I messed around with your photoshop and came up with a not as refined version of yours. I put the pink oval closer to the shank and brought the yellow pear down as well. It can either lie E-W (parallel to the shank) or angled a little to balance out the ring.

Does it look too simplistic and plain though?

 

[Starzin]

Oh good! Any engraver knows this leaf inside out and so should designer benches - if you google "victorian acanthus leaf pattern" you may even be able to find the exact sort of leaf you want (they play around with it, some are fat some are thin, fancy or not etc) because you'll see a lot of sketches as well.

I think it does look a little plain but that's very subjective and really depends on the leaf. I think angle the pear a little more to the right so that you don 't get the two stones parallel - unless that's what you want.

 

[clairejune]

Chrono, IMO, it really needs a third stone. There is something unfinished looking about 2 stones, where 3, think triangle, has a restful stability which goes well with the movement of the gold work.

 

[chrono]

Yes, a slight angle or tilt to the pear should cinch it. Too bad the FCDs aren't round otherwise I would love little buttercups around them too for added interest. Since the design looks simplistic, I think having an ornate leaf will bring up the overall design by a notch...which means using a skilled bench is of utmost importance.

 

[chrono]

Chrono, IMO, it really needs a third stone. There is something unfinished looking about 2 stones, where 3, think triangle, has a restful stability which goes well with the movement of the gold work.

I am open to this. A small "white" diamond? Where would it go?

 

[Starzin]

The more I think about this the more I think it really depends on the leaf now. Do put that phrase in google Chrono and have a good look at the patterns (note it doesn't specify jewellery).

Maybe you could get Mike Robinson to make the leaf for you and send it over? We know he can do it

 

[gregchang35]

I LOVE how this is evolving... i think the white daimond should be in the 1 or 2 oclcok position.

 

[chrono]

Maybe you could get Mike Robinson to make the leaf for you?

You are very naughty indeed.

 

[Starzin]

Hey! A leaf might not cost the earth and you wouldn't have to send the FCDs away.

You can add another diamond/stone or not. You have three legs - 2 stones and a leaf. What you need to decide now is what leaf, then you'll know where to put the FCDs and whether there's an extra space that needs filling.

Personally I think the leaf comes next.

 

[chrono]

Incorporating a little diamond accent per Claire and Greg, using Starzin's lovely Googled leaf, this is what I came up with. Has Chrono lost her marbles?

 

[clairejune]

What if you switched the yellow pear with the accent diamond, with the peat tilting out towards the 1:30 position? Looking much better IMO!

 

[clairejune]

What if you switched the yellow pear with the accent diamond, with the peat tilting out towards the 1:30 position? Looking much better IMO!

 

[clairejune]

Also, what if you moved the pink to the left a little bit? Sorry for the double post. Still getting used to posting here

 

[Starzin]

Or...



So now you've got the idea of the sort of leaf you want, I'd send it off to Mike for a quote - you can trust his eye to adjust size and shape and add a 3rd diamond or not in the appropriate place.

See it might even be three 2pt diamonds like dew on the leaves.

 

[chrono]

What if you switched the yellow pear with the accent diamond, with the pear tilting out towards the 1:30 position? Looking much better IMO!

Claire,
Which design are you referring to; the one with the green leaf or the fanciful black & white penned leaf?