Final call for design help!

[GliderPoss]

Greeting fellow PSer's!

Ok hubby has kindly (finally) given me permission to go ahead and get my red spinel set (BUT this is IT for a long time at least! No more rings as this will be 2 in one year...) sooooooo I'm struggling a bit with the design and thought you might be able to help me out.

Here is the link to the stone https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-red-spinel-pics-at-last.177119/ Sorry my work computer wont allow me to attach photos. It's basically a 1ct elongated cushion cut red spinel - MUCH nicer than my dodgey iphone pics show. Very true red and sparkley!

I have two teensy clipped corner emerald cut white stones (of the kind thalt shall not be mentioned here) to use as sidestones. They match nicely and are perfectly proportioned. I cannot afford to add real diamonds of the size and quality I'd like at this stage.

Originally I wanted a simple 3 stone trellis ring in yellow gold. This is a lovely safe classic design that will not date. I've already got a quote from the jeweller for this. Suddenly today now I've actually got the go ahead - I'm wavering on my design...

Is it too safe? Too boring? Too schmeh? I love art deco style and my recent sapphire ring is excatly what I love but i cannot see how to incorporate such an odd shape into an art deco design? I love a lot of these: http://www.hkjewellery.co.uk/web/page/art-deco-engagement-rings

Please help - any suggestions would be great. Am I just bonkers and should stick to the classic design or can I make this more personal somehow?

 

[pregcurious]

When I think of marrying a cushion with cut-corner emerald sidestones, I think of art deco, and the use of straight prongs. I think prongs would look more consistent with the angular shapes of the stones, instead of a trellis, but that is just my opinion.

I also like this bezel-set look (on the site you posted), but I don't like the idea of enclosing your spinel. I'm concerned that it might darken the red too much.

 

[Starzin]

Can you post a link to the ring design you are considering?

My only comment about the designs you linked to would be that they are more modern "inspired by" rather than truly art deco styles to my mind.

 

[GliderPoss]

This is the style I was considering. Try to imagine it with a colour centre stone and in yellow gold if you can....

 

[GliderPoss]

This is the shape of my spinel...not quite cushion, not quite oval, not quite EC!

 

[chrono]

A 3 stone trellis. What's the shape of the unmentionable side stones? Art Deco is very geometrical period so the cut must be right in order to GIT box.

 

[GliderPoss]

The unmentionable sidestones are officially EC but they have clipped corners so actually resemble the spinel quite strongly in shape.

I have a feeling this is just me trying to put a round peg in a square hole so to speak...

I love the stone but I guess I want the ring to not feel "generic" if you know what I mean? Back to the drawing board tonight me thinks...

 

[Starzin]

The trellis is not really art deco but a lovely style nonetheless. Would some engraving help it be more art deco for you?

GIT box???

 

[chrono]

Ahhh...I was so tired last night, I typed gibberish.

A 3 stone can end up a bit generic, which is why I've held off mine for the moment too. It needs a little extra something to make it different. How about bezeling the sides and adding milgraine? This option is less costly than engraving. For something more Art Deco, add another 2 more smaller side stones (bezeled) for a graduated look. The spinel can be bezeled or prong set.

 

[innerkitten]

I would do prongs on the small one's if you think you might replace them someday. I like the ideas mentioned above of adding miligrain around a bezel or a little scroll work on the shank.

 

[LD]

You can make 3 stone rings look different (well I think you can anyway)! Have you thought about adding some detail to the shank that make it a little less generic? For example some engraving, or multi coloured metal, or a pierced gallery etc? Here's the CAD side profile of one of my rings. For me, this feels quite modern and an updated version of a 3 stone.

I love the idea of a 3 stone ring for your gems. How about a 3 stone tension setting for all 3 stones? I've got one like this if you want to see what I mean.

The only other thing I'd say is that you've been thinking about this for some long that it's probably the right design for you. You're probably just having an attack of the collywobbles!

 

[GliderPoss]

Thank you all for your help! You are so right - it's needs a little something extra to make it mine. I love the idea of engraving! Dunno why it never crossed my mind before... That pic you posted Starzin is lovely.

Chrono - I actually prefer bezal but was worried that it would darken my spinel too much. It's really more red than a bright mahenge pink and the side stones are pretty teensy.

I will look at some more designs and I have already moved my appt with the jeweller until next month to give me more time to solidify what I really want from this ring. Research is the key!

 

[Starzin]

LD that cad is stunning! Love the surprise diamond channel (?) set in there...wow! So clean and pretty.

Pozzum: I think it was a good move to change your appt to give yourself more time. The last thing you need is to put yourself under any kind of stress with this - one step at a time and we'll be here to run things past I'm happy the engraving idea gave you an extra option to consider.

 

[Jereni]

Here's the CAD side profile of one of my rings. For me, this feels quite modern and an updated version of a 3 stone.

LD, this is gorgeous! What a great profile on that design.

 

[chrono]

I know only very clean sapphires can be tension set. I wonder if a very clean spinel can be tension set too. It is slightly less hard than a sapphire.

 

[GliderPoss]

Hmmmm more thoughts....

Love antique and art deco settings... odd shaped stone... how about fishtail prongs to make it look more EC?

 

[chrono]

I don't see why not. After all, I'm putting a round pink tourmaline into a setting with fishtail prongs to make it look squarer.

 

[Starzin]

I think that's a lovely idea - and that's a very pretty setting.

 

[LD]

Fishtail prongs are lovely and a great design feature on their own and would be gorgeous with your stone (in yellow gold perhaps????). However, I'm not sure how they would look on the central stone AND the side stones? Do you think it might be too much metal?

Just a question for you? I always think of fishtails as antique looking (not a bad thing) but have I misread or did you want a modern look?

 

[minousbijoux]

If you did fishtail prongs, would you still have sidestones? It seems like it might need something on the sides, but more as an accent than as a major player. I think I agree with LD that sidestones should not be fishtailed. I too, would love to see it in yellow gold - against your saturated red, it will look stunning and like royalty, IYKWIM.

 

[chrono]

I think HP wanted something antique so the fishtail prongs fits in perfectly and yes, I would have much smaller side accents that are set with regular prongs BUT, have a pseudo bezel around them. I don't know what's the proper terminology for it but there is a thin piece of metal going around the small accent stones as something purely decorative which goes well with the fishtail prong design. Having plain prongs sitting out there will look out of place.