- Joined
- Apr 3, 2004
- Messages
- 33,852
What a wonderfully warm bunch of people you all are!
Thanks so much for all the compliments and the well wishes.
Forgive me for trying to answer all your questions in one lump; I’m actually quite taken aback by so many replies and all your lovely words.
Let’s start with the ring.
This whole thing was one big surprise for my fiancée (Aom), but believe me, I didn’t just go out shopping one weekend, as I’m sure many of you know on this forum!
At first I was totally engrossed in the diamond thing and assumed to get a solitaire e-ring.
But thanks to the gallery on this forum, I started to open my eyes.
After spending hours and hours trawling through the endless possibilities (my thanks to all who have sent images of their wonderful e-rings in), I decided melees where my way forward.
I checked out some shops and I was immediately sold. To me the melees almost make the ring disappear with twinkle and make the whole setting daintier.
I knew it would work for my ladies lovely slender hands.
I actually had the ring almost completely made whilst still selecting the stone.
Thanks again to PS; I came across a thread from a COWBOYSTU, who had a lovely ring made here in Singapore.
I was so impressed with his design and good words regarding the jeweller, Yuen Tung (Wah Kee) Gems & jewellery that I picked up the phone and arranged to meet them that weekend.
These guys are a family run unit, with an industrial estate shop in quite an obscure location in a Singaporean suburb. In fact, with the big sturdy electric lock door and camera outside, it actually reminded me of a crack-house!
Once the lock is released, one enters an impressive little jewellery store with unobstructed views into the workshops.
Mum and Dad are from Hong, Kong, though their son’s are home-grown Singaporeans.
I originally had shared prongs in mind and sat down with their son, Whye Hoe, to discuss if they could do it, when Whye produced the 4-prong design that you see. It was a full melee style wedding ring.
The one thing I did 100% want, was the U-prong setting, I really like low stone settings and I felt this was my most desirable answer.
So when Whye produced the shard prong design, with all its mini-u-prongs, I immediately new this was the design to go for.
Needless to say, its all hand made in platinum and I selected 3.2 pointer H&A melees, apparently cut in Russia, 5 a-side of the centre stone.
The ring is 2.25 mm wide and a size US4.
I stole a ring from my fiancée, whilst on holiday together over Christmas. We presently live in separate cities, in some ways a blessing as I’ve been able to research without compromising the whole surprise!
Although Aom thought she didn’t pack the ring on return home, we were in a rush, so I seized the opportunity when she was in the shower!
Of course I told Aom I accidentally packed it in my things during the rush!
So back to the ring, Whye Hoe spent almost 2 hours with me on our first meeting. I was genuinely surprised by his grace, good nature and patience, not to mention knowledge of his trade.
I returned once to see the ring before the diamonds where set and requested minor changes to the centre U-prong as it wasn’t dainty enough for me.
Third time I turned up at the store was 2 days before my fiancée arrived and it was perfect. In fact It I surpassed my expectation.
These photos are from a 6 Meg pixel camera with amazing magnification. With it, I can see the inclusion s on the centre stone, yet the ring still looks remarkably uniform and well made. I have no idea how jewelers can make things some small, but I take my hat off to their wonderful skill.
Whye Hoe organized sketches of the ring and took many, many calls and questions from me. Remember I’m an engineer, they say we’re the worst for attention to detail! He remained helpful and patient to the end.
If anyone is in Singapore and wants something made, something special, with some of their own ideas in mind and for a remarkably good price- Yuen Tung is your Jewellers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ring making experience and I’m thrilled to have something made with my input for my special girl.
As for the wedding ring-I seriously can’t think that far ahead, but knowing that the ring is so petite and dainty, I’m 100% confident that a wedding band will easily fit more-or-less snug to it. The huge images make us forget how wee these rings are and the u-prongs actually protrude very little.
If you’ve not fallen asleep, I’ll be sure to tell you about the centre diamond soon!