Half carat OEC pendant project

[Dreamer_D]

This is a modest project but I’d like some help!

I’ve never really worn a pendant. I had a pretty 0.60 solitaire pendant very briefly back in 2007 but I didn’t like the setting — basket that flipped — so I sold it to a family member.

But now I’m expanding my jewelry wardrobe and a pendant is on my list. I used most of my annual bling fund for my five stone, so I won’t be able to create the dream pendant right now… I suppose that would be about 1.5ct in a heavy gold colette style setting. I have also been toying with a floral colored gem pendant. But with the uncertainty of the tariffs (I’m in Canada) and my low budget right now, that will have to wait.

I am thinking I will set the half carat OEC that I have left over from collecting for my five stone. It’s a beautifully cut stone. It has a lab report from IGL or something saying J VVS1. I think it’s probably KL color but with a faint brown tint.

Here is Bubbly on the right so you can see her tint. The stones are similar color but different tints.



She’s in the middle here.


Here you can see her body color better. A warm cognac color.


Here she is with a pair of 3.8mm GIA HI color OECs. Her tint is subtle. It’s most apparent in spot lighting where she can go quite dark.


Showing her perfect cut.



I noticed looking though the pendant threads that this is a common size for a daily wear pendant. I’d like an everyday pendant that sits higher on the neck so it works with all necklines. Something I can wear alone or layered with pearls. So I think this size is good.

I am a full figured gal so I don’t want a simple basket or delicate bezel setting. The proportions would be lost on me. I would like something a little more substantial and with a pleasing design element. But still versatile enough to wear with anything. I don’t want a halo. I might set her solitaire or maybe in a two or three stone with some other gems I have collected.

And I would like to use a Stuller stock mount so I can keep costs low and set locally.

I’ll post my setting ideas in the next post.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Option1

Some type of relatively straightforward solitaire, but ideally with a little more mass/volume than a simple basket or bezel.

I like this buttercup mount that they have. It has a very flat profile and the stone sits low, unlike the more common buttercup style. The diameter is about 9mm, which feels about right.



Photoshopped with Bubbly.


I also like this celestial piece. It feels a little witchy, which you know I like. I like the texture and I like that it’s articulated. It’s also about 9mm.

 

[empliau]

I can't help as I know nothing about mountings but that is a very pretty stone! Looking forward to its final form!

 

[maryjane04]

I was going to suggest the celestial. I've loved the one that CVB made but this is very good! I love that it's a little different and unique too. That gets my pick!

 

[HockeyMama]

Beautiful stone and I love the undertones! Would you share a family pic of other frequently worn pieces? I wonder if one setting may complement your family better than another? If that matters to you?

 

[Dreamer_D]

I was going to suggest the celestial. I've loved the one that CVB made but this is very good! I love that it's a little different and unique too. That gets my pick!

What mounting did CVB make that is similar? Curious!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Beautiful stone and I love the undertones! Would you share a family pic of other frequently worn pieces? I wonder if one setting may complement your family better than another? If that matters to you?

Very good question! Yes I would like this pendant to be cohesive with my collection as it is very small right now and so I often wear all of the pieces at once.

I think the defining features of my collection are gold, antique vibes, engraving and texture, architectural details, and a little whimsy.




I think from this the celestial pendant is a real winner. It has most of the features I listed! I had some other options (hence the title of my previous post as “Option 1” lol) but they don’t have these features! At least not enough.

I think we have a winner!

 

[Lookinagain]

Option1

Some type of relatively straightforward solitaire, but ideally with a little more mass/volume than a simple basket or bezel.

I like this buttercup mount that they have. It has a very flat profile and the stone sits low, unlike the more common buttercup style. The diameter is about 9mm, which feels about right.



Photoshopped with Bubbly.


I also like this celestial piece. It feels a little witchy, which you know I like. I like the texture and I like that it’s articulated. It’s also about 9mm.

I like them both. Probably whether you prefer the more rounded of the buttercup vs. the shape of the celestial. I like the celestial best of the two, though.

Edit to add, that I see we posted at the same time!

 

[maryjane04]

Okay not quite the same but kinda reminds me of the Astrid.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Some other ideas I was toying with but somehow aren’t scratching the itch.

Clover with tiny rubies (maybe too large for what I’m after)


Three stone (the contrast between the brown and the HI color smaller stones may not be enough? And it lacks the details and texture I like)


A two stone with my ruby. The colors are divine but it may be too simple for me.

 

[Lookinagain]

not that my opinion really matters, but I'm not wild about the clover. I like some of the three stones that Stuller has, but if you want more detail, I don't think those will get you what you want. I think sticking with a single stone in a detailed setting will get you a very wearable piece, so that would be my vote.

 

[Dreamer_D]

not that my opinion really matters, but I'm not wild about the clover. I like some of the three stones that Stuller has, but if you want more detail, I don't think those will get you what you want. I think sticking with a single stone in a detailed setting will get you a very wearable piece, so that would be my vote.

Yes I agree with you.

Here is a video of the celestial pendant that I quite like. It’s a 6x4 oval.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Okay not quite the same but kinda reminds me of the Astrid.

Yes I can see that!

 

[Lookinagain]

Yes I agree with you.

Here is a video of the celestial pendant that I quite like. It’s a 6x4 oval.

Seems like you have your answer!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Seems like you have your answer!

Am I remembering correctly that you own some faint brown diamonds? What metal color do you think makes them look best?

 

[HockeyMama]

I love your choice! The celestial one fits beautifully.

 

[Lookinagain]

Am I remembering correctly that you own some faint brown diamonds? What metal color do you think makes them look best?

I do. I've set them in both yellow and rose and white. They are as low as M color. Some K and L. Let me see if I can find some photos quickly.

this is a GIA L faint brown in yellow gold


These are GIA K, faint brown in rose gold



GIA M faint brown in Rose


The round is a GIA L, faint brown



most of what I have with faint brown are MRB's, other than the first one. I think the MRB's show less color no matter the color gold. If a fair amount of tint shows, I'd go with yellow myself, but I do prefer yellow anyway.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I do. I've set them in both yellow and rose and white. They are as low as M color. Some K and L. Let me see if I can find some photos quickly.

this is a GIA L faint brown in yellow gold


These are GIA K, faint brown in rose gold



GIA M faint brown in Rose


The round is a GIA L, faint brown



most of what I have with faint brown are MRB's, other than the first one. I think the MRB's show less color no matter the color gold. If a fair amount of tint shows, I'd go with yellow myself, but I do prefer yellow anyway.

My stone is a funny beast. Because it didn’t have a GIA report I’m not totally sure the color grade. In some lighting it looks very lightly tinted, almost vanilla. But in spot lighting it turns a deep brown.

I think all else being equal I would prefer yellow as all my other jewelry is yellow.

 

[SparklieBug]

Of all the images you've posted, I love the celestial option!

 

[Lookinagain]

My stone is a funny beast. Because it didn’t have a GIA report I’m not totally sure the color grade. In some lighting it looks very lightly tinted, almost vanilla. But in spot lighting it turns a deep brown.

I think all else being equal I would prefer yellow as all my other jewelry is yellow.

If it does that, I would definitely go with yellow. And since all your other pieces are yellow, it makes even more sense.

 

[elizat]

The celestial setting is pretty.

As another woman that would call herself full figured and busty, I would get a trial pendant that's something inexpensive in the size you want. I have long thought it would be great to have a daily necklace, but so many feel the wrong scale. Even an 8 mm initial disc felt tiny to me. So, my vote is for a tester that is a similar vibe and inexpensive first.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The celestial setting is pretty.

As another woman that would call herself full figured and busty, I would get a trial pendant that's something inexpensive in the size you want. I have long thought it would be great to have a daily necklace, but so many feel the wrong scale. Even an 8 mm initial disc felt tiny to me. So, my vote is for a tester that is a similar vibe and inexpensive first.

Good advice. I was envisioning that I would layer this piece for the most part. But I will see if there is a CZ version on Amazon…

 

[MissGotRocks]

I like the pendant you have chosen. You could always bezel the diamond in white gold before setting, if you wanted to plump up the overall size.