Help setting my spinel

[familynurse]

Hello everyone,

I really need some advice. I fell in love with Natsplat's ring. I love the details- milgrain, cuffs, ect. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/danielm-barryb-e-ring-handshots.164649/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/danielm-barryb-e-ring-handshots.164649/[/URL] I had planned to use my spinel (7.2 x 8.9 x 4.95 ) even though it is oval ,with 2 small aquas as sidestones. http://www.mastercutgems.com/preview.php?cat=284&id=6217... However , in the first set of CADs the aquas looked too big and made the ring look bulky. I then had to decide whether to set the spinel by itself or obtain smaller sidestones.

I have driven Micheal M and Caren crazy with my indecision. I have since decided to have Caren source 2 small diamonds(3mm) as side stones. They have sent the new CADS which I like a lot better, but-- I think the cuffs need to be moved higher up on the band.

Would you all look at them and give me some feedback. I am very much out of my depth and comfort zone here. Buying gems is fun setting them not so much .


http://www.pricescope.com/forum/files/icp/3_1112.png[/im
g][ATTACH=full]533177[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]533178[/ATTACH]

 

[FrekeChild]

What color is the spinel? As far as the shoulders go, I think that's kind of a personal preference? I think they look fine where they are, but it's YOUR ring.

And it's Daniel M.

 

[minousbijoux]

I'm equivocating by saying I'm not an expert, but to me the cuffs look out of proportion to the side diamonds. The cuffs are so big, that they dwarf the stones. Either make the cuffs smaller, or the sidestones bigger The more I look at the CADs, I think it wouldn't hurt to increase the size of the side stones

 

[familynurse]

Thank you FrekeChild and minousbioux for taking time to reply.

FrekeChild, the gem is a neon pinkish, reddish spinel. It is very pretty.

Minousbijoux, the side stones are the same size that Natsplat had in her ring. Hers were around 2.8, mine will be around 3mm. The aquas I orignially planned to use were about 5mm and looked way too large. I will look again at the proportions.

If you or anyone else has any more comments/thoughts, I would love to hear them. I would like to get back to MichaelM tomorrow with any suggestions.

 

[minousbijoux]

You know, I really love Natsplat's ring, and if your dimensions are the same as hers, I wouldn't change a thing! But somehow, the cuffs look bigger, and the sidestones smaller, in relation to the center stone - maybe because its oval?

 

[chrono]

Is it possible to move the bezeled diamonds upwards a little? They seem to be sitting "in the middle of nowhere". There's just something not quite right to my eye but I'm not sure why.

 

[NKOTB]

I am so happy to be seeing this amazing stone in the process of being set, and can't wait to see the final product.

I might actually move the sides and the cuffs down a bit, away from the centre stone? If that's what you meant by "higher up on the band", then I agree.

 

[natsplat]

Very excited to see this happening, and I am very flattered to be your setting inspiration

I remember when I was building my ering that someone suggested thin pears to fit neatly down the sides, and I feel that would work really well with your oval: shape-linked but contrasted. Maybe then you would not bezel it but just nestle it in the split?

I hope that doesn't confuse you more! It will look amazing, and these things do take time...

 

[chrono]

If it's not too late to make changes, I love side pears with rounds and ovals. The shape really lends itself to the splint shank design. Natsplat, that's a great suggestion.

 

[familynurse]

Hello again-- So many different ideas.

Minousbijoux- I now wish that I had waited and found a round gem the same size of Natsplats- then I could request the exact same ring
NKOTB- I was excited about setting my gem- however I am having a difficult time visualizing the different options. I was talking about moving the bezel just a little bit more towards the center gem- I thought the cuffs might rub against my fingers if they were lower.

Chrono - Like you said ,something just doesn't look right- but I thought it might be because I am not used to viewing CADS. Since the gem is oval there is more space between the split shanks. And to me it looks like there is too much space between gem, sidestones and cuffs.
Natsplat- I have looked at countless settings and I just keep coming back to your ring. I think your idea of pear side stones is a good one but, I really , really like the migraine around the sidestones and I don't know if that could be done or how it would look. I also don't know if Caren has already sourced the sidestones. BTW- You looked lovely in your wedding pictures- thanks for sharing.

Do you think the sidestones could still be bezeled if they were pears? Thanks for all the suggestions

 

[minousbijoux]

I love Natsplat's idea as well! I think part of my problem was the relationship of the oval to the small rounds. Pears would solve the problem, and I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be able to bezel them with milgrain - why not, unless you talking significant size.

I would ask Caren. Also, even if they have sourced the side stones, don't you think there is a pretty high demand for round matching diamonds and therefore they should be able to use them elsewhere ?

 

[familynurse]

I will ask Caren- I assume If the pears are available that they should be placed with the widest part closest to the center stone?

 

[minousbijoux]

Yes, I agree. That would help with the symmetry. If you're not sure, it would be easy enough to draw it out both ways and see how it differs.

 

[chrono]

Doesn't hurt to ask. The worst they can say is no. Yes, the rounded part of the pear will be next to the oval with pointy end closest to the cuff. I see no reason why the bezel cannot be milgrained either. Think of it this way, with this design, you'll have your own one of a kind bespoke piece!

 

[familynurse]

minousbijoux- Great idea about drawing it out - Forgive my ignorance- what is the best way to do this. Do I just use the CADs sent and draw in the pears? I have zero technical skills

Chrono- I have sent a message to Caren and asked her to price the pears vs the rounds.

Again, thank you to every one who took the time to look at the CADS and make suggestions. I am feeling a lot better about the setting.

 

[familynurse]

Hello everyone!
Caren has not sourced the diamonds yet- and she says it will be possible to milgrain the pear sidestones. She will get back to me with an updated price. I had asked about using white sapphires but she thought the silvery color might not go as well with the 18 K gold. What do you all think about white topaz instead of diamonds? It sure would be less expensive.

 

[chrono]

White topaz is less expensive for a good reason - its optical properties are different from diamonds in that they are less dispersive. Are you all right with that?

 

[familynurse]

Hello everyone!

Chrono- Thanks for the information about the topaz- I guess I thought that since the sidestones were so small, that it would not make that much difference.
I would love to have diamonds - Caren says the pear cut diamonds would be about 4mm x 2.8 in size and add $480 to the cost. Thats almost as much as the setting. So, it is back to modifying the original CADs , spending additonal money for pear diamonds(the round ones were $300- which was as high as I could go), or using some other stone. Caren says that the smallest topaz she can obtain is 5 x 3mm. So that option is out.
I very much appreciate everyones' input. Any more thoughts or ideas?

 

[chrono]

Are you all right with the proportions? I know you are keeping it the same as Natsplat's but I think it'll need to be tweaked because your stone is an oval. How about this:
1. Make the round accent a little smaller from 3 mm down to 2.5 mm
2. Move the diamond accent and cuff closer to the oval (not so far down the side where it becomes harder to see)
3. Might consider making the cuffs just a smidge smaller