Help with setting Heart Spinel

[evil_unicorn]

Hi everyone!

Please help me set this Heart Spinel that I bought a few weeks ago. I cannot make up my mind if I want to Halo it or not! I even went and bought some pink Spinel melee and thought I could have some fun! But I’m not sure anymore....
My finger size is 3.5, and I like delicate rings. Since the stone is quite big (9.24x7.4), I’m afraid halo-ing it might be too big for my fingers. I don’t mind it being a solitaire on its own with diamonds on the side, but I’m not sure if that'll be too plain/boring either.

Here is a photo of the Spinel I blu-tacked to my wedding band:

And one with a setting I tried in the jewelers, stacking with my wedding band:

And here are the Spinel melee that I bought. I’ve got light pinks at 1.5mm & 1.7mm, 1.7mm hot pinks and 1.22mm red.
I personally think the light pink compliments the heart a lot (I love pink so I’m biased), but I don’t know, is it too much?
A jeweler commented saying if I use pink melee it will 'pull down' the quality of how my ring will look. She was being subtle but I think what she is trying to say is my ring will look cheap if I don't use diamond instead.



What do y’all think? Halo or no halo? Pink melee or white diamonds? Thoughts on another design?

Also, can anyone recommend a good CAD jeweler in Sydney? If Halo I’ll have to go custom because it’s heart shape and they rarely have any stock setting that will fit my heart.

Thank you!!

 

[lovedogs]

I absolutely ADORE the stone, and think it really pops with the white diamond halo. It could certainly stand along on a diamond band, but I think the halo gives it an extra 'something'.

 

[Acinom]

The contrast with the diamonds makes the stone look fabulous. So my vote goes to a diamond halo and band

 

[Burmesedaze]

I'd go with the diamond halo for more pop and protection for the spinel. Awesome colour!

 

[Arkteia]

I would make a halo, but with tiny pinkish diamond melee, if this is an option.

Great stone!

 

[qubitasaurus]

I dont think it'll look cheap with the spinel melee at all. It'll be quite distinctive -- which is a good thing. However the contrast on the white daimond halo was lovely. And if it is an option, then I really think that ring bought out the phenomenal colour in your stone.

 

[dk168]

I would choose white diamonds for the halo for contrast myself.

Below is a pic of my heart shaped blue Zircon from JD which was based on a design for a trillion stone with uniform channel set chunky band with a contrast gold bezel around the trillion stone.

I modified the design to use graduated diamonds ro emphasise the curves of the heart.


Below is the original ring design for my inspiration:



Have fun with setting the Spinal!

DK

 

[passions4purples]

I don't think the pink halo will make your ring look cheap at all! In fact, there's something really fun and feminine about a pink heart stone, and I think you'd do well to play that up with the pink melee. That said, I think the diamond halo really helped your stone to pop, as it were. So you can't go wrong with either choice but I would definitely halo set that beauty.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I voted diamond halo but pink halo would look awesome too!

Hearts in halos are the best! Hehe here is mine so you can see why I am so passionate about this!

 

[Bron357]

Well, I think the pale pink melee will give you a more unique look, everyone has a diamond halo if you get what I mean.
Here in Sydney, I can only recommend Jarrett Jewellers in Town Hall Arcade, they didn’t do a CAD for my engagement ring revstyle but executed my design to perfection.
Just be aware, you will pay and absolute arm and a leg for any custom work here in Sydney.

 

[voce]

I think the diamond halo makes it pop more. Of course the jeweler would want to sell you diamond melee instead of using the pink ones you got.

I'm guessing with all the pink melee gems you must LOVE pink! However, I vote you consider some contrasting color colored stone halo, such as tsavorite or demantoid garnet, or even blue spinel. That would make your ring look more unique and have the center heart stand out.

 

[Allgems]

When I saw the first photo, before scrolling down to see halo options, I immediately loved the stone on top of your wedding band. Maybe because the shape is perfect and the color is beautiful. It is not plain or boring in my opinion.

I also like diamond halo, but my eye goes back to the top option, cannot explain why.

For the pink halo, it is difficult to envision. I think the ring might end up looking unique in a "young" way. I found one example, not exactly same color as yours but perhaps will help you get a feeling.


For other options, I quite like this 3 (or 5, cannot see well) stone version, I think the shape of the side stones matches very nicely.

 

[peacechick]

Saw this setting on eBay and thought of you. The melee will look good like this!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I love pink as much as the next girly girl but the diamond halo really makes the stone pop so that would be my vote. The pink melee is pretty but after some time it might be too much pink...if that's a thing

 

[Bluegemz]

I’m on the fence...I think the pink melees, or possibly with more red or blue hue would be much more interesting and unique. It would then be more about color than the symbolism of the heart shape. On the other hand, the diamonds are pretty and create a contrast, but it’s a style which one can easily find. I think it depends on what you want the focus to be.
When I imagine it with pink melees, I think of a juicy, raspberry celebration of color, artistically watercolor like, with gentle, flowing variations of related color. When I imagine with diamonds, it’s crisp, contained and more static if that makes sense. It’s a gorgeous stone btw! Excited for you!

 

[Bluegemz]

Here’s a picture of colored melees in which the color undulates in such a lovely way... another variation of what one might do with colored melees.

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

Is it an option to do pink melees for the halo and then diamonds for the band? That would emphasize the heart shape because the band blends with your gorgeous diamond wedding band. I would help it keep from being too much pink. I do think the diamond halo pops more, but the pink melee is more of a unique, playful look. You’ve got room for a halo, but I think a double halo would be too big. Congratulations on your juicy spinel! It’s beautiful on you!

 

[Deathspi]

I love the look of your spinel in the halo with diamonds, but if you like delicate rings you may find that it looks tacky to you, especially with the spinel melees instead. I think most people here would say halo it, but most of us here love bling. Think about what would suit you better. I’m sure whatever you do would look great as your stone is beautiful!

 

[meely]

You could do a super delicate halo? I personally would prefer it with a halo if it were mine.
I kind of think it might look nice in a yellow gold diamond halo? Don't know why it just popped into my head as being a little different but still very classic.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I like the way the diamond halo contrasts with the spinel color. I, being a girl-y girl, love and adore all things pink, but IMHO the pink halo doesn't provide enough contrast, so the heart shape ends up looking mushy instead of crisp. I think @meely's idea of yellow diamond halo is interesting and could provide a very pretty contrast to the spinel, which is a beautiful stone, by the way. I love heart shaped stones!

 

[evil_unicorn]

Thanks everyone!! I think I might go with Halo, but which one?? I'm leaning towards white diamond because it's classic and will be easier to get made, but if I'm desperate enough (I want it in 3 weeks, in time for my birthday!!), I might just go with the diamond band with no halo as a last resort.

@Bron357 someone gave me a quote of $3800 over the phone yesterday for diamond halo.... it was waay over my budget. I might have to go offshore for this...

I voted diamond halo but pink halo would look awesome too!
Hearts in halos are the best! Hehe here is mine so you can see why I am so passionate about this!

@mellowyellowgirl Your ring is gorgeous!!! Yes, Hearts in Halo are awesome. Check this ring out!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjlfx9Ql5du/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1tiz27qziw9fr

I love pink as much as the next girly girl but the diamond halo really makes the stone pop so that would be my vote. The pink melee is pretty but after some time it might be too much pink...if that's a thing

@StephanieLynn You have a point, I never thought about this before! I could get tired of pink one day, or too old for pink if that's a thing

Is it an option to do pink melees for the halo and then diamonds for the band? That would emphasize the heart shape because the band blends with your gorgeous diamond wedding band. I would help it keep from being too much pink. I do think the diamond halo pops more, but the pink melee is more of a unique, playful look. You’ve got room for a halo, but I think a double halo would be too big. Congratulations on your juicy spinel! It’s beautiful on you!

This!!! This is what I was thinking of before!!! I was inspired by a Leon Merge ring and thought maybe I can do this with my spinel!! But it didn't turn out as nice... it might be because I'm missing the diamond melee, or it could be what @natasha-cupcake was saying about it not crispy enought and look mushy..
LM’s ring:

My poor attempt at photoshopping my stone in:

In Reality:
It looks really nice when I put them next to each other like this:

But a bit disappointing when I put them down together like this:

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Hold on, what if you did pink melee and diamonds alternating around the spinel? That way you have the pink and sparkle of the diamonds. That might be too much I can kind of picture it and I keep thinking of Valentine's Day, not necessarily bad since it's a holiday known for chocolate. Okay, I'm rambling now and btw, never too old for pink unless we are talking PINK from Victoria's Secret

 

[Bron357]

Yes, I was quoted $1200 for a simple gold ring, 4 prongs per gem and I was supplying the gems!
Outrageous here in Sydney!

 

[Bluegemz]

If you were to decide on colored melees, Maybe the melees could be more saturated or a different hue? My impression is that the color saturation should be equal between melees and center gem, regardless of colors used. Those aren’t as strongly saturated as the center, so the edges bleed a bit visually.

 

[mochiko42]

Double halo. One halo of pink, then white diamond halo on the outside.

 

[mochiko42]

Here are some halos so you can see the halo colors (not necessarily recommending the setting designs)






For single halo I vote for diamond


Although, personally I love 3 stones too!

 

[metall]

@evil_unicorn,

I think I am going to have to be the devils advocate here when I say that for your specific stone and finger I would say no to haloing. At a size 3.5 finger 9.24 is a lot of finger coverage...your smallest melees are 1.22 in red and 1.5 in light pink...that's 11.68 and 12.24 respectively w.o any additions for potential air lines or metal...that might overwhelm your finger.

You mentioned that you like simple and like delicate rings. For you I would much prefer to see this as a three stone ring or as soli w. A pave shank.

 

[MissyBeaucoup]

Thanks everyone!! I think I might go with Halo, but which one?? I'm leaning towards white diamond because it's classic and will be easier to get made, but if I'm desperate enough (I want it in 3 weeks, in time for my birthday!!), I might just go with the diamond band with no halo as a last resort.

@Bron357 someone gave me a quote of $3800 over the phone yesterday for diamond halo.... it was waay over my budget. I might have to go offshore for this...

@mellowyellowgirl Your ring is gorgeous!!! Yes, Hearts in Halo are awesome. Check this ring out!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjlfx9Ql5du/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1tiz27qziw9fr

@StephanieLynn You have a point, I never thought about this before! I could get tired of pink one day, or too old for pink if that's a thing


This!!! This is what I was thinking of before!!! I was inspired by a Leon Merge ring and thought maybe I can do this with my spinel!! But it didn't turn out as nice... it might be because I'm missing the diamond melee, or it could be what @natasha-cupcake was saying about it not crispy enought and look mushy..
LM’s ring:

My poor attempt at photoshopping my stone in:

In Reality:
It looks really nice when I put them next to each other like this:

But a bit disappointing when I put them down together like this:

Hi, @evil_unicorn
I agree with you. When you photoshop it, I can see the lighter pink melee is giving that blurry effect. The diamonds are really crisp so the color pops more with them. Even in the double halo options I prefer the diamonds against the center stone with the colored melee outside. But then we are spending your money with the most costly option!

I think @Bluegemz has a point about matching the color saturation. Would you consider a different color melee? Could you match the melee to your heart spinel?

That last picture @mochiko42 posted with no melee and pretty diamond sidestones is really growing on me. In any case, the shape of your stone is super pretty and it can hold its own!

 

[rockysalamander]

I'd add some movement to this to make the overall shape have more balance. I showed this with white diamonds, but I'd love to see paraibas.

But, I'd probably look at something in greens or blues to offer some strong framing.





From the side, I'd open up cutout with views of the stone from the side (N/S).

https://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/cust_gallery.aspx?ImageID=+98766

 

[Arcadian]

I think you should use the pink melee for bands. that stone pops a lot against white stones and I think with pink it looks a bit too blended in. @rockysalamander has a great idea of going non traditional on the melee.

As far as big, I've never seen sucha thing.... But this is going to be a big ring. Only you can really decide if you can handle that.