Help with setting ideas 3 diamonds

[SurfFL]

Hello, I stumbled across this site the other day while looking for ideas on ways to set 3 diamonds I have and found that I can't stop reading. Finally I have decided to stop lurking and ask. I hope this is the right place to do so and if not could someone direct me to the proper area.
A little about me, I'm a 34 year old male, my interest in jewelry comes from an overall interest in jewelry in my family. I tend to be drawn to older or unique pieces rather then mass produced "chain store" jewelry. I don't know a lot about stones or diamonds, and most things I have purchased have either been because they caught my eye or have been stones I have acquired and had set "colored stone" a lot of them found gem mining that I had cut. So nothing of great size or best quality.

Now what I came here to ask, when my grandmother passed away the 2 rings she always wore were split between myself and my mother. My mother received the ring containing several family diamonds including my grandma's original engagement diamond and I received the ring that she wore as her engagement ring from the mid 70s on. It's what I guess would be referred to as a past, present, future ring with the 3 diamonds set on a basic gold band. The size of the diamonds are 4.5mm 4.9mm and 5.8mm, my grandfather had purchased them at different times and had them all set in this ring for her at a later date. Since her passing I have worn the ring on a chain around my neck and didn't want to do anything to change the ring, I'm getting to the point now where I'm ready to do something with the diamonds that will show them off. Hanging upside down from a chain really doesn't do much for them. And that's where I'm stuck, I have no idea what to do with them! I have a ring that I always wear on my right ring finger that belonged to my great grandfather, I also have a single diamond mens ring that I sometimes wear on my left middle finger, and though I'm not married I have an emerald ring and 2 garnet rings that are sized for my left ring finger that I occasionally wear. I also have several pendants that I wear (not all at once, though I have been wearing 2 chains 1 with the ring and one with one of my other pendants from time to time)anchors and coins. I want something that I can wear everyday any suggestions or pictures would be greatly appreciated. I think I'm leaning more towards a pendant type setting then a ring though if anyone has bracelet ideas in mind that may work too. My birth stone is ruby so I could incorporate some rubies into it as well.

Thank you and sorry for the long winded first post.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Welcome! It is wonderful to have some heirloom pieces of jewelry and diamonds!

I will have to think on the pendant idea, because combining older designs with a pendant for a man will require some thought.

But, I can show you a couple of ideas for men's rings using three stones! This picture is from Lang Antiques and shows a men's band with three diamonds set down into the metal.

another men's antique:

one more

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, I wouldn't call this a vintage style exactly, but you could do a dog tag type pendant with the three stones vertically set with the large one in the center. You'll just have to picture that since I am just copying and pasting this picture! Any of these rings or pendant would be custom made, and I think David Klass would be a good choice for any of these.

 

[rockysalamander]

For a bracelet, you could take the same flush/gypsy setting technique from the lovely vintage ring above. So, imagine the large rectangle in the below bracelet to have the three diamonds in the place of the square and screws. I'd leave the gold bars and screws running vertically (the bar holding the diamonds will need to have some thickness and access from the back to keep the diamonds clean). If you have a more refined and less industrial look, you could have a gold bars in the metal (see rings) making the whole look mixed metal and they can chamfer out the channel and bezel set the stones (last picture). The rest of the bracelet could be a simple chain (second picture below).

The same concept could be applied to a pendent.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

True, the ID bracelet with flush set stones would kind of be like the dog tag pendant in bracelet form if he likes more classic and vintage styles.

 

[SurfFL]

@diamondseeker2006
I like the second ring, what's keeping me from jumping on a ring is I'd either have to quit wearing the rest or take it of to wear the others. I do like the idea of the dog tag and could have my grandma's name engraved on the back or something, I'll have to think on that some, it's not really "clicking" yet.

@rockysalamander
I like the first bracelet but I'm not sure the leather on it would would be a good idea for me. I'm hard on stuff and don't think of taking my jewelry off( or changing into work clothes) before doing things. I do like the ID bracelet idea or something similar. It would have to be sturdy and very secure with the diamonds.

 

[SurfFL]

I do like the idea of mixed metals or colors. The ring I always wear is WG the rest of my jewelry is silver or YG, so something in WG And YG might help tie it all together. I'm not sure if there's a rule about mixing colors or not.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

No, there are no rules about mixing color. But I'd probably do all one color metal, personally. It's fine to wear pieces made with different metals. I'd just say when setting diamonds, I wouldn't set them in anything less than 14k gold, and doing the ID style bracelet will be very costly. So part of this depends on how much you want to invest in the project. A ring likely will be least expensive because of less gold being used and pendant second.

A watch is usually a good piece to have in two tone metals.

 

[SurfFL]

I'm flexible in the budget, but would like to keep it as low as possible. Didn't think about the amount of gold that would need to go into a bracelet.

 

[rockysalamander]

I'm flexible in the budget, but would like to keep it as low as possible. Didn't think about the amount of gold that would need to go into a bracelet.

There is a compromise. If you work with a skilled jeweller, they can use a sterling or gold ID bracelet that is already made as a base. Then, they build the elements that hold the diamonds in gold, which then are rivetted down to the underlying pre-made ID bracelet after cutting a channel for diamond access from below. See how the silver is rivetted to the copper below? This example is a bit rustic, but if executed with some flair like the one above (metal/leather), it would read much more industrial and clean.

Men's ID bracelets are often found in pawn shops, so you can often get quite a deal on them.

 

[rockysalamander]

For a pendant, you could use a modification of the infinity loop. I suggested the use of two of the diamonds and add a ruby as you like them. I'd hang it vertically. Or below, you could use a tribal inspired design then have the stones down a central rib. So, maybe think of symbols and images that are meaningful to you...

 

[rockysalamander]

This is incredible and I bet they customize. These are mostly silver and non-precious metals, but their metal skills are pretty clear. I can totally see working with them to create the base and then a skilled jeweler to create a piece with the diamond(s) to incorporate.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/88257769/steampunk-necklace-vintage-silver?ref=shop_home_active_50

https://www.etsy.com/listing/118425947/steampunk-necklace-vintage-watch

https://www.etsy.com/listing/64980919/steampunk-jewelry-antique-victorian?ref=shop_home_active_15

 

[SurfFL]

Those are good ideas and the watch parts are cool, but not sure they are really my style.
I wear my Masonic ring everyday I have one that belonged to my great grandfather and one that belonged to my best friends dad. I also have a gold ring with a diamond, a emerald horseshoe ring, and 2 Garnet rings, and hopefully no time soon but will be inheriting 2 rings from my grandfather. As for pendants I have an anchor with a diamond, a silver coin off a ship wreck, and airboat that are mine, a anchor and ships wheel, a ships wheel plus several other things that are family pieces I wear from time to time.

I was thinking a compass pendent but can't think how to incorporate the diamonds into it and still be able to use all 3.

The more I think about it and more ideas I see the more I'm starting to figure out what I do and don't want.

 

[rockysalamander]

With the other nautical jewelry, I'm assuming you mean a navigation one and not an engineering one...

Sounds like some Navy men or a lot of sea faring folks. A compass would be cool. Use the diamonds for E,S,W add a red spinel for North (more fire than a ruby). I love the script font on the last one.

http://reisnichols.com/jewelry/729/2106463060

 

[rockysalamander]

Compass with script font...

I hope it is clear that I'm posting inspirations. Most of these are not really of the quality of making/casting I'd recommended. Just trying to help you refine you ideas and then we can talk markers.

 

[SurfFL]

With the other nautical jewelry, I'm assuming you mean a navigation one and not an engineering one...

Sounds like some Navy men or a lot of sea faring folks. A compass would be cool. Use the diamonds for E,S,W add a red spinel for North (more fire than a ruby). I love the script font on the last one.

http://reisnichols.com/jewelry/729/2106463060

That's a great idea, I never thought of using a colored stone for north.
Yes nautical compass, boats have been a family business and love for generations.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I absolutely LOVE the compass idea!!! You could use the largest diamond in the center and add two more small diamonds to your other two to put at NSEW.

 

[rockysalamander]

I absolutely LOVE the compass idea!!! You could use the largest diamond in the center and add two more small diamonds to your other two to put at NSEW.

Another great option. Traditionally, the North direction is denoted on any compass (often the only one when used on maps and the like). So, using a different stone has some intrinsic logic, but I think the options are wide-open for a decorative piece. Depending on OP's nationality, there would be ways to include runes or script from those.

If OP makes wood boats, something like this could be a pendant. I'd line up the three diamonds where the opal is like the three stones more channel set, as the channel would add design lines. You could also add some colored stones along the channel. That would pay homage to the original ring with the three stones lined up. Maybe engrave his grandma's initials as the boat's name.