Ideas for solitaire pendant size, paired with 3-stone pendant setting for daily wear

[dumbo]

My wife's daily driver necklace is a 3-stone setting on a platinum chain that sits about 17" long: 3 stones from BGD at 1.1/1.7/1.1 carats respectively, 3.9 carats total.

I was thinking of getting her a second solitaire pendant that would sit just above that (at the suprasternal notch) and that could be extended when she wears one of her choker/collar necklaces (she has a really nice 5-row Cartier Gentiane and a 19 carat riviera choker from IDJ). This would be a daily necklace for her as well.

Thoughts on size? I was thinking anywhere from 1.4 carats to 2 carats. Given that it is just above a 3-stone, 3.9 carat total setting, what do you think would look best? Should colors match the BGD 3-stone pendant? Her IDJ riviera is H/I and the BGD are K/L color: the color difference isn't noticeable unless you are looking for it.

 

[headlight]

Wow, that seems like a lot going on to me but to each their own.
With regard to color, I do think you should match the higher end of the 3-stone.
With regard to making it adjustable, I am not a huge fan of that for the solitaire because sometimes it has to be adjusted because it moves and you have the “tail” of the excess chain from the larger length hanging in the back and if you are layering it’s going to be a hot mess trying to adjust one back to center amongst the others. Also, does she have short hair or wear her hair up?… that tail will be visible. I just don’t think it will be a good look when the rest of what she is wearing it with is not adjustable. Perhaps if you want her to be able to wear it with the choker the length of the solitaire can go just a little lower.
Be sure that there is no way any of the diamonds can touch as she moves around, bends over, etc., because diamond scratches diamond.
I’m assuming this is all in yellow gold given the Cartier piece?

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Imo I think an adjustable pendant is a great idea (I have one and I wear it at all lengths regularly and I stack it, no issues for me), I would actually like to see it sit below the 3-stone, not above it. I’d go for 2ct and then it looks sort of like a drop (usually the drop is larger than the stones above it) and more balanced.

Another idea would be to do a different shape, like a pear shaped pendant, which she can wear alone or stacked with her other necklaces/pendant. A pear shape lends itself naturally to a “drop”; though a similar effect could be reached with an oval or EC (and of course, if she prefers MRB it will work as well).

As for colour - I’d split the difference at J or K. Since the IDJ riviera each stone is much smaller at ~25-30pts each; it’s pretty much going to look a bit whiter than a bigger stone no matter what. And a K/L stone 1.7ct would jive quite well with a J/K stone 2cts imo. J would be my sweet spot for this.

I’d love to hear (or see) what you guys go with!

 

[RunningwithScissors]

When considering what size diamond to purchase, you want to think about the overall look and which necklace you want to be dominant, or play the staring role, and which necklace you want to be the supporting actor. In my opinion, and also in the art and design world in general, having two objects of the same visual weight is far less interesting and/or flattering than having two objects that are unequal. Equal = static; unequal = dynamic. In design, this principle is called "hierarchy". Or in music, think of an orchestra -- perhaps the violin section is playing the melody while the violas are playing the harmony.

So if you want the new pendant to be dominant, then chose a diamond on the larger side; if you want the 3 stone she already has to play the staring role, then the new pendant should not compete with it from a visual weight standpoint.

 

[tyty333]

Agee with @RunningwithScissors ...my mind wants to put a smaller (1.4/1.5 range) stone above the 3 stone so it doesn't
compete with the 3 stone. It would be hard to go big enough to make the solitaire the dominant necklace (IMO).
Any pictures of the 3 stone?

Have you considered a diamond by-the-yard necklace? That would give the solitaire a little more interest.

Let me see if I can go find some pictures.

Edit...here is a thread that might interest you. Shows Pricescopers stacking different necklaces.

Show me your Neck Mess

I’m just here to say every *single* time I see the title of this thread my brain reads it as “show me your neck mass.” I mean, I have a decent sized thyroid nodule but can’t imagine you really wanna see. Edited to add: you all look effortlessly cool and chic!

www.pricescope.com

Just thought that you could make the solitaire the dominate necklace by putting in a halo setting.