rubyshoes
Brilliant_Rock
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LouMom
Rough_Rock
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Thanks guys for all the compliments! I can't wait to give it to her (and give her the responsibility of keeping it safe. =P)
As for designing the ring, I initially went with a marquise shape because of the cost:finger coverage ratio was low. After googling marquise settings, I didn't really find any that I liked. It was either way too vintage looking or pretty gaudy (in my opinion). After really liking Verragio setting (but not the Verragio price) and some of their braided pave, I think i stumbled upon a image of a ShaneCo setting with a marquise diamond photoshopped on it and I knew I had a starting point for the setting. Luckily there's a ShaneCo store 10 minutes from my house, so I went to take a look at the setting and some of the marquise stones they had there. But I really didn't like the head part of the mount. It looked half-ass'd and the ShaneCo rep was trying to push me to buy the semi-mount as is (with a generic marquise setting). So thus online I went.
Link to Shane Co setting:
http://www.shaneco.com/Jewelry-Catalog/Design-Your-Own/Rings/Engagement-Rings/Product-Detail.aspx?X=41046616
I came up with the idea of combining the shank and the head into something more organic and nature-y. The image of a money tree or braided vines was my inspiration for searching on how it would come together. So back to googling I went. I pretty much searched through all the preferred vendors' websites for settings (JA, WF, GOG, Leon Mege, Victor Canera, Steve Kirsh, etc etc etc). Found a head that I really liked from D. Vatche (I think i found out about D Vatche through GOG or WF's website, they both offer D. Vatche settings).
Link to D. Vatche setting:
http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=2,15&startRow=30&id=35
Initially I was working with both JA on procuring the diamond. They were incredibly helpful and stayed in communication throughout the process. But upon asking about the custom setting (just simply sent them an email saying want this shank but with a head/setting like this and would work with a marquise), they called me and told me that their custom design team said "the head wouldn't work with a marquise". No knock on JA. I would still use them without hesitation in the future.
Thus WF came into the picture, Victoria was incredibly helpful throughout the process. Sent her pretty much the same email I sent JA (want a shank like ShaneCo, head like D. Vatche but works with a marquise). She said no problem. Worked with her to get a diamond and then she sent the order to their production team to work on the custom design.
Leon handled all my custom design emails. He emailed me with an initial CAD ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cads-are-in-for-my-fis-marquise-e-ring.192101/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cads-are-in-for-my-fis-marquise-e-ring.192101/[/URL]). Initial reaction was that I didn't like it. There were elements of it that I did like and elements of it that I didn't like. I sent Leon what I would like to have changed with some pictures (Verragio braid, Victor Canera braid). They came back with a revised CAD that was awesome. Told them to make it and now it's in my hands.
The whole process from initially contacting WF took a little under 2 months. 1 month to find the center stone (cuz I was being picky). 1 month for them to design the setting, revise the setting and make and shipping the finished product. Overall, they were either on time with their ETAs or faster (revised CADs took about 1/2 the time that they allotted themselves).
Thanks again to all the people on this forum, Niel esp with giving advice to my previous threads about picking a good marquise and with the setting!
gemmyblond|1378323206|3514510 said:Love love love this ring - gorgeous! The combo of the trellis w/ the entwined branches and marquise is unique & fab. Congrats!
Would love to hear more specifics about how you designed the setting and worked w WF on it (if you feel like sharing).
Awesome ring.
As for designing the ring, I initially went with a marquise shape because of the cost:finger coverage ratio was low. After googling marquise settings, I didn't really find any that I liked. It was either way too vintage looking or pretty gaudy (in my opinion). After really liking Verragio setting (but not the Verragio price) and some of their braided pave, I think i stumbled upon a image of a ShaneCo setting with a marquise diamond photoshopped on it and I knew I had a starting point for the setting. Luckily there's a ShaneCo store 10 minutes from my house, so I went to take a look at the setting and some of the marquise stones they had there. But I really didn't like the head part of the mount. It looked half-ass'd and the ShaneCo rep was trying to push me to buy the semi-mount as is (with a generic marquise setting). So thus online I went.
Link to Shane Co setting:
http://www.shaneco.com/Jewelry-Catalog/Design-Your-Own/Rings/Engagement-Rings/Product-Detail.aspx?X=41046616
I came up with the idea of combining the shank and the head into something more organic and nature-y. The image of a money tree or braided vines was my inspiration for searching on how it would come together. So back to googling I went. I pretty much searched through all the preferred vendors' websites for settings (JA, WF, GOG, Leon Mege, Victor Canera, Steve Kirsh, etc etc etc). Found a head that I really liked from D. Vatche (I think i found out about D Vatche through GOG or WF's website, they both offer D. Vatche settings).
Link to D. Vatche setting:
http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=2,15&startRow=30&id=35
Initially I was working with both JA on procuring the diamond. They were incredibly helpful and stayed in communication throughout the process. But upon asking about the custom setting (just simply sent them an email saying want this shank but with a head/setting like this and would work with a marquise), they called me and told me that their custom design team said "the head wouldn't work with a marquise". No knock on JA. I would still use them without hesitation in the future.
Thus WF came into the picture, Victoria was incredibly helpful throughout the process. Sent her pretty much the same email I sent JA (want a shank like ShaneCo, head like D. Vatche but works with a marquise). She said no problem. Worked with her to get a diamond and then she sent the order to their production team to work on the custom design.
Leon handled all my custom design emails. He emailed me with an initial CAD ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cads-are-in-for-my-fis-marquise-e-ring.192101/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cads-are-in-for-my-fis-marquise-e-ring.192101/[/URL]). Initial reaction was that I didn't like it. There were elements of it that I did like and elements of it that I didn't like. I sent Leon what I would like to have changed with some pictures (Verragio braid, Victor Canera braid). They came back with a revised CAD that was awesome. Told them to make it and now it's in my hands.
The whole process from initially contacting WF took a little under 2 months. 1 month to find the center stone (cuz I was being picky). 1 month for them to design the setting, revise the setting and make and shipping the finished product. Overall, they were either on time with their ETAs or faster (revised CADs took about 1/2 the time that they allotted themselves).
Thanks again to all the people on this forum, Niel esp with giving advice to my previous threads about picking a good marquise and with the setting!
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2013
- Messages
- 4,814
AprilBaby|1378403022|3515080 said:W
right? I'm pissed off that I put my old marquise in a cocktail ring. I want THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!
hguy you couldn't have done a better job. The way you put all the different elements together is just amazing. She's gonna FREAK when she sees it!
JaneSmith
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
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- 1,589
gemmyblond
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2010
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- 158
Thanks so much, hguy4x, for the detailed insight into your inspiration and design process. Very educational; the tremendous time and effort which you put in really shows in this gorgeous ring.
You've created a unique, stunning, oh-so-elegant-yet-wearable masterpiece which is just beyond. Just a masterpiece.
Please return and post handshots post-proposal. Meantime, enjoy the fruit of your hard work - it's a knockout.
You've created a unique, stunning, oh-so-elegant-yet-wearable masterpiece which is just beyond. Just a masterpiece.
Please return and post handshots post-proposal. Meantime, enjoy the fruit of your hard work - it's a knockout.
pandabee
Ideal_Rock
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- Feb 29, 2012
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I would have to say that is the most gorgeous setting I have ever seen with a marquise! It is perfect and delicate. Most of the settings I have seen with a marquise are quite a bit heavier and kind of standard. Your setting is amazing. What a great job WF did! It is beautiful, can't wait to see the hand shots!
gem_anemone
Brilliant_Rock
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ManhattanLawyer
Shiny_Rock
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AudiLover
Shiny_Rock
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BubblesnFun
Rough_Rock
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Guess it's time for some handshots!
Proposed over the weekend at Land's End Trail in San Francisco. I sang her a song that I wrote while I was waiting for the ring to be made. She was completely surprised about the entire thing. Even to the point when I was picking up my guitar, she was thinking "uh... why is hguy4x stealing that family's guitar?" That "family" being a handful of our close friends of course.
Proposed over the weekend at Land's End Trail in San Francisco. I sang her a song that I wrote while I was waiting for the ring to be made. She was completely surprised about the entire thing. Even to the point when I was picking up my guitar, she was thinking "uh... why is hguy4x stealing that family's guitar?" That "family" being a handful of our close friends of course.
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hguy4x|1379008840|3519535 said:Guess it's time for some handshots!
Proposed over the weekend at Land's End Trail in San Francisco. I sang her a song that I wrote while I was waiting for the ring to be made. She was completely surprised about the entire thing. Even to the point when I was picking up my guitar, she was thinking "uh... why is hguy4x stealing that family's guitar?" That "family" being a handful of our close friends of course.
it's AWESOME!!! And I can tell by her clothes that you NAILED her style!!!!!!!!!!
ckrickett
Ideal_Rock
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Enerchi
Super_Ideal_Rock
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sonyachancs
Shiny_Rock
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Please join me in celebrating this ring, it's been featured for Throwback Thursday!
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