Moi et moi ring

[Autumn in New England]

Hello all,

Yes, you read that correctly. There is currently no toi to this moi. lol Although I am toi-less at the moment, I would still like to partake in this le style. I usually carry a mild disdain for the latest celebrity trends, but this one I rather like. So I was looking through my stones to see which might come together nicely for such a design. I should mention than none of my stones is currently set (because every time I go to do it, I find another gem and blow the budget!). In any event, I have this 3ct. gray spinel... it's super neutral, which I love, but it could be a bit drab in a classic setting. Yet, I don't want to actually add any color, since I have a rainbow of other gems. I thought it might be cool to pair it with a black spinel, and then add a bunch of diamond melee for a monochromatic look. I'd love everyone's opinions, and please feel free to add suggestions for any other style rings that may work well for the gray spinel, with or without the black spinel. TIA!

Autumn

Sorry for another lousy photo... it's shot through the gem box, which is sort of dulling the stones. They are both completely clean. Please ignore the lint.


Possible ring design...

 

[Ionysis]

Oh I LOVE this!! It will look so elegant. You can go bling with the diamonds but it will still be understated and chic because of the colour.

Can’t wait to see how it looks!

 

[demantoidz]

I've said before I don't have an eye for design, so I'm just thinking out loud.
I think the combination has the potential to look very chic, but maybe use less diamonds than the inspo pic - there's side baguette diamonds, halos, and a pavé band (is that indeed the meaning of pavé - melee on the band ? ). Dropping one of them would give it a sleeker look which these colors lend themselves more to. But maybe the colors will bring it to that level regardless.

Moussaieff has created some beautiful toi et moi designs, e.g.

 

[dk168]

A colourless stone like Topaz or Danburite pear instead of the black Spinel?

DK

 

[pokerface]

Very cool. I second the suggestion of minimal or no diamonds surrounding your mois - the gray against the black is so striking and unusual that a cleaner design would be preferable.

 

[elle_71125]

That grey spinel is gorgeous (and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t typically like grey).

 

[pinkjewel]

I think how you set it partly depends on how you want to wear it.
Those are fairly large stones and adding diamonds around them and on the band will make a fairly large and blingy ring. If that's the look you want, I really like adding all the diamonds. However, it might be a bit much if your style is more casual. I am in the process of making a toi and moi ring myself. but my gems are much smaller and I opted for no melee diamonds (except 2 tiny little argyle pinks on the band) because I have found my life has become very casual and people look at me like I have 2 heads when I wear my more blingy stuff-lol.

 

[Crochet_Sparkles]

Hmm, have you thought about setting them in rose gold? That would offer a really cool contrast and sort of warm them up. Then I wouldn't do any diamonds, just the spinels.
Alternatively, if you want to go really monochrome, it could be super cool to set them in white gold and then have salt and pepper diamonds instead of white diamonds.

 

[ringo865]

Ooh cool. I’m envisioning “grey” gold or black rhodium.

 

[RMOO]

If your life is more casual, what about engraved platinum or white gold, or as suggested above, pale rose gold (I forget which is more pale, 14k or 18k?) And milgrain the bezels instead of diamond. If you still wanted some diamonds, place a brilliant cut trap or trillion at the round end of each stone, to taper to the shank.

 

[BoulderGal]

I don't own a ring like that, but I'd go with what a few people said above, and just go with a plain white metal thin bezel to outline the stones, maybe with milgrain, possible carved detail on the shank-total monochrome look. That would make those babies pop!! Only my opinion, but I think adding diamonds may take away from the grey spinel.

 

[Rfisher]

@Autumn in New England
How super neutral is neutral on your spinel?
Like barely a purple (or teal) color shift?
You have the unicorn?!?

I’m so green with envy - you have the best stuff!!!!

 

[mrs-b]

This is going to be....



Great creative idea, @Autumn in New England! Looking forward to seeing the end result!

 

[Ionysis]

Personally I’d not go for warm tone metal with these stones. It cries out for platinum or rhodium plate to me.

 

[DAF]

This would look fantastic set in black rhodium.

 

[Mooshi]

SO MUCH YES! Your original idea is amazing. I second a rose gold, or a grey/black gold!

 

[lovedogs]

I think platinum or grey gold would look sooooo good. Black rhodium might be too monochrome (imho, of course)

 

[pinkjewel]

Another vote for platinum or 18kt white gold, I don't see these in rose gold.

 

[Autumn in New England]

You guys never disappoint! As I've said before, I'm a rockhound, but I really lack the creativity of the jewelry connoisseurs on this forum. I have so many ideas now... thank you all for the kind words and great suggestions!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

A colourless stone like Topaz or Danburite pear instead of the black Spinel?

DK

I considered that, thank you! I thought since I was adding white diamonds, a colorless stone might get lost. But if I went with different (or no) melee, that could work!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I think the grey spinel is very cool on its own as a center piece and then add some black diamonds for the accents on or around the shank for a really cool bat girl goth look, I really fancy grey stones and that spinel is a looker all on its own, I'd have to do a lil research and get back to you on this one

Definitely going for a goth look, thank you!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Hmm, have you thought about setting them in rose gold? That would offer a really cool contrast and sort of warm them up. Then I wouldn't do any diamonds, just the spinels.
Alternatively, if you want to go really monochrome, it could be super cool to set them in white gold and then have salt and pepper diamonds instead of white diamonds.

Rose gold would definitely be an interesting and unexpected look, thank you! I worry about it influencing the gray spinel's color though. The luster seems to reflect whatever color you put it near, almost with a rainbow effect. I want to keep it really neutral, I think.

ETA: I also like the suggestion of salt and pepper diamonds! They're a great alternative to black diamonds, which I do not care for because they are irradiated.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Ooh cool. I’m envisioning “grey” gold or black rhodium.

This would look fantastic set in black rhodium.

SO MUCH YES! Your original idea is amazing. I second a rose gold, or a grey/black gold!

I think platinum or grey gold would look sooooo good. Black rhodium might be too monochrome (imho, of course)

Ooooo what is gray gold?! That may be exactly what I've been looking for. Is it solid? I love, love, love black rhodium, but I hate plating of any kind (because of the maintenance). So I would opt for platinum as my white metal. I was researching solid black rhodium the other day, but it doesn't look like we've reached that point yet. lol Apparently, it's one of the more difficult members of the platinum family to work.

 

[Autumn in New England]

If your life is more casual, what about engraved platinum or white gold, or as suggested above, pale rose gold (I forget which is more pale, 14k or 18k?) And milgrain the bezels instead of diamond. If you still wanted some diamonds, place a brilliant cut trap or trillion at the round end of each stone, to taper to the shank.

I really like this idea, thank you!

 

[Autumn in New England]

I've said before I don't have an eye for design, so I'm just thinking out loud.
I think the combination has the potential to look very chic, but maybe use less diamonds than the inspo pic - there's side baguette diamonds, halos, and a pavé band (is that indeed the meaning of pavé - melee on the band ? ). Dropping one of them would give it a sleeker look which these colors lend themselves more to. But maybe the colors will bring it to that level regardless.

Moussaieff has created some beautiful toi et moi designs, e.g.

Oh good lord, that's gorgeous. I don't have an eye for design either, my friend. Sure looks like you do, though!

 

[Autumn in New England]

@Autumn in New England
How super neutral is neutral on your spinel?
Like barely a purple (or teal) color shift?
You have the unicorn?!?

I’m so green with envy - you have the best stuff!!!!

Aw you're incredibly sweet to say so, thank you! I feel the very same way about everyone else's collections. So I was determined to find the most neutral gray that could possibly exist. Did I succeed? I guess that's subjective, but, to my eyes, it has an ever so slight hint of blue in natural light if I really focus. Otherwise, it's the most neutral gray I've held in-hand, and very "metallic." My ultimate goal was to find a stone where your average person would instantly identify it as "gray" and not just a muddled blue, green, purple, etc. It feels weird, right, after searching your entire gem collecting life for the most saturated stones you can find? And here we want zero saturation. Although, I suppose our diamond collectors understand this well!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Very cool. I second the suggestion of minimal or no diamonds surrounding your mois - the gray against the black is so striking and unusual that a cleaner design would be preferable.

Oh I LOVE this!! It will look so elegant. You can go bling with the diamonds but it will still be understated and chic because of the colour.

Can’t wait to see how it looks!

That grey spinel is gorgeous (and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t typically like grey).

I think how you set it partly depends on how you want to wear it.
Those are fairly large stones and adding diamonds around them and on the band will make a fairly large and blingy ring. If that's the look you want, I really like adding all the diamonds. However, it might be a bit much if your style is more casual. I am in the process of making a toi and moi ring myself. but my gems are much smaller and I opted for no melee diamonds (except 2 tiny little argyle pinks on the band) because I have found my life has become very casual and people look at me like I have 2 heads when I wear my more blingy stuff-lol.

I don't own a ring like that, but I'd go with what a few people said above, and just go with a plain white metal thin bezel to outline the stones, maybe with milgrain, possible carved detail on the shank-total monochrome look. That would make those babies pop!! Only my opinion, but I think adding diamonds may take away from the grey spinel.

This is going to be....



Great creative idea, @Autumn in New England! Looking forward to seeing the end result!

Thank you all for the fabulous suggestions! Sorry for so many posts... I just want to make sure you all know how much I appreciate the time you took out of your day to comment. ❤

 

[zenzii]

I love grey spinels. I can just imagine how stunning a ring this could be.

Personally I‘d go with platinum and diamond halo around both stones. Something like in your fist post. Either way grey and black, what a gorgeous combination! I’m sure it’ll make a statement piece.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I love grey spinels. I can just imagine how stunning a ring this could be.

Personally I‘d go with platinum and diamond halo around both stones. Something like in your fist post. Either way grey and black, what a gorgeous combination! I’m sure it’ll make a statement piece.

Thank you for commenting!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Thank you for commenting!

My suggestion is to not buy any more stones and use what you have. I like the ones you chose and I think accenting with white diamonds in a white setting would look amazing. You don’t need a halo necessarily though, even just a stripe going diagonally across the middle would be neat.