New project! Baby AVCs and Aquamarine. White or YG?

[briolette]

Hello Ladies!
I'd love to get your help/feed back on a new ring project.

First off, a shoutout to the folks at Good Old Gold. Stephanie was so easy to work with and they were so helpful with helping me find some baby AVCs in a warm color in my budget.

I purchased this cute matched pair from them.
Specs:
.26ct N color, VVS1
3.83 X 3.69mm

3.76 X 3.65mm





These are the cutest little fireballs! I love them. I tend to like warmer diamonds and was so surprised at what a bargain they came out to be.

I cut a 2.06 ct aquamarine ages ago (back when I was first learning how my lapidary skills-- this thing is literally 20 years old) It's not the nicest aquamarine, has a few inclusions in it, and a thick girdle but it is one of the first stones I ever cut and I've been wanting to set it in a nice ring for some time.

(please ignore my chapped hands...and yes, I know I need to redo my manicure! been potting plants and cleaning the house all morning )







The specs on the aquamarine:
2.06ct
8x6.2x6mm

I can't decide if I should do a white metal or yellow gold. Simple 3 stone basket setting or maybe something fancier? I was also toying with the idea of setting it with a spessertite or mali garnet instead but for what ever reason it feels like it's *time* to set my aquamarine. I realize the warmth of the diamond might look odd with the center stone, but I don't think its too bad.

Looking forward to hearing folk's feedback!

 

[Snowdrop13]

Well, I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions but I like aquas in yellow gold, think it has a more "vintage" look. I have 2 small unheated stones I'm considering bezelling in yellow- they do have a slightly greeny tinge which will suit that, I hope. I like your stones together, unusual but somehow "right" !

 

[Tourmaline]

Exciting and lovely!

 

[motownmama]

My vote is white gold

 

[dk168]

White metal for me too, good luck with your project, and I look forward to seeing the finished ring.

DK

 

[tyty333]

I'm thinking gold would show them off very nicely...I worry/wonder if white gold will wash them out too much?

Fun project!

 

[briolette]

Here it is dropped into one of my old platinum and diamond settings....i felt like it was all a little too "uniform" in color, but that's probably because the diamonds are a lot whiter.



If I did a white metal, I do wonder if it would make the AVCs look strange since they are a N.

 

[briolette]

Well, I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions but I like aquas in yellow gold, think it has a more "vintage" look. I have 2 small unheated stones I'm considering bezelling in yellow- they do have a slightly greeny tinge which will suit that, I hope. I like your stones together, unusual but somehow "right" !

Snowdrop, your project sounds really interesting too! I would love to see how bezeled aquas would look.

My stone is also slightly greenish, since I didn't heat treat it. I was considering recutting it so that the color is more intense, but it would end up being a very small stone and I'm not that precise of a lapidary (that is to say I make mistakes when I cut and you end up needing to recut all over again to make the facets line up)

 

[MissGotRocks]

With very white side diamonds, I would vote white gold. However, with the color of your side stones, I'm going with yellow gold. I am loving your color side stones with that aquamarine! Will give that ring a special presence!

 

[briolette]

With very white side diamonds, I would vote white gold. However, with the color of your side stones, I'm going with yellow gold. I am loving your color side stones with that aquamarine! Will give that ring a special presence!

"Special presence!" I like that
Yes, I wanted something just a touch different and for whatever reason super white diamonds look "off" against my skin tone. I had an E colored VVS1 solitaire ages ago and folks kept saying it looked fake

 

[MissGotRocks]

With very white side diamonds, I would vote white gold. However, with the color of your side stones, I'm going with yellow gold. I am loving your color side stones with that aquamarine! Will give that ring a special presence!

"Special presence!" I like that
Yes, I wanted something just a touch different and for whatever reason super white diamonds look "off" against my skin tone. I had an E colored VVS1 solitaire ages ago and folks kept saying it looked fake

It's always fun to create something special - I think you're on your way!

 

[Acinom]

Great project!!
I tend towards yellow gold. It looks great in the platinum setting as well...

 

[arkieb1]

Depends if you want to contrast yellow gold if you want to play down the metal white gold.

 

[lioness]

How about unplated white gold?

 

[briolette]

How about unplated white gold?

Unplated white gold! Like how James Meyer does his white metals? That's a GREAT idea Lioness. I didn't even think of that.

 

[evergreen]

I know you didn't offer this as one of the choices, but what about rose gold? I think it compliments warmer diamonds (others may disagree) and might enhance the blue in the aqua, while being less monotone overall than a white metal, plus apparently it's what all the cool kids are setting their stones in nowadays.

If that's not an option, though, I second the unplated WG idea, especially 18k.

Also, LOVE that you cut that stone yourself and are finally setting it - what a special ring it will be!


ETA: Oh, have a question for you, too -- does GOG have many AVR/AVCs that they don't list on their site? (Or were yours listed & I just missed them with inadequately diligent site stalking?) Those Ns will be so lovely with the aqua!

 

[pixgirl]

Unplated white gold, please. I love the combination and when the picture appeared I literally gasped. Can't wait to see th finished project.

PS did you ever think of rose gold?

 

[briolette]

I know you didn't offer this as one of the choices, but what about rose gold? I think it compliments warmer diamonds (others may disagree) and might enhance the blue in the aqua, while being less monotone overall than a white metal, plus apparently it's what all the cool kids are setting their stones in nowadays.

If that's not an option, though, I second the unplated WG idea, especially 18k.

Also, LOVE that you cut that stone yourself and are finally setting it - what a special ring it will be!


ETA: Oh, have a question for you, too -- does GOG have many AVR/AVCs that they don't list on their site? (Or were yours listed & I just missed them with inadequately diligent site stalking?) Those Ns will be so lovely with the aqua!

I wish rose gold looked good on me. That would be my first choice for an aquamarine because I think the colors are so lovely together, but the rose gold color sort of blends into my skin too much if that makes sense. I like looking at rose gold on other people. LOL.

Evergreen, regarding your question, they do have AVC's and AVR's not listed on their site. To my knowledge they don't have any matched pairs listed online. Just contact them with what you are looking for and a budget and they'll find the stone(s) for you. I found them so incredibly easy and helpful to work with. Highly recommended!

 

[briolette]

And yes, lapidary work is very fulfilling, though I don't cut nearly enough to be great at it. I do it as a hobby (gene from Precision Gem helped me a lot with trouble shooting back in the day) Gotta warn you though, your hands will look like mine if you pursue it. LOL. A lot of handwashing goes on. If I could tell my younger self some advice-- hand lotion!!!!

 

[briolette]

I'm really liking the idea of unplated white gold, ladies! thanks for your feedback...

Now, should I go classic 3 stone or something more modern?

I have another 3 stone ring-- demantoid with trap sides:


I don't want them to look *too* similar, but there are attributes I really like with my other ring-- the knife edge shank and split prongs.

I am open to a sleek modern design since the facet patterning is so "clean" on the stones though. Funny, I tried googling emerald cut with cushion sides and did not find many images! Anyone on here see examples of that combo that could help me?

 

[snfsdca]

How about unplated white gold?

Second that

 

[lioness]

How about unplated white gold?

Unplated white gold! Like how James Meyer does his white metals? That's a GREAT idea Lioness. I didn't even think of that.

Happy to help. I can't wait to see this ring. Wearing a stone that you cut yourself? Triumphant.