Opinions on pendant design please!

[MakingTheGrade]

As many of you know, I recently acquired two spinels, one lavender and one pink. The pink one was bought as part of a ring, but the stone outclasses the bezel, and I think deserves to be reset.

I found Julia Kay Taylor on Etsy
Julia Kay Taylor

And she has been absolutely great to work with! Amazing gallery of work, great price, and extremely customer responsive. She actually reminds me a lot of Sally from HOW, and if her skill level is as high, I will be thrilled because then I have another custom jeweler option for when I'm too nervous to send stones to Thailand!

After a few emails back and forth and some preliminary rough sketches, she's sent me these designs. I think they're all beautiful, eek! I would love some other opinions, especially since many of you are very jewelery savy!

I'm leaning away from #4, it's a little too much metal for my taste. I wanted something delicate and light. The pendant will be made in Argentinium sterling silver.

Thanks for the input!
And of course, these aren't the only options set in stone, if you have additional suggestions to the designs, please let me know!

 

[geckodani]

I. LOVE. Option 1. Gorgeous.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Oh, and the bezels will be open backed so that I can clean back there! I know, I''m so OCD!
Here are pics of the two spinels together for reference:
(Original Thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gave-into-temptation-bought-a-spinel.116503/)

 

[brandy_z28]

I think I prefer #3 out of those 4 options. Will the drop be metal or will that be another stone?

 

[Kismet]

Option 3 then option 4.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 6/5/2009 1:00:26 PM
Author: geckodani
I. LOVE. Option 1. Gorgeous.

Thanks, I really like it too. But I also really like that in the other designs, the oval spinel is "dangling" and freely moveable, which I think will give the pendant more of a light, airy feel. I worry that #1 might look stiffer? Hmm....hard decisions!!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 6/5/2009 1:02:12 PM
Author: brandy_z28
I think I prefer #3 out of those 4 options. Will the drop be metal or will that be another stone?

The drop will be metal.

 

[D&T]

I vote #2, something about is just so fluid and uniform and delicate imo,,, but if I was doing one for myself,,, #1 because my first initial starts with an "S" and that design looks like it has an S, but I would still go with #2 even then.... lol... sorry if it doesn't make any sense.. I just got alot of gemstones in my head right now making me all wacky.

ETA: I think i picked #2 because this one lacks the little beaded metal work that all of them seem to have... so I'm just the odd one out, since I just like clean lines and simple pattern.

 

[Honey228]

I think #3 is pretty.

 

[SapphireLover]

I vote three as well.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Order of preference - 2,3,1,4 I LOVE 2. It looks the most delicate to me. #3 is unique looking. I don''t like the "s" in number 1 and #4 has too much metal going on around the top stone.

 

[mariedtiger]

I love the flow of 1, I think of a wave instead of an ''S''

But I saw her work in her Etsy shop and I love the dangles, so I really like 2 and 3 as well. I think with these, you can''t go wrong. GREAT find MTG!!!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 6/5/2009 1:30:47 PM
Author: mariedtiger
I love the flow of 1, I think of a wave instead of an ''S''

But I saw her work in her Etsy shop and I love the dangles, so I really like 2 and 3 as well. I think with these, you can''t go wrong. GREAT find MTG!!!

Thanks Mariedtiger! I''m very excited for this project! Julia seems to do great work, and it''d be nice to know of a talented metalsmith here in the US for when I''m too chicken to send something to sally.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I like #3! It''s so pretty and flowy.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 6/5/2009 1:38:18 PM
Author: MonkeyPie
I like #3! It's so pretty and flowy.

Thanks for the input MonkeyPie! I'm really feeling #2, and #3, both have their merits. I wrote her back, and I think she said she'd try to merge the floral delicacy of #2 and the sleekness of 3, so we'll see what she comes up with!

This is a piece from her etsy shop that I really like. It's just too big and busy for me personally to wear, but I like looking at it!

 

[ma re]

Each is nice in it''s own way, but since you''re not crazy about #4, I''d probably go with #1. It''s a bit unusual, and everything you wrote you''d like it to be. But you really can''t go wrong with either.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 6/5/2009 2:02:10 PM
Author: ma re
Each is nice in it''s own way, but since you''re not crazy about #4, I''d probably go with #1. It''s a bit unusual, and everything you wrote you''d like it to be. But you really can''t go wrong with either.

The only reason i don''t like #1 is because I really want the oval spinel to be freely moving (like in the other designs)

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Ok, so I know this is silly, but I resized her designs, printed them out, and "inserted" my stones into them, hehe.

So here is #2 and #3, the top contenders:

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/5/2009 2:34:29 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
Ok, so I know this is silly, but I resized her designs, printed them out, and 'inserted' my stones into them, hehe.

So here is #2 and #3, the top contenders:

I still love the look of #2... simple, sleek and classic and versatile, you can wear that with anything... #3 to me seems a little dressier... jmho

but both gorgeous so you can't go wrong with either!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I'm leaning towards #2 right now, because I love the sleeker flow. But it's lacking a little something to make it distinctive, you know? Maybe it just seems a little plain right next to the more intricate design of 3, but I feel like it's missing just that little bit of extra interest/detail to make it stand out as a one-of-a-kind beauty. I don't know what I'd add to it though, an interesting finish? A more interesting bail? Suggestions?

 

[cinnamon013]

Wow! Those are some awesome designs! Does she work in metals other than silver?

I love 2 and 3!

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/5/2009 2:42:04 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
I''m leaning towards #2 right now, because I love the sleeker flow. But it''s lacking a little something to make it distinctive, you know? Maybe it just seems a little plain right next to the more intricate design of 3, but I feel like it''s missing just that little bit of extra interest/detail to make it stand out as a one-of-a-kind beauty. I don''t know what I''d add to it though, an interesting finish? A more interesting bail? Suggestions?

I like the sound of changing the bail to make it more interesting does Julia have any other suggestions?

on a side note- I actually contacted her as well on a pendant project,,, but more simple for me and she thought I was you? said two spinel project in one day what are the odds... I just said nahh... a fellow pricescoper sent me your way... and the nice thing is that she''s local... kind of a couple of hours from me

 

[Kismet]

I still like #3 the best. I''m not digging the cushion shape in the swirly oval design of #2.

 

[hoofbeats95]

#2 looks GREAT! I don''t like how the metal kind of scrolls into the top stone in #3. It''s too much. Takes away from the stone. Are you sure you think #2 needs more or do you just think that it does because it''s a drawing and not real metal? It looks really nice to be and is unique enough to catch my eye for sure!

 

[D&T]

here''s an idea on #3 to keep the square cushion more square how about taking the scroll work up towards the bail area and then the shape will still mimick #2 does that make sense?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 6/5/2009 2:47:56 PM
Author: cinnamon013
Wow! Those are some awesome designs! Does she work in metals other than silver?


I love 2 and 3!

Yup, she works in gold as well, you can see her gold pieces on her website:
http://www.juliakaytaylor.com/

I'm always happy to share new talent. It usually works out for everyone!

What did you ask her to do for you DT? share share!

 

[D&T]

Like this terrible attempted paint change I did, sorry I don''t have photoshop

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Haha, I appreciate the effort DT! I kind of like the top the way it is though...
I'll think on it, and I told Julia what I thought, and she'll probably get back to me later today. And of course I'll come back with updates and to bug you guys for more opinions!

While we're waiting and mulling and pondering, here's a piece on her website that I really like, so thought I'd share the eye candy. And it also shows you the little ball thingy that's in her sketches, it's at the bottom of this pendant too.

Hmm...maybe a satin finish? Think that would look nice for #2? Might offset the spinel's sparkles? The satin finish in this piece looks so delicious!

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/5/2009 2:58:08 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade

Date: 6/5/2009 2:47:56 PM
Author: cinnamon013
Wow! Those are some awesome designs! Does she work in metals other than silver?


I love 2 and 3!

Yup, she works in gold as well, you can see her gold pieces on her website:
http://www.juliakaytaylor.com/

I''m always happy to share new talent. It usually works out for everyone!

What did you ask her to do for you DT? share share!

you''re so funny-- sorry to threadjack.. but I''m picking up a spinel maybe from Michael in a princess cut so I wanted like a double bezel with white and yellow gold so I can interchange yg and wg. so I''ll probably go to here for that project unless Michael comes up with design himself as well... We shall see

 

[Linda W]

I LOVE #3. Have you made a final choice yet???