Padparadscha journey

[Lilith112]

I love your new design. Hope your jeweler is able to execute to perfection.

Thank you! I'm fairly confident in her, just need to arrange for a meeting now :3

Oooo I love your design idea!!!

Aww thank you <3 I love designing jewelry, so much fun to envision the possibilities! :3

Both options would look lovely. I don't know which one I'd prefer! I think I'd want to see a colored CAD before I could decide.

Very true. I guess at this point, I should meet with her to talk over details, get her thoughts. I could have sworn that @Rfisher used a program to simulate a colored CAD though? Or maybe it was another PS-er?

 

[Rfisher]

@Lilith112
Lol - I just use a simple cut/paste/modify free app.
Take these with a huge grain of salt. They are quick and dirty. Rose gold color was not easy to find in what I could utilize. So I don’t think this is really going to help you decide on yellow vs rose as neither are coming across as a true gold color in the photos to my eyes, and the alloys are going to vary between vendors anyways.


I hope you document your setting journey for this - I find those threads fascinating

 

[Lilith112]

@Lilith112
Lol - I just use a simple cut/paste/modify free app.
Take these with a huge grain of salt. They are quick and dirty. Rose gold color was not easy to find in what I could utilize. So I don’t think this is really going to help you decide on yellow vs rose as neither are coming across as a true gold color in the photos to my eyes, and the alloys are going to vary between vendors anyways.


I hope you document your setting journey for this - I find those threads fascinating

Ohh thank you so much!

I chatted w/my jeweler over WeChat about 1). a brushed finish for a matte but lustrous effect as well as 2). using unplated white gold for softer contrast. The 18K alloy she uses is more like a peach gold, so I think it'll contrast nicely with both the pad as well as the unplated white gold.

 

[Lilith112]

Btw everyone, a slightly updated design; mostly tweaked so the lotus pad isn't as big/overwhelming:



Also, I really like the look of unplated white gold & 18K rose gold; ref pic as below:



Such a soft and romantic finish <3

 

[Lilith112]

I'm indecisive....so what about a lariat design instead? It's simpler, but can feature brushed rose gold leaves:



Thinking up of a design is hard!

 

[Begonia]

I'm indecisive....so what about a lariat design instead? It's simpler, but can feature brushed rose gold leaves:



Thinking up of a design is hard!

Lariat design!

The pad takes backstage in the first IMO

 

[Lilith112]

I discovered an even better lighting for my pad....sunset lighting!




It doesn't display in the pictures, but it's a sparkle bomb in strong lighting! Just orange flashes everywhere!

 

[JackTrick]

I’m absolutely in love with that stone. I don’t suppose the vendor had anymore like it?

 

[Lilith112]

I’m absolutely in love with that stone. I don’t suppose the vendor had anymore like it?

I can ask if you'd like!

 

[JackTrick]

I can ask if you'd like!

Yes please!

 

[Lilith112]

Yes please!

I asked my seller, and he said the most similar looking one he has right now is this 3ct. one:




Vendor says it's more windowed than mine and has a visible inclusion. What do you think?

 

[JackTrick]

Ah, the color is lovely, but the window bugs me. Thank you for asking though

 

[Lilith112]

Ah, the color is lovely, but the window bugs me. Thank you for asking though

No problem Do you have a budget/ct size in mind currently?

 

[JackTrick]

Budget is relatively open, depending on if I find something that makes my heart sing

Ct size I was thinking somewhere in the 1.5 to 3 range.

 

[Lilith112]

Budget is relatively open, depending on if I find something that makes my heart sing

Ct size I was thinking somewhere in the 1.5 to 3 range.

What do you think of these 2 options:

3.5ct, unheated Ceylon:



2ct, unheated:

 

[JackTrick]

The 3.5 looks pretty dreamy color wise! Bit blurry to see though.

I'm amused at this thread turning into a general purpose pad journey thread

 

[Lilith112]

The 3.5 looks pretty dreamy color wise! Bit blurry to see though.

I'm amused at this thread turning into a general purpose pad journey thread

I don't mind; pads are so tricky to search for that hopefully my adventures provide some help

Would you like me to check the price of the 3.5ct pad? And obtain some more pics?

 

[JackTrick]

I don't mind; pads are so tricky to search for that hopefully my adventures provide some help

Would you like me to check the price of the 3.5ct pad? And obtain some more pics?

You aren't kidding. It's so hard!

And sure, I wouldn't mind a price and some more pictures

 

[Lilith112]

You aren't kidding. It's so hard!

And sure, I wouldn't mind a price and some more pictures

The price is RMB88000 or USD12401; it's currently uncerted.

 

[JackTrick]

Hmm...pricey pricey, but food for thought. I appreciate you getting the info on it!

 

[icy_jade]

I thought pads r more pastel toned? This one is quite saturated - still considered a pad? I actually like the saturated color better since am not into pastels

 

[Lilith112]

Hmm...pricey pricey, but food for thought. I appreciate you getting the info on it!

No problem! The 3.5ct pad is with a non-wholesale vendor, so that probably also contributes to the cost on top of the size.

I thought pads r more pastel toned? This one is quite saturated - still considered a pad? I actually like the saturated color better since am not into pastels

I think there's some debate over pastel vs. saturated, but saturated pads in recent years have been fetching very high prices at auction such as the David Morris pad ring:



Richard Hughes also has a great article on the debate (Richard Hughes has a great article on the pastel vs. saturated debate: https://lotusgemology.com/index.php...-padparadscha-sapphire-the-ownership-of-words) where he supports including high saturation orange-pink sapphires as pads. The pad I bought also isn't considered pastel; Lotus Lab graded it as medium tone, rich saturation as this pic shows:

 

[JackTrick]

My personal definition of pads (which is just the definition I have for myself and what I’m looking for) is a gem that reminds me of beautiful sunsets and lotus flowers.

The debate on pad color is fascinating on an intellectual level. But I know what I like to see

 

[Lilith112]

My personal definition of pads (which is just the definition I have for myself and what I’m looking for) is a gem that reminds me of beautiful sunsets and lotus flowers.

The debate on pad color is fascinating on an intellectual level. But I know what I like to see

That's all that matters at the end of the day--whether or not you've fallen in love with it! There's just so many variations of pads, ranging from pink-leaning ones to deeper or more saturated pads

 

[Lilith112]

@JackTrick more pics; outdoor natural light:



As the pics show, it's visibly included. What do you think?

 

[JackTrick]

Ahh, less interested I’m afraid! Both color and clarity looked nicer in the blurry version

Thank you though!

 

[voce]

I've never personally cared for the pastel pads. It's only the more saturated pads that have taken my breath away. Love the square cushion pad! Would buy in a heartbeat if everything checks out and I had the money, but alas, I don't have the budget for it.

 

[Lilith112]

I've never personally cared for the pastel pads. It's only the more saturated pads that have taken my breath away. Love the square cushion pad! Would buy in a heartbeat if everything checks out and I had the money, but alas, I don't have the budget for it.

The seller actually showed me a snapshot of her convo w/a wholesaler who had a similar sized & colored pad that was eye clean...and it was going for USD20,000.

Made me appreciate my own a lot more lol!

 

[Lilith112]

So it's been a while, but I've found a setter who can create my ring for a great price! Here's the CAD we've agreed on:



I vacilitated a bit, but ultimately decided the diamonds would be much. So we're doing a 18K brushed rose gold ring with the band thinning out at the bottom to 1.8mm.

 

[Rfisher]

Can’t wait to see this!
Love your inspiration