Please help me set my asscher

[katamari]

My SO and I bought my asscher Monday--thanks for everyone who helped with the purchase (Esp. Storm, JulieN, QueenMum, CaptainCarat, MrA, kcoursolle, and Ellen). Now I have to pick the setting. I have wanted a simple solitaire with split prongs. So, I am thinking about customizing the JA 2.2 mm wire basket setting to have the claw prongs. But, I was told by someone at JA that this might not be a good idea, given the size of the stone (.72 carats). Since the claw prongs have to be bigger to split in two, it may loose the delicate look that I like. I also like that the split prongs highlight the octagonal shape of the asscher (and I don''t like big prongs).

Will I loose these things (daintiness, octagonal-ness) with the split prong on a smaller stone?

Would I be better off going with the wire basket as is? Or with a simple Tiffany-style 2.5 mm solitaire?

I have attached pics of the original setting if they help. I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[katamari]

Here''s a side view. And the stats:

Shape: Asscher
Carat weight: 0.72
Cut: Ideal
Color: D
Clarity: SI1
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 66.7%
Table: 58.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.13*5.11*3.41
Ratio: 1.00

 

[gwendolyn]

I will defer to the experts for the answers to your questions about the setting, but I just wanted to say WOOHOO that you bought the diamond!!! How exciting!!

 

[purrfectpear]

I know that Leon Mege doesn''t like to do split prongs on anything smaller than 2 carats and his are about as dainty as they can be made.

I''d stick with single prongs and see if JA can make them somewhat clawlike (points instead of rounded blobs).

 

[mercoledi]

Laurnethepartier''s asscher is about your size, maybe someone can photosphop split prongs onto her stone? Personally I love her bezel.


Laurenthepartier''s 0.71

Cindarella''s .88 RHR

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Katamari - congrats! It''s going to be beautiful!

I always wanted split claws on my Asscher, but after seeing a few set in person, I have to say that in a size like yours and mine, maybe you''d want to go with a really finely pointed single claw prong? Or just make it explicitly clear that you want DAINTY double claw prongs. Have you been able to see doubles on a 5 mm stone in person?

I''m not a PS whizz (I wish I was) but here''s a pic that shows the Asscher a bit better.

 

[swingirl]

Leon does split claws on stones under 2 ct. He did it on my 1.29 ct asscher.

However, the prong covers most of the cropped corner and with your stone there might not be enough room.

I like the tiffany style you picked.

Ignore the dirty greasy-looking stone. I hope I sized the photo so that you can see the prongs.

 

[tberube]

I''d say that IF you can do split prongs, I would choose them, especially for that size, because it will highlight the octagonal shape of the diamond, rather than make it look square. I sometimes think I might trade out my prongs for split prongs, for that reason.

 

[blackpolkadot]

Katamari, I am planning on having split prongs on my asscher, assuming I get the .7 I have discussed in RT. As long as they are not spread too far apart, I see no problem with split or claw prongs when I have seen them in person! Good luck!

 

[kcoursolle]

Congrats on buying the stone!! I think split prongs can be very lovely on an asscher below 1 carat, cinderella''s ring is a great examlpe!! However, I would be hesitant to go this route unless you know that the vendor can make the prongs very delicate. There are very few vendors that can really achieve this in my opinion. If you are worried about it, a single claw prong will also look fantastic!

Here is a ring that I''ve always admired with single claw prongs on a big stone, similar prongs would look fantastic on a stone like yours: http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=69

 

[Kaleigh]

Congrats on buying your asscher, that''s very exciting. I agree, go with a vendor that does the split claw prongs well, like Leon. Single claw looks great too. Can''t wait to see what you decide!!

 

[Gypsy]

Depends on the size of your corners... and the vendor doing the prongs. I think single prongs DO frequently make the stone stones look square... I know they completely obliterated my corners on my old setting, but the way my single prongs are now on my new setting actually keep the octagonal shape pretty well. I''ve seen swingirls asscher setting by Leon (that she posted) and her split prongs are lovely and just right but they are TINY... seriously, her split prongs are small than my single ones. That''s just what Leon excels at... wonderful prongs. If someone is telling you the split prongs are going to be big... I''d listen to them.

 

[katamari]

Thanks for the help, everyone! And the congratulations, too.

JA is closed for the holiday, but I am going to talk to the settings company on Monday. (Littleblackpolkadot, I will let you know what they say, since you are going through JA, too, right?). I am going to take LaurenThePartiers, Gypsy, purrfectpear, and therube''s advice and see if they can make dainty single prongs if dainty double-prongs are out of the question (but only after they confirm that small double prongs are out of the question). I took LaurenTP''s (indirect) advice and went to see some 5mm stones in person and one I saw had small single claws that I really liked, so I won''t be too sad if I have to go single claw.

Swingirl, your and Cinderella''s rings are ones that I keep showing my BF as examples of what I like, so it is good to hear from you. I just worry that your diamond is bigger enough than mine will be that it won''t come out looking as great.

And, LaurenThePartier, like mercoledi, I love your bezel setting, too. It also really highlights the "asscherness" of your diamond. I have thought about going that route, too, but it is just so unique, I feel like you and your husband should copyright it or something.

I did love the Leon that you suggested, kcoursolle, too. Like Kaliegh, I think I would consider going with a craft designer, but it is out of our budget right now. BF and I decided that we are not going to upgrade the diamond ever, but I do get to upgrade my setting as much as I want. So, maybe that will have to be an anniversary gift in the near future (after we are married, of course

).

I will keep you all posted (hopefully soon with handshots!--the only thing bad about getting to help pick out your e-ring is that you still have to wait for the proposal

).

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 7/4/2008 5:12:37 PM
Author: katamari
Thanks for the help, everyone! And the congratulations, too.

JA is closed for the holiday, but I am going to talk to the settings company on Monday. (Littleblackpolkadot, I will let you know what they say, since you are going through JA, too, right?). I am going to take LaurenThePartiers, Gypsy, purrfectpear, and therube''s advice and see if they can make dainty single prongs if dainty double-prongs are out of the question (but only after they confirm that small double prongs are out of the question). I took LaurenTP''s (indirect) advice and went to see some 5mm stones in person and one I saw had small single claws that I really liked, so I won''t be too sad if I have to go single claw.

Swingirl, your and Cinderella''s rings are ones that I keep showing my BF as examples of what I like, so it is good to hear from you. I just worry that your diamond is bigger enough than mine will be that it won''t come out looking as great.

And, LaurenThePartier, like mercoledi, I love your bezel setting, too. It also really highlights the ''asscherness'' of your diamond. I have thought about going that route, too, but it is just so unique, I feel like you and your husband should copyright it or something.

I did love the Leon that you suggested, kcoursolle, too. Like Kaliegh, I think I would consider going with a craft designer, but it is out of our budget right now. BF and I decided that we are not going to upgrade the diamond ever, but I do get to upgrade my setting as much as I want. So, maybe that will have to be an anniversary gift in the near future (after we are married, of course

).

I will keep you all posted (hopefully soon with handshots!--the only thing bad about getting to help pick out your e-ring is that you still have to wait for the proposal

).

Katamari - whatever you choose to do, the Asscher you''ve chosen is absolutely gorgeous! The corners do look wide enough to support doubles, to me. I can''t wait to see which direction you go, and I really hope you get the dainty doubles you really want!

As far as the designer goes, any of the PS vendors, WF, GOG, or JA would be able to scult lovely claw prongs - I have no doubt about it!

Thank you, also, for your kind words about my setting. Always so nice to hear positive comments.