Lynn B
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- May 9, 2004
- Messages
- 5,609
I've been thinking about this for awhile now.
I have been wondering if those of us who have done a re-set (or re-sets!
) would like to discuss it. I'm sure there's a lot more to most re-set projects than mere frivolity (not that there's anything wrong with that -- as long as the kids still have shoes, right?!
)
But seriously, learning from - and sharing - our experiences may help someone else in their own decision making.
OK, obviously I'll start.
My first set (as a TOTAL NEWBIE) was a wide 18K WG semi-mount by Uneek (purchased locally), lots of small "accent" stones. (It was also holding my first diamond, the 1.53 RB):
What did I learn from this? Several things. I learned that I do NOT like WG. On me, it turns *yellowish* QUICKLY, which drove me half crazy. I also learned that I don't like really wide bands. I also did not like the prong shafts (bulky, squared, very "mall-store-stock-setting" looking) or how *high* the diamond was set (lots of airspace under the culet) ... but most of all, I felt like my diamond got *LOST* in that very busy setting.
* Re-set, Take 2:
Platinum shared prong set by WF w/ .05 ACAs in the w-ring and .03s in the e-ring. My first experience with online vendors, custom work, and ideal-cut baby H&A melee. (Still with the 1.53 RB):
A beautiful set, to be sure. Wore it for a couple of years. What did I learn from this setting? That online shopping for diamonds and settings is awesome -- better quality, better prices, better selection. Yay! For another thing, that I LOVE platinum. Also that I'm fussy about prong shafts; I want them thin and delicate, rounded, polished... and I love the center stone set low and "squatty".
On the down-side, I learned that the semi (less than half) eternity didn't work out so well for me, and that the spinning drove me nuts. The e-ring would spin one way, the w-ring another, and there'd be platinum showing at both ends. GAH!
I liked the thinner bands, though, and knew I was on to something with that.
* Re-Set, Take 3:
The infamous
fishtail pave set, made with <2 pointers, custom again from WF. (And in the meantime, I upgraded the center stone to the current 2.36 RB):
I wore this set for over 3 years. I loved the narrower shanks of this set and the smaller melee. I loved the *shimmer* of the small stones... didn't really miss the "sparkle" of the larger melee from the shared prong set (and there WAS a difference!). I loved the 90% eternity which basically eliminated the spinning issues while still giving me resizing options (which I never needed, but I wanted to know I had).
But what I learned (after losing a melee stone very early on) was that it was not ultrasonic-safe, and because of that, I never felt like my center stone was really, truly clean. And this affected its performance and most importantly, my satisfaction with the big diamond. And THAT was a shame.
And also, like I mentioned in my newest reset thread, it bothered me that the melee stones performed differently than the center stone in various lighting environments. In bright sunlight, the center stone would go dark, the little melee would fire up. In my office, my center stone would be beautiful, but the little melee would go *dead*.
I came to realize that I wanted my beautiful stone to take front and center stage, and do "all the talkin' " with no "competition". Which brings us to...
* Re-set, Take 4:
Simple, platinum, 4-claw-prong solitaire, and matching plain wedding ring; custom job by BGD:
Obviously, I have only had this set a few days, but what I have learned so far is that I LOVE claw prongs and the even-thinner, more delicate shanks of each ring. (Slightly thinner than the fishtail pave). I LOVE the smooth, shiny, fluid, endless look of the plain platinum. I LOVE the fact that the center stone truly *POPS* now.
It is BEAUTIFULLY CLEAN (
) and it is the full focus of the set; there is nothing else to "compete" with it. When it's LIT UP, it's amazing all on its own; when it's "sleepy", it's sleepy alone.
I have learned something from each setting through the years, and enjoyed each one a little (or a lot) more than the one before it. But I LOVE this set, and it is so far, my favorite.
Will I change it again someday? Who knows? If I can afford to spend the money at the time and I want to, maybe... why not? So far I haven't had this set long enough to know if there will be any "negatives" for me about it. But if there are, I will continue to learn and take those into consideration when (and if) I ever do another re-set.
Honestly... I wonder about a 3-stone one day... or maybe a 6-prong solitaire. There are just so many beautiful settings out there! But one thing I do know is that I seriously doubt that I would ever again get a setting with small melee/pave stones again.
Now... anyone else wanna play????!
I have been wondering if those of us who have done a re-set (or re-sets!
But seriously, learning from - and sharing - our experiences may help someone else in their own decision making.
OK, obviously I'll start.
My first set (as a TOTAL NEWBIE) was a wide 18K WG semi-mount by Uneek (purchased locally), lots of small "accent" stones. (It was also holding my first diamond, the 1.53 RB):
What did I learn from this? Several things. I learned that I do NOT like WG. On me, it turns *yellowish* QUICKLY, which drove me half crazy. I also learned that I don't like really wide bands. I also did not like the prong shafts (bulky, squared, very "mall-store-stock-setting" looking) or how *high* the diamond was set (lots of airspace under the culet) ... but most of all, I felt like my diamond got *LOST* in that very busy setting.
* Re-set, Take 2:
Platinum shared prong set by WF w/ .05 ACAs in the w-ring and .03s in the e-ring. My first experience with online vendors, custom work, and ideal-cut baby H&A melee. (Still with the 1.53 RB):
A beautiful set, to be sure. Wore it for a couple of years. What did I learn from this setting? That online shopping for diamonds and settings is awesome -- better quality, better prices, better selection. Yay! For another thing, that I LOVE platinum. Also that I'm fussy about prong shafts; I want them thin and delicate, rounded, polished... and I love the center stone set low and "squatty".
On the down-side, I learned that the semi (less than half) eternity didn't work out so well for me, and that the spinning drove me nuts. The e-ring would spin one way, the w-ring another, and there'd be platinum showing at both ends. GAH!
* Re-Set, Take 3:
The infamous
I wore this set for over 3 years. I loved the narrower shanks of this set and the smaller melee. I loved the *shimmer* of the small stones... didn't really miss the "sparkle" of the larger melee from the shared prong set (and there WAS a difference!). I loved the 90% eternity which basically eliminated the spinning issues while still giving me resizing options (which I never needed, but I wanted to know I had).
But what I learned (after losing a melee stone very early on) was that it was not ultrasonic-safe, and because of that, I never felt like my center stone was really, truly clean. And this affected its performance and most importantly, my satisfaction with the big diamond. And THAT was a shame.
And also, like I mentioned in my newest reset thread, it bothered me that the melee stones performed differently than the center stone in various lighting environments. In bright sunlight, the center stone would go dark, the little melee would fire up. In my office, my center stone would be beautiful, but the little melee would go *dead*.
I came to realize that I wanted my beautiful stone to take front and center stage, and do "all the talkin' " with no "competition". Which brings us to...
* Re-set, Take 4:
Simple, platinum, 4-claw-prong solitaire, and matching plain wedding ring; custom job by BGD:
Obviously, I have only had this set a few days, but what I have learned so far is that I LOVE claw prongs and the even-thinner, more delicate shanks of each ring. (Slightly thinner than the fishtail pave). I LOVE the smooth, shiny, fluid, endless look of the plain platinum. I LOVE the fact that the center stone truly *POPS* now.
I have learned something from each setting through the years, and enjoyed each one a little (or a lot) more than the one before it. But I LOVE this set, and it is so far, my favorite.
Will I change it again someday? Who knows? If I can afford to spend the money at the time and I want to, maybe... why not? So far I haven't had this set long enough to know if there will be any "negatives" for me about it. But if there are, I will continue to learn and take those into consideration when (and if) I ever do another re-set.
Honestly... I wonder about a 3-stone one day... or maybe a 6-prong solitaire. There are just so many beautiful settings out there! But one thing I do know is that I seriously doubt that I would ever again get a setting with small melee/pave stones again.
Now... anyone else wanna play????!
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