Setting help needed for an AVR!

[nicoleanne]

Recently, my husband's grandfather passed away and left him a piece of his estate. We are newly married (4 months) and so most is going towards debt and saving for a home, but knowing how much I love jewelry, my husband has given me an "allowance" to play with. Initially I had planned to get some studs, but I realized I kept lusting after GOG's AV rounds, and really wanted another ring.

So I picked one--and am thrilled. So gorgeous! It is a 1.2 ct I I1 . Regarding the I1, for anyone wondering: I would not have gone for an I1 for my engagement stone, but for an alternate, it's such a beautiful cut that I don't notice the inclusion at a normal viewing distance. The inclusion is a fuzzy white (and relatively compact) cloud. Maybe down the road I'll do a clarity upgrade, but for the size and price it was totally worth it to me.

I am struggling with choosing a setting. My engagement ring is a James Meyer bezel with a .488 H&A from Brian Gavin. I love it, and I am particularly glad to have a JM now that he's not making jewelry, and I would never change it. But there are a couple things I've noticed from wearing it:

1. I love the color of unplated white gold, but it kind of blends into my skin a lot of the time. Wish I had gone platinum.
2. I find myself envying traditional solitaires.

Those details in mind, I originally planned to set the AVR in a Sholdt setting (like this one https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/sholdt-fremont-solitaire.110087/). Now that I have the diamond, I am not so sure. I almost want something more delicate.

I found the following from ERD:
The Roya
The Fleurette

I like the flower detail in these, since it kind of echoes the flower pattern of the AVR facets (but still looks like a traditional solitaire from the top). Opinions on either?

I'm also considering: BGD's Grace and Tapered Tiffany, and this one by Knox: http://www.knoxjewelers.biz/products/classic-filigree.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be helpful, particularly on the ERD settings. I want to keep it relatively simple (no pave or no/few side stones, no halo). Thanks!

 

[D&T]

Love Love Love that ERD Solitaire, so beautiful!...

Sholdt's Designs are pretty delicate IRL even though it looks a bit chunky in pictures, I've owned one of their pieces and really think they are, many of their shanks is 2mm ish from the bottom but it does widen up to the head, however, overall still delicate, imo.

But as for your I1, I would prefer to try and protect the girdle as much as possible, and would keep it to the 6 prongs look like ERD picture you have.

Knox does not set outside stones (course this was a few months ago when I inquired), so you'd have to go custom if you like one of their design.


eta: oops, you didn't mention if there were any feathers in your I1? are there? if not, then disregard my 6 prongs comment protecting the girdle much. Still love the ERD design. Pick whatever setting you like and insure....

Its really between the ERD design and the Knox design for me.

What do you like? 6 prongs or 4 prongs? then go from there. How lucky are you to have two rings!

 

[nicoleanne]

D&T- Thanks for your thoughts! I do like both the ERD settings (which have subtle differences...I asked Mark for a pic of the Roya), but my only worry is that I might get tired of the flower detail. The great thing about the Sholdt is that I think it has such great lines, I wouldn't ever tire of it.

I don't think the inclusion (a relatively compact cloud, not a feather) is close enough to the girdle to be pronged, but I do want to keep it protected.

I like six prongs for the Tiffany styles, but four for settings like the Knox and Sholdt (cathedral or thicker shank). My husband loved the Knox, and even though they don't take outside stones, it is a style relatively close to many at Green Lake Jewelry Works in Seattle (where I live). But, I would have a hard time swallowing the cost of their work in platinum--last time I was there, I got a quote for a relatively simple bezel in palladium, and it was $1700. Ouch.

 

[D&T]

oooh I just ran across this while looking for something else, and just remembered your thread? is this too antinquey looking for you?

http://www.dimendscaasi.com/build/step1.asp?prodID=S6978

They can work with outside stones, they just have a setting fee, When I inquired for my stone it was $150, but I'm not sure if that is dependent on size or not?