Setting help please - 4.8ct cushion Aquamarine

[loveloveloveit]

Hi, I have just purchased Sarah'bears aqua in the preloved forum and am now wanting to confirm who I should have it set with. My toss up is between Sally at HOW Jewels or Daniel M. Does anyone have experience with both or either to share please? Ideally my budget is $300-400, and I want a delicate and simple setting. Probably a blend of rosé gold for the head and silver to keep cost down. This is a completely unnecessary 40th bday present to myself and this is my birth stone.

Also I have a few rosé gold settings - I perhaps should ask if either can recycle gold for me - has anyone ever asked? I am very open to suggestion.

Thank you
Loveloveloveit

 

[JewelFreak]

Congratulations on getting a lovely aqua. Sarahbears doesn't have anything that isn't lovely!

I have worked with Sally but not so far with Daniel M. Sally's as wonderful as everyone says & tremendously skilled, willing to work with you to get what you like & can afford. However, if you want the simple setting you describe, Daniel might be a more practical choice if you're in the U.S. He has made many very pretty simple rings for PSers & is also easy & accommodating to work with. (Look up posts about him.) Shipping to & from Thailand for Sally is more costly & time-consuming. If I wanted a ring with Sally's type of artisanship I'd go to her, but for one like you describe, Daniel M. might be easier & equally good.

--- Laurie

 

[chrono]

Sally is more cost effective but there is overseas shipping to consider (added cost and time) which is likely to even things out or make Daniel M a better option for you. I don't think you will see much savings in recycling your rose gold since the head / basket is the only portion that will be made of gold but you can always ask.

 

[stargurl78]

If you go with Sally, I would make sure to be very specific in what you want in the setting (and include photos) and find out what the process is if the outcome isn't what you expected. I had 2 ring settings made by them and they were not what I expected. To make things right, then wanted more money (and it wasn't a small amount). I ended up having them re-do one of the rings and I'm happy with it now and I ended up selling the other one (for way less than I paid for it unfortunately). They do nice work and most PSers seem to be happy with them but I just wanted to share my experience as something to consider...

 

[SB621]

If you go with Sally, I would make sure to be very specific in what you want in the setting (and include photos) and find out what the process is if the outcome isn't what you expected. I had 2 ring settings made by them and they were not what I expected. To make things right, then wanted more money (and it wasn't a small amount). I ended up having them re-do one of the rings and I'm happy with it now and I ended up selling the other one (for way less than I paid for it unfortunately). They do nice work and most PSers seem to be happy with them but I just wanted to share my experience as something to consider...

All that comes to mind is my aqua bracelet. I won't even expand on the money I spent on that thing and I have still yet to wear it. It just feels like bad mojo for me.

I personally prefer the look of HOW pieces but I also had a bad experience so for ease of time and shipping I would use Daniel M.

 

[SB621]

Congratulations on getting a lovely aqua. Sarahbears doesn't have anything that isn't lovely!
--- Laurie

Awww Thank you Laurie. That is so sweet of you!

 

[tammy77]

I've had a pink tourmaline set by DanielM with an argentium silver band and rose gold head. They did a LOVELY job on it and I adore their workmanship. The prongs are just perfect and the ring has held up very well. Have you browsed their "sold" section? I do for inspiration and a good drool. I haven't had anything set by Sally though, so I can't comment there.

Congratulations on that oh so wonderful aqua. It's my birthstone too, but it was out of my budget and I needed to get some set that I already own. I'm getting some lever back aquas done by DanielM, can't wait!

Oh regarding your rose gold settings, have you considered trying to list them on loupe troop or diamond bistro? You might have good luck there (heck I'm curious about them myself!). If you don't want to hassle with that, I know DanielM does take scrap gold and will credit towards your project. You just have to send it to them.

 

[FrekeChild]

I would check out this thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-daniel-m-goodies.156131/

From the sound of what you want, I would say Daniel M would be my choice for sure. I've heard some awful things about HoW (Sarah's thread comes to mind) plus shipping would give me a ton of anxiety! I've worked with Caren and Daniel A LOT, and have nothing but good things to say about them!

 

[loveloveloveit]

Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone. I hadn't considered the shipping offshore issue. This is purely a luxury piece so I want it to be simple! Waiting now on a price back from Daniel M.

Will keep you all posted! (And find time to browse more of his finished work)

 

[stargurl78]

All that comes to mind is my aqua bracelet. I won't even expand on the money I spent on that thing and I have still yet to wear it. It just feels like bad mojo for me.

I personally prefer the look of HOW pieces but I also had a bad experience so for ease of time and shipping I would use Daniel M.

I do remember the thread about your bracelet and I'm sorry that you had a bad experience too I get it about the bad mojo. The ring that I ended up selling gave me the same feelings.

 

[SB621]

All that comes to mind is my aqua bracelet. I won't even expand on the money I spent on that thing and I have still yet to wear it. It just feels like bad mojo for me.

I personally prefer the look of HOW pieces but I also had a bad experience so for ease of time and shipping I would use Daniel M.

I do remember the thread about your bracelet and I'm sorry that you had a bad experience too I get it about the bad mojo. The ring that I ended up selling gave me the same feelings.

Thanks Star! I should say to the OP I was not specific with what I wanted Sally to do so half the blame is on me. I'm just upset because this is my most expensive CS piece and I don't even wear it- I really don't even want to. But I can't sell it either because I covet the aqua in the bracelet and there is no way I would make back 1/5 of what I spent on the darn thing (after 2 remakes and shipping back and forth to Thailand). Oh well I learned a big and expensive lesson on that one.

 

[loveloveloveit]

Does anyone see an issue with this setting? I may have to change the basket a little but I like the idea of a Bezel for better protection. I'm looking at the head in rosé and the band in silver.

This is one of Daniel Ms.

 

[chrono]

With your stone being very large, I would make the beads a touch smaller to emphasize the aquamarine better and follow the outline of the stone more closely.. It is going to look splendid in rose gold!

 

[loveloveloveit]

Thanks chrono - do you mean so that the top view would be a cushion shape too?

 

[SB621]

I just wanted to say that split shank and pointed corners will really emphaise the antique cushion cut. I would talk to Daniel M about the beads and just make sure he thinks they are proportional to the size of the aqua. Other then that- i personally love it.

 

[chrono]

Thanks chrono - do you mean so that the top view would be a cushion shape too?

I don't know how to put it nicely but the extra bead at each corner look like devil horns to me.

 

[emmmme]

Thanks chrono - do you mean so that the top view would be a cushion shape too?

I don't know how to put it nicely but the extra bead at each corner look like devil horns to me.

Now that you mention it, I can't unsee it!

 

[SB621]

Thanks chrono - do you mean so that the top view would be a cushion shape too?

I don't know how to put it nicely but the extra bead at each corner look like devil horns to me.

You're killing me Chrono- that is my favorite part of the design. I think it is very art deco. bring in LD for the tie-breaker!

 

[chrono]

Ack! So sorry Sarahbear.

 

[Sakag]

Thanks chrono - do you mean so that the top view would be a cushion shape too?

I don't know how to put it nicely but the extra bead at each corner look like devil horns to me.

I think they look like points on a tilted compass rose, if that helps anyone unsee that.

 

[loveloveloveit]

What about this one? This is my first coloured stone, but I am unsure whether I might put it into something more elaborate down the track - the bezel setting I posted is a bit more than I ideally want to spend, though not out of the question. This is another alternative, though with a silver band but rosé gold head. The advantage of this is being able to see more of the aqua and it is a couple of hundred dollars less, but I did love the split band and bezel on the other.

I'm waiting to hear back from Daniel M to confirm the difference. In the long run its probably worth getting right first up.

Which would you choose?

 

[chrono]

If you tend to be more clumsy with your hands, the bezel setting offers a little more protection, especially at the girdle area. It also has the advantage of deepening the colour a touch. If you are light on your rings and want to wear it right away, the Daniel M option is very pretty.

 

[loveloveloveit]

I am heavy on my rings Chrono so Im leaning towards a bezel setting, "devil horns" or otherwise!

 

[SB621]

I am heavy on my rings Chrono so Im leaning towards a bezel setting, "devil horns" or otherwise!

It was art deco and I loved it! My vote would also be bezel!

 

[chrono]

Then bezel it is. I think it is going to look fabulous in the rose gold version.

 

[loveloveloveit]

I am still waiting on pricing to come through from Daniel M and I've seen another post indicating they are a bit slower in response at the moment.

Is there anyone else I should try? I am trying to keep the cost under $400 and ideally with rosé gold prongs. Very open to suggestions as I want to get this baby onto my hot little hands!

 

[loveloveloveit]

I have decided on the attached style, with a rosé gold head and a split shank ... I decided on a gentle Bezel for protection. Now fingers crossed it turns out ok!!

 

[chrono]

Can't go wrong with a clean and classic design.